APPEAL FOR SUPPORT: Defend Talaingod, Save Pantaron Range!

FULL DOCUMENT: The Manobo Exodus Appeal LetterThe Manobo People’s Exodus is part of their continuing struggle for justice and peace, to fulfill their quest for land rights and self - determinationApril 10, 2014Dear fellow advocates:On 2 April 2014, in Talaingod, Davao Del Norte, after a series of aerial bombings and intense military operations in civilian communities, and while a thousand Manobo lumads (indigenous peoples) were fleeing the wrath of the military's guns and bombs, 12 - day - old Biboy Manabay passed away.Biboy died of pulmonary aspiration, secondary to dehydration, as his family and the other villagers of Sitio Laslasakan, together with evacuees from other interior villages, started their exodus for sanctuary.After a seven (7) hour trek from his home in Laslasakan, without any food and water, under the glaring heat of the sun, Biboy’s fragile health did not make it. He passed away and was buried in Sitio Igang, halfway through the evacuation.Biboy is just one of the countless, and often faceless, Manobo lumads who have died during the decades - long conflict over the ancestral home of the valiant Manobo tribe.Though Biboy's death is indeed one too many, such is the sad reality of the resource-rich, yet dismally poor town of Talaingod. Here, every Manobo family has experienced the deaths of one or more of their members, especially infants and women. This is due to intermittent forcible evacuation and militarization over the last two decades, and severe poverty due to the government’s neglect in providing them with basic services.Since March 3, the start of the military operations of the combinedmilitary strength of the 68thIB and 60thIB of the 1003rd Brigade, and the 4th Special Forces under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Talaingod the military has perpetrated atrocities that are appalling:- The count of displaced individuals has eached 1,353 (as of April 4): 927 are in Davao City while 426 are staying in Sitio Nasilaban. Of the 927 evacuees in Davao, 515 are children, from new-born infants to 12 years old. The number of evacuees who are currently trapped in the interior areas are still unknown. Traditionally, to evade military atrocities, the Manobos withdraw into the forests where they likewise experience hardships.- An old woman, Ubunay, was arbitrarily detained, subjected to sexual abuse and was forced to be used as a guide for military operations.- The military conducted aerial bombardments of civilian populated communities on March 20. The military also admitted to razing some homes.- Harassment, threat and intimidation of residents, and students and school personnel belonging to Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon Learning Center.The residents also testify that that the military stated:

“for every 1 soldier killed by the NPA, we will kill 5 Manobo lumads.”

Perhaps the aforementioned violations are manifestations of that statement; the military has been known to turn their ire upon civilians when they suffer casualties.Sadly, this vicious cycle has become a way of life for the lumads, especially for a people as defiant as the Manobos of Talaingod, who have consistently been bravely defending their ancestral lands from the threats ethnocide, in the form of resource plunder and militarization, since the early 90’s.Defying all basic tenets in the Philippine Constitution protecting human rights and civil liberties, mocking international instruments and protocols on war, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Aquino Government are bent on crushing the vibrant history, andculture of the Manobo people.To all advocates of peace and social justice, let us not allow this to happen.Let us support the demands of the Manobo people of Talaingod led by the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon people’s organization:1. Pull out all military troops from Talaingod. Investigate and prosecute those who haveperpetrated the documented war crimes;2. Just reparations must be made by the perpetrators for any damaged homes, sources andmeans of livelihood of the people;3. Stop the attacks on indigenous schools, students and personnel.Our assistance in the following forms are urgently needed:1. Supporting LEGAL ACTIONS instigated by the SALUGPUNGAN TA TANU IGKANUGON andDEFEND TALAINGOD Movement by sponsoring either the legal and technical fees;sponsoring the necessary trips to make the lobbying events possible.A. Case Filing at the Commission on Human Rights Region XIB. Lobbying at the House of RepresentativesC. Lobbying at the United Nations, either in Geneva or New YorkInstitutions, and NGO’s based in various countries may host lobbying engagements /audiences in the UN and other international platforms in order to bring to internationalattention the plight and struggle of the Manobo people.2. Help provide the evacuees with food, medicines, blankets and other materials.The following are the camp-based services and activities which need your support:SERVICES NEEDSDaily Provisions & Camp ManagementFOOD 15 sacks of rice per dayPhP 45,000 per day for the viand and water alone(1000 evacuees x Php 15 per meal)Psychosocial Intervention ServicesTherapy through games, and art activities such as beadmaking, art projects and theatre workshops.School and art materials ToysHealthy snacks for childrenMedicalSustained medical services for the evacueesMedicines and Vitamins3. Write of letters of appeal addressed to the President of the Philippines, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Justice, the House of Representatives, in support of the struggle of the Manobo people. You may also write letters to the media and hold educational discussions on the general issues of human rights and peace in the country and the need to resume the peace talks.Please contact May Vargas and/or Maypril Rusiana, Secretariat of the Committee forInternational Relations of the Defend Talaingod Campaign, for queries and other informationyou may need.In Solidarity,(sgd.)Sr. Marisol Huertas Garduno, CSCRural Missionaries of the Philippines -SMRCo-Convener, Defend Talaingod Save Pantaron Range(sgd.)Datu Duloman DawsaySalugpungan Ta Tanu IgkanugonTalaingod, Davao Del Norte(sgd.)Sidro IndaoPASAKA Federation of Lumad Organizations in Southern MindanaoDavao CityThe Defend Talaingod, Save Pantaron Range Movement may be contacted through thefollowing contact information:Email Address: defendtalaingod2014@gmail.comMobile #: 639391669065Food stuff and other donations may be brought to:UCCP Haran House, Fr. Selga St., Davao CityPlease look for Marge.Donations may be sent via the following conveners of the Defend Talaingod Movement:For PESO DONATIONS:Rural Missionaries of the PhilippinesBank Name: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)Branch: 0203- Davao MainAccount Number: 2083-9067-93For US DOLLAR DONATIONS:MINDANAO INTERFAITH SERVICES FOUNDATION INC. (MISFI)Bank Name: Unionbank DavaoAccount Number: 130170000025