Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact

An indigenous community organization is under threat for resisting land grabbing carried out by a giant palm oil company, A. Brown, in Opol, Misamis Oriental, Philippines.

The organization, Pangalasag (literally means 'indigenous shield'), is objecting the entry of A. Brown Company which will replace their farms, planted with banana, coconut and other crops, with palm oil.  The farmers, who are from Higaonon tribe of the Mindanao Lumads (indigenous peoples), demand for the withdrawal of the project which did not even secure their Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

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Account of the Incident

Rodiemer “Demer” Dela Cruz Morada, 20, of Barangay Bonifacio, Municipality of Burdeos, Province of Quezon, was abducted on August 23, 2011 at around 9:00am and is still missing until now. According to his mother Gina Morada, four (4) persons, all carrying long firearms went to his house and talked with Demer. They asked him if he could accompany them to the nearby sitio of Pegitna of Brgy. Rizal. At first Gina was hesitant to allow Demer to go with the unidentified persons since they were armed. But eventually Gina let her son go with the group without knowing that this will be the last time she will see him.

August 16, 2011

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – HUNGER ALERTS PROGRAMME

Hunger Alert Update: AHRC-HAU-001-2011

Click here to send an appeal letter. 

[RE: AHRC-HAC-009-2010: India: Five children of Mawasi tribe currently suffering from malnutrition in the village where seven children died of malnutrition in 2008-09]

ISSUES: Right to food; child malnutrition; right to work; corruption; rights of indigenous people
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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received a letter from the Indian government dated April 28, 2011 in response to the AHRC Hunger Alert Case (AHRC-HAC-009-2010) reported on November 9, 2010, regarding the Mawasi tribe children suffering from malnutrition and starvation in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. Subsequent to the administration’s investigation, the State advisor to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court submitted a fact-finding report on the overall situation of Satna, including the village the AHRC reported on in April. After studying the reports, the AHRC found that the administration lacks an independent first-hand investigation methodology and a strong willingness to eradicate malnutrition and hunger. Though the administration took several steps to implement food security-related programs, it needs to take further active steps and constantly monitoring the activity in favor of tribes who have been deprived of their fundamental rights.