An appeal for humanitarian support to the victims of Esperanza Massacre
The best resistance is not often confrontational.
Almost a month after the massacre of the family of Arpe Belayong which killed him and a nephew and wounded two of his children, the families of Mt. Manalog in Calabuan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur has chosen to relocate. Their community remains under siege of the paramilitary group, Sanlakawan (previously called the Wild Dogs), which would not spare innocent blood to enforce their demands.
The families are hoping to build a new community elsewhere not for cowardice but because of their strong principles. The women and the children are first to transfer to their new community, hoping to build new lives but based on the memory of the valor of their leaders who have shed blood for their lands. The men will follow soon.
“We know that it is a pain to part with the land the families have been living on for generations," said Bae Adelfa Belayong, chairperson of Madagway Babaeyon. “But the women, who have been key to the decision of moving instead of a launching a series of confrontations, are resolute that this is the best way to keep peace. It does not mean that they are withdrawing their resistance. They, together with the rest of our communities, will continue to expose the stench and brutality of the companies that continue to lure our fellow Indigenous Peoples to their beck and call.”
In moving, the community wants to show that they are not like the ruthless barbaric group of Sanlakawan that would senselessly kill for monetary opportunism.
“If they want to groom their communities in the influence of blood and money, that is their choice,” said Bae Adelfa. “Our tradition of war had never been for something as trivial as money – we fought for our dignity, for the integrity of our communities, for a future generation that will carry our pride and our identity.”
The children of Arpe have already been treated at a hospital but the bodies of Arpe and Solte remain unrecovered.
In solidarity with the community, Madagway Babaeyon and Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization, with support from the Rural Missionaries of the Philippinese Philippines and the Ethnic Groups Development Resource Center (EGDRC), will be conducting a pastoral visit on August 2011. The visit will include the delivery of relief services, psychosocial interventions and an interfaith solidarity program to help the victims cope from their traumatic experience, and help them in rebuilding a community.
The organizations, being composed of community members who also have limited financial capacities ask for assistance in gathering any of the following:
1. Food packs
2. Medicines
3. Toys for children
4. Educational materials for the children who could no longer continue
their schooling this year (e.g., books, notebooks, pens, crayons, etc)
5. Materials for their houses (wood, nails, hammer, etc.)
The organizations would also appreciate solidarity messages and these would be read during the Pastoral Visit.
You may send your assistance and solidarity messages to the following organizations:
Rural Poor Women's Apostolate
RURAL MISSIONARIES OF THE PHILIPPINES
Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR)
P.O. Box 41324, 9200 Iligan City, PHILIPPINES
Telefax. No: +63-223-5179
E-mail address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or to
Ethnic Groups Development Resource Center (EGDRC)
Ilocos St., Aluba Phase II, Macasandig
9000 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
E-mail Address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel. Nos.: +63 (88) 310 8253
For this urgent appeal, you may click the link below:
http://www.rmp-nmr.org/index.php/women-and-children-in-exodus-rebuilding-lives-reclaiming-rights.asp
For more information about the Esperanza Massacre, please visit the following links:
Source:
KALUMBAY Regional Lumad Organization
Ilocos St., Aluba Phase II, Macasandig
9000 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
E-mail Address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel. Nos.: +63 (88) 310 8253
Working for the defense of our land, rights & culture, KALUMBAY is a regional alliance of nine Lumad (indigenous peoples) organizations in Northern Mindanao, Philippines
