Terrorist-tagged in Philippines: New surge in arrest of indigenous activists, advocates

Statement by the Global Secretariat, International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation

***

In just one day, several Indigenous Peoples and advocates in the Philippines were arrested, terrorist-tagged, and issued criminal charges, including doctor-to-the-Lumad Natividad “Naty” Castro; three Indigenous Igorot leaders of Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Jennifer Awingan, Windel Bolinget, and Steve Tauli; and development workers Sarah Abellon, Lourdes Gimenez, Florence Kang, Niño Oconer, and two other individuals.
The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) announced on January 30 the designation of community health worker Doctor “Naty” Castro as a “terrorist individual” under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). Also, last January 30, Jennifer Awingan was arrested on the grounds of Rebellion or Insurrection, a non-bailable offense, with a Warrant of Arrest issued on January 24, 2023, by the Regional Court in Abra Province. Included in the warrant were Bolinget, Tauli, and six others from North Luzon.
“We express our condemnation and utmost concern over this arbitrary terrorist tagging and the rebellion charges. When was it ever an act of terrorism to be a community doctor in far-flung Indigenous Lumad communities? Why is the government criminalizing Igorot leaders with a long track record of defending Indigenous lands and rights?” says Jiten Yumnam, International Coordinating Council member of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL).
CPA Chairperson Bolinget faced a trumped-up murder charge and a shoot-to-kill order last 2020. Tauli, a CPA regional council member, was abducted in August 2022 by what CPA believed to be state security forces.
Similarly, on February 18, 2022, Dr. Naty was also arrested over charges of alleged kidnapping and serious illegal detention. Her charges were dismissed by March 2022 for violation of her right to due process and lack of evidence and probable cause.
“From the former Philippine President Duterte to the new one, Marcos Jr., what remains the same is the practice of weaponizing the law to vilify and silence any perceived enemies of the government. For Indigenous activists vocal against land grabbing by multinational corporations, political elites, and states, against heavy militarization and repressive government policies, we are the number one target of judicial harassment and attacks,” Yumnam stressed.
Dr. Naty’s tagging as a “terrorist individual” and freezing of her property or funds, including her related accounts, operates under the draconian Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020, which was signed into law under former president Rodrigo Duterte. The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee earlier expressed concern on how the Anti-Terror Law (ATL) “legitimize the targeting of government critics, human rights defenders, and journalists, including through ‘red-tagging,’ and its consequent chilling effects on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.”
“We will hold the government, the ATC, the police, and military accountable for any danger and harm that may happen towards our Indigenous Peoples and activist colleagues. In its most extreme, terror-tagging often leads to torture, enforced disappearances, or extrajudicial killings,” Beverly Longid, IPMSDL Global coordinator, warns.
“Jennifer, Doc Naty, Windel, and all these terrorist-tagged and maligned Indigenous rights defenders who serve the underprivileged are not terrorists but heroes. The modus of using the courts and laws against those exercising their democratic right to dissent must stop,” she added.
“Terrorist-tagging or ‘red-tagging’ endangers our lives, our families and colleagues, our organization, and our entire community. It reeks of a tyrant and fascist dictatorship government eager to silence all dissenters instead of addressing the root cause of discontents like poverty, corruption, and injustice,” Longid said.
The International IPMSDL issued its global call for international human rights groups and institutions, including the UN and the International Criminal Court mechanisms, to investigate the surge of attacks on Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights Defenders. It also called for the immediate dropping of all charges, terrorist designations against these activists, and the junking of the ATA.

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Green Revolution’s reliance on chemical fertilizers, pesticides contributing to Punjab's health crisis

By Bharat Dogra, Jagmohan Singh* Punjab was once synonymous with robust health, particularly in its rural areas, where farmers were known for their strength and vitality. However, in recent years, reports from these villages tell a different story, with rising cases of serious health issues, including cancer. What led to this decline? The answer lies largely in the erosion of good nutrition, once a hallmark of Punjabi village life. The health of a population is closely tied to its nutrition, and Punjab's reputation as a provider of high-quality nutrition has suffered greatly. The loss of biodiversity in agriculture has led to a decrease in the variety and quality of crops, resulting in poorer nutrition. Pulses, a key source of protein, have seen a steep decline in cultivation due to the disruption of traditional farming practices by the Green Revolution. This has had a detrimental effect on both soil and human health. Although pulses are still available in the market, they are exp

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog