Lumads hold protest-cum-ritual at 10th ID to cast away evil spirits, demand justice for martyred leader

DAVAO CITY (April 29, 2010) -- Lumad leaders called the Philippine justice system inutile and discriminatory for as long as the members of the Philippine Armed forces remain as principal instruments of fascism and terror by the Arroyo government. This, as more than 100 lumads seeking for justice for the murder of their slain leaders and other victims of political killings held a protest-cum-ritual at the 10th Infantry Division Headquarters at Camp Panacan today.

“They call the traditional lumad justice system as backward and ignorant, but the bloody killings committed against leaders and persons of integrity and staunch principles of truth is a crime against humanity and justice itself,” said Diolito Diarog, KATRIBU Davao City Coordinator and nephew of the late Datu Diarog.

Led by the datus and leaders from various tribes, KATRIBU offered a chicken to the gods (Magbabaya/ Manama) and asked them to cast the spirits out of the AFP and the Arroyo government as lumad victims of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 continue to be deprived of justice.

Mandaya leader Ludinio Monzon, of Boston Davao Oriental was gunned down in Cateel, Davao Oriental exactly a year ago by suspected elements of the military. Monzon was known for his staunch anti-mining and human rights advocacy. He was killed after numerous death threats for having exposed the mining operations and human rights abuses committed by the military to civilians in Boston and Cateel in Davao Oriental.

Meanwhile, it was two years ago when Datu Dominador Diarog, tribal leader of Sitio Kahusayan,Tugbok, Davao City was slain in a massacre attempted allegedly by members of the Task Force Davao and the 73rd IB. Diarog was killed as he defended his land Kahusayan against the massive landgrabbing of a certain influential sectarian group in Davao.

More than 137 indigenous peoples in the country have been victims of the Arroyo government's Oplan Bantay Laya 2 (as of September 2009).

“The wanton killing of lumads as they become more defiant in their struggle for land rights proves that the Arroyo government together with her goons in the AFP is the real enemy of the people. They deserve to suffer the full measure of the law for the murder of our leaders, lumad civilians, and for facilitating the wholesale landgrabbing of our lands which causes our further marginalization,” said Diarog.

Martrys' blood spur vigilance

Blood spilled has given birth to a new age of struggle for the lumads as communities after communities pledge their defiance against acts of militarism by the Arroyo government.

Datu Diarog’s murder has brought to the mainstream discourse the massive landlessness of the lumads in the region as landed elites continue to grab and occupy vast hectares of what used to be lumad territories.

“Datu Doming's blood spilled on the soil of Kahusayan has given new vigor to the vigilance of our community. We now have continued to defend our stand even if others may label it as 'progressive.' Katribu’s quest for representation in congress gives us hope that our martyr and our people’s plight shall not be forgotten , yet brought to the halls of congress,” said Diarog.

The protest action at CAMP Panacan is part of KATRIBU’s Journey for Land Rights, Environmental Defense and Cultural Heritage. This 12-day panaw or journey drumbeats the lumads’ aspirations for recognition and participation in legislation and governance. # www.katribu.org

Reference:

Diolito Diarog
Davao City Coordinator
Katribu Partylist
Mobile Number: 0939-8410032