Human rights violations against IPs going up

EDITORIAL

Human rights violations are still going up in the country despite pronouncements of government spokesmen these have gone down.

Latest was the murder of Licuben Ligiw, and his sons, Freddie "Fermin" Ligiw and Edie Ligiw, all farmers and members of the Binongan tribe in Baay-Licuan, Abra who were gunned down and buried in a shallow grave near their home allegedly by military forces. (See page 1 for related story.)

According to the Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, the Ligiw massacre raised the killings of indigenous peoples to 43 under President Aquino's administration.

Earlier this year, Lumad leader Rolando Ambongan, a datu (village chief) in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte was slain, his killing is attributed to paramilitary group Bagani Force and Cafgu under the 29th IBPA. Ambongan was a staunch-anti-mining plunder activist, who resisted the entry of mining in their ancestral lands. Ambongan is also a member of progressive indigenous peoples' party, Katribu Partylist.

KAMP has organized Stop the Killings of Indigenous Peoples Network in 2012, in response to the "unabated killings of indigenous peoples."

It is high time the government should extensively address the issue of human rights violations like killings instead of paying lip service. More effort should be done to investigate suspects in these killings as these, according to human rights organizations, are being done with impunity by government agents.

On such violations, particularly against indigenous people, the Kalipunan ng Mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) or National Alliance of Indigenous Peoples Organizations in the Philippines could be contacted at Room 304 NCCP Building, near Quezon Avenue corner EDSA, West Triangle, Quezon City. On may dial their  phone: (02) 412-5340 or email www.katutubongmamamayan.org.