Harassment of activists by government forces

EDITORIAL

The militant Cordillera Peoples Alliance is deeply concerned over threats and harassment to its local chapter in Ifugao by suspected agents of the State and mercenaries of big energy projects.  

The Ifugao Peasant Movement, its members and officers have reportedly been targets of death threats and political vilification in social media groups of Ifugaos by individuals hiding under fictitious names. Last April, five staff of IPM and community leaders received a brown envelope containing a photo of an Ifugao cloth usually used to wrap a dead person.

The words “Gray May, June Gllom, No-Sky July” were printed above the picture. The IPM reported the incident to the Philippine National Police in Lagawe, Ifugao but there is still no development in identification of harassers.

“The proliferation of these materials that intends to sow fear and insecurity among activists, vocal community members and leaders in Ifugao is a desperate and cowardly act by suspected agents of the State and mercenaries of big energy projects in their attempts to stop the growing people’s protests against development aggression and human rights violations,” the CPA said in a statement.“But what makes it more appalling is the use of materials with cultural significance to deliver their message. The use of a picture of a cloth used by Ifugaos to wrap their dead is totally irresponsible, insensitive and bastardization of culture. This calls for strong indignation. Death threats and political vilification  during these times of a supposed advanced age of science and technology, reasoning, political, economic and cultural aspects is a cheap ploy to divert the real issues and aspirations of the people.”

According to the CPA, threats and harassment against activists, advocates and communities vocal against corruption, development aggression and human rights violations have been prevalent under the Aquino administration under OplanBayanihan, a military program.

“The repeated attempts to link progressive and legitimate people’s organizations with the New People’s Army by those few who hide under assumed names should be a thing of the past,” the CPA said, adding “No amount of death threats can stop the people from rising for good governance, human rights, genuine development, peace and equality.”

According to the CPA, “death threats, vilification and other forms of human rights violations only breed injustice, insecurity and chaos in society.”

The CPA had asked police to investigate such harassment cases. It would do well if police so and come up with objective  assessment of such cases otherwise, affected folks or NGOs would think they are covering up “culprits in uniform.”