From Bill C-51 to Oplan Bayanihan: Stop militarisation at home and abroad
In Canada, there is a growing normalisation of military presence in civilian society. The Conservative government passed Bill C-51 in an attempt to take control under the disguise of the “Anti-terrorism Act”. This has allowed secret policing, increased spending on military and prisons while social programs that benefit poor and working class people are slashed off the budget.
In the Philippines, human rights defenders, political activists, peasants, and indigenous peoples communities are constantly harassed, disappeared, and murdered by state forces under a culture of impunity.
Recently, the spate of Lumad* killings demonstrates the particular anti-people policy of President BS Aquino through the Oplan Bayanihan. This worsening human right violations only proves Aquino’s indictment and conviction as guilty found by the grassroots International People’s Tribunal last July 2015.
*Background: (see Manilakbayan ng Mindanao, here, here, here and Info sheet – Stop Lumad Killings campaign)
On September 4 we enjoin you and your organisation for holding action against militarisation of Indigenous communities in Mindanao. We protest and call for justice for Dionel Campos, Emerito Samarca, and Aurelio Sinzo!
Campos is the chairperson of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu), an organization of the Lumad national minority in Lianga town of Surigao del Sur province;
while Samarca is executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development (Alcadev), an alternative Lumad school.
We urge the community to take action against the culture of impunity in the Philippines.
DEMANDS:
- Immediate pull-out of the 36th Infantry Battalion in Lumad communities in Lianga, Surigao del Sur
- Immediate dismantling of paramilitary groups such as the Magahat/Bagani Forces
- Immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights to look into these incidents of human rights violations; and, to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
- To observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that the Philippine government is a party and signatory to.
- End Oplan Bayanihan
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Hold a protest in front of Philippine consulates to demand justice for the killings of Emerito Samarca, Dionel Campos and Aurelio Sinzo
- Hold a candle light vigil to express our solidarity with our lumad brothers and sisters
- Contact the following authoritiesby phone or send mass emails sample:“My name is _____, I am calling to express my outrage at the killing of community leaders in ALCADEV, Surigao Del Sur. We demand the pull out of Philippine military out of the indigenous schools and communities.”
Sen. Tobias C. Enverga Jr. (tobias.enverga@sen.parl.gc.ca)
Tel.: +1 (613) 943-1945 or 1-800-267-7362
Fax.: +1 (613) 943-1938
Philippine Embassy in Ottawa (embassyofphilippines@rogers.com)
Amb. Petronila P. Garcia
Tel.: +1 (613) 233-1121
Fax.: +1 (613) 233-4165
Philippine Consulate in Toronto (consularmatters@philcongen-toronto.com)
Tel.: (416) 922.7181
Fax.: (416) 922.2638
- Take a selfie or group picture and post on social media
Take a picture of yourself or a group with this sample message and use the hashtags #SaveOurSchools #EndImpunity #ActivismIsNotACrime
SAVE OUR SCHOOLS!
DEFEND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHT TO EDUCATION!
STOP MILITARISATION IN THE COUNTRYSIDE!
Anakbayan Toronto 