Mindanao, Palawan Lumads to Gather in Oro to Discuss GRP-MILF Ancestral Land Deal
SIBAGAT, Agusan del Sur- Various Indigenous People’s groups from Mindanao
The idea of having consultation on the Bangsamoro issue cropped up during occasion on the celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and in crafting an Action Plan for the effective implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in the Philippines last August 8-10 where lumad representatives from various tribes in Mindanao gathered in Manila.
To be spearheaded by an NGO, Legal Rights Center (LRC), the three day gathering aims to come up a unified position of the indigenous peoples in Mindanao and Palawan by properly putting into context the issues regarding Bangsamoro Juridical Entity and how it will affect indigenous people inside and outside of the claim of the Bangsamoro in Mindanao .
The invitation letter sent to different tribal groups here in Caraga Region, individual activist and peace enthusiasts and other support groups reads;
“We fully recognize the various efforts to achieve peace among the tri-people in Mindanao and that we respect the Bangsamoro struggle for their territories and right to self-determination. However, we also want that our rights to our ancestral domain and to self-determination outside of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) be respected as well”.
“In the spirit of finding a peaceful solution to this controversial issue and ensuring that our voices will also be heard before any decisions are made, we urgently hope to come up with a unified position as indigenous peoples in Mindanao so we can push for our position and recommendations on the said issue to the GRP-MILF Peace Panel and other stakeholders” the invitation letter in its content said.
Legal Rights Center Cagayan de Oro team leader Carl Cesar Rebuta said the consultation meeting aims to gather around 200 indigenous peoples from the various tribes in Mindanao and also in Palawan.
LRC said it welcomes financial contributions for the activity.
[...] from August 19-21, Mindanao, Palawan Lumads to Gather in Oro to Discuss GRP-MILF Ancestral Land Deal. Blogger bits and pieces says that if anyone can claim First Nation status, it’s the lumads; [...]
[...] from August 19-21, Mindanao, Palawan Lumads to Gather in Oro to Discuss GRP-MILF Ancestral Land Deal. Blogger bits and pieces says that if anyone can claim First Nation status, it’s the lumads; [...]