Teduray Leader Condemns Kidapawan violent dispersal

6,000 farmers and indigenous peoples from the rural communities of North Cotabato barricaded for four days the Kidapawan to Davao highway in front of the NATIONAL Food Authority warehouse in Kidapawan City. The protest was peacefully to demand for relief subsidy and food assistance for the drought-hit affected farmers and communities until on the 1^st of April 2016 morning the protest was violently dispersed to clear the national road to open to public and private passers.

As an indigenous people or Lumad himself, Timuay Santos Unsad of Teduray tribe in Maguindanao province and a candidate for Provincial Board Member of the province’ first district this coming May 2016 elections expressed his sadness to what happened.

“The plight of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) all over the Philippine archipelago is similar in all aspects. Whether there is El Niño phenomenon or none, they are facing extreme poverty and violation of four (4) bundles of their rights perpetrated by individuals, groups or juridical entities, whether belonging to the State and/or non-State. This is due to oppression, discrimination and deliberate exclusion and lack of government’s concern on their needs” the Timuay said.

“The effect of El Niño phenomenon on the lives of Indigenous Peoples in Maguindanao Province has no difference with that experienced of IPs and farmers in Cotabato Province. Fields were turned brownish. No field crops are left standing green, coupled with field rat infestation. Drinking water is very scarce. Ruminant animals have no more grasses to feed,” he added.

His community and fellow Indigenous peoples are now looking for poisonous root crops called “kayos” in the forests for their survival. Children are now suffering malnutrition. Both adult and children are suffering on all types of illnesses whether as a result of hunger and other causes of sickness.

Asked on the government and concern agencies response, “The calamity assistance of incumbent Provincial, Congressional and Municipal Officials in this election period is insufficient and unsustainable. Forgive me if I cannot see any sustainable solution to mitigate the effect of this phenomenon.”

For Timuay Santos Unsad, “the violent dispersal of thousands of hungry protesters belonging to the Indigenous Peoples and Peasants, resulting to the death of 3 persons, wounding several, many more missing, whether abducted or arrested is a show of lack of respect to human rights and the dignity of human life. Accordingly, this is a law enforcement dispersal operation because the gains of businessmen is more important than the lives of IPs and farmers. “

“With this, I STRONGLY CONDEMN IN HIGHEST TERMS this inhumane response of authorities in situation like this. I call on any levels of government structure to act sensibly on the basic needs of your constituents, whether IPs and Peasants. Act proactively without necessity of demand from your constituents, the fact that the drought have been spelling for many months. Be culture and needs sensitive,” he concluded.

Timuay Santos Unsad in his candidacy, campaigned for a Sustainable Local Economy and a Development framework that cares for environment and peoples. (MindanaOne. April 3, 2016. Cotabato City.)