Declaration in the Occasion of the Indigenous Peoples Leaders’ Conference on the Independent Voice in the Peace Processes

IP Leaders signifies their commitment to their demand for an Independent Voice in the Philippine Peace Processes.

Cotabato City

We, the tribes of Indigenous Peoples or Lumad in Mindanao celebrating the 19th year of the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act 8371 of 1997, gathered at the UDFI, Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines through the Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on the Independent Voice in the Peace Processes from October 27-29, 2016 expressed our grave concern over the situation of our ancestral domains and resources within.

Despite the passage of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act in 1997, the abuses on the four (4) bundles of rights (ancestral domains, self-governance and empowerment, social justice and human rights and cultural integrity) committed by investors, revolutionary groups, and the State itself persisted. In short, the human and collective rights of the Indigenous Peoples such as the killings of leaders, land grabbing, misusing the tribal defense forces to divide the tribes as well as the non-recognition of the system of governance of the Lumad.

At the moment, the government is talking peace with the different revolutionary groups like the CPP-NPA-NDF; MILF, MNLF and others. This is an opportune moment for the Lumad of Mindanao and the Indigenous Peoples of the whole country to demand for our agenda for justice, peace and development as a response to the worsening of our situation as victims affected with the armed conflicts, development aggression, schemes and machinations of groups by organizing and/or recruiting members of the tribes to join their cause within our ancestral domains, violating our individual and collective rights as indigenous peoples and non-recognition of our Indigenous Political Structures (IPS).

Concretely, the gathered twenty (20) tribes of the Lumad in Mindanao established an Independent Peace Panel called “Lumad Husay Mindanaw”. “Husay” is a customary practices to achieve peace and justice. The objectives of the independent panel is to push for a genuine participation and representation of the Lumad in the peace negotiations. The central agenda is to restore the control and power over the ancestral domains and the resources therein through a genuine peoples empowerment of the Lumad and address the historical injustices committed against us.

The Independent IP peace panel is comprised of individuals from the Greater Davao Area, Western Mindanao, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),Central Mindanao and Northern Mindanao. This panel generates its mandate from the 20 gathered tribes from the mentioned territories and their constituencies who are supportive of this initiative.

We, therefore, declare the following demands:

Recognize the Independent Indigenous Peoples Voice in the Peace Processes: “Lumad Husay Mindanao”;

Full recognition of the Indigenous Political Structures (IPS) of every tribes;

A Federal System that recognizes the IP Federal State or IP Autonomy within the Federal States;

Full inclusion of IP Rights under a federal system and the peace processes;

Give Justice and reparation to all victims of Extra-Judicial killings among the IPs.

For the President to Cancel the Joint Administrative Order 2012 (NCIP, DAR, DENR and LRA);

Cancel IFMA, CBFM, ISF, Leased Contract Renewal Agreement – KRDC to DENR, CLOA – DAR and other tenurial instruments that are within the ancestral territories;

Review all existing corporate plantations without a Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC);

Repeal the Mining Act of 1995 and review Mining Exploration and Exploitation without FPIC;

For the State and Non-State Actors not to use the the Bagani/tribal defense other than the purpose that they are created by the tribes. We do not recognize and strongly condemn the misuse and abuse of the Bagani by groups outside our tribes.

Implement the Supreme Court Decision for Central Mindanao University, Maramag, Bukidnon and amend the Presidential Proclamation 476 for CMU in favor to Manobo, Talaandig and Higaonon Tribes of Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon.

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Signed by the delegates. October 29, 2016. Cotabato City.

Note: Photo Credits: Budyong Kalandang