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Cordillerans call for GMA’s ouster in IP month celeb

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 25) — Representatives from all over the Cordillera Administrative Region converged here on August 23 for the nationally coordinated action for the ouster of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). The activity coincided with the culmination of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month.

The said protest action started with a march-rally and ended with a short program at the Peoples Park here, where representatives of the provinces and sectors reiterated their bases for demanding GMA’s removal from office.

Based on the sectors and provincial delegates’ statements, their bases for GMA’s ouster are way beyond the “hello Garci” and jueteng scandal the president is facing now.

The representative of Abra condemned the economic dislocation and human rights violations brought about by intense militarization of the countryside because of GMA’s all out war against elements of the New Peoples Army (NPA). He added that GMA’s programs like mining caused tribal boundary disputes in Abra.

Maria Galong of the Save Apayao People’s Organization (SAPO) also assailed the present administration’s projection of mining as a major source of foreign investment. She added that government agencies are helping big foreign corporations in deceiving residents instead of assisting them in their struggle to protect their ancestral land.

Mineworkers from the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU), who are on strike for almost three months now, have testified that big mining firms like the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (LCMCo) do not treat their workers justly.

Mila Singson of the APIT TAKO (Alliance of Peasants in the Cordillera) denounced GMA’s adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which caused the downfall of the vegetable industry in Benguet and some parts of Mountain Province. She said that the liberalization of agriculture due to the WTO ushered in much cheaper temperate vegetables from China and Korea killing local producers.

Singson added that most of the lands covered by mining applications of foreign mining firms in the region are farmlands.

Moreover, Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Secretary General Windel Bolinget reiterated that GMA’s programs like the value added tax (VAT) worsened the already impoverished lives of Filipinos. He also mentioned the relentless oil price hikes that cause drastic increase in basic goods and services.

“Unless GMA is removed from office the rights of the different sectors, especially the basic masses will continue to be violated,” he stressed.

However, Bolinget declared that GMA’s ouster is the answer to all the problems of the country. He said that after GMA’s removal from office, significant changes in the system of government should be implemented.

Bolinget stressed that change in the system of government is not necessarily charter change. He said that what is needed are urgent and significant changes, which could be achieved through the creation of a transition council, where all the sectors and political forces that worked for the ouster of GMA would represented.

Bolinget is optimistic that national minority groups in the Philippines will be represented in the transition council.

Bolinget further said that the transition council’s job would be to implement much needed urgent needs like the filling up of the positions GMA and her cohorts would vacate and cleaning up of the Commission on Elections as well as prepare for a truly clean and credible elections.

Earlier this month, different youth organizations of Baguio-Benguet commemorated the National Minority Week, with the theme “Strengthen Solidarity among the Indigenous Youth for the Defense of Land, Life and Resources”.

The said commemoration similarly underscored the neglect of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s (GMA) administration on the basic rights and welfare of the indigenous peoples, particularly of the Cordillerans.

The weeklong celebration started with an opening ritual/ceremony on August 11 at the People’s Park, where an elder interpreted the liver of the butchered pig.

Ama Simplicio Sicuan, who interpreted the liver, said the liver shows a good sign regarding the on-going struggle of the Indigenous Peoples’ to their land, life and resources.

Symposium on IP situation

On August 13, around 150 youth and students attended the symposium on the “National Situation of Indigenous Peoples” held at the FGB Hall of the University of Baguio, where several speakers discussed the current situation and plight of indigenous peoples.

The speakers, commonly stressed that GMA’s policies and programs only worsened the oppressed and marginalized condition of indigenous peoples all over the country.

After the symposium, the participants went to People’s Park for a cultural night dubbed as “Rambakan Night”, which ended the week-long celebrations.

Various youth organizations such as Tanghalang Bayan ng Kabataan sa Baguio (TABAK), Kalinga Students Association (KASA), PIGSA, DKK, PINATUD, Anakbayan and Children of the Cordillera (CHICO) rendered performances that depict the current situation of national minorities. The performances also showed their solidarity with other youth organizations for the defense of land, life and resources.

Other youth organizations such as the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP), League of Filipino Students (LFS) and Gabriela Youth expressed their messages of support to the plights of the indigenous peoples. Bayan Muna National Vice-Chairperson and Regional Coordinator Manny Loste; and University of the Cordilleras - Supreme Student Government President Ryan Solano also delivered their solidarity messages to the successful weeklong activities.

Photo exhibits and film showings on the situation of national minorities were also held at the University of the Philippines Baguio and the University of Baguio during the said week.

The commemoration of the National Minority Week was sponsored by Anakbayan-Cordillera, PIGSA, DKK, PINATUD, Paggawisan Tako Am-in (PAGTA), TABAK, Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS), Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance-Youth Center and the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN). # Kim Quitasol and Marifel Macalanda for NORDIS

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