Rights activists hope for justice under Duterte administration

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Optimism is high over the scheduled resumption of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) but there are potential spoilers that must be addressed to avoid the derailment of the process.

This was the message of international peace advocates and human rights activists who gathered here over the weekend after a series of field visits to different locations of conflict in Mindanao.

At least 232 delegates from 25 countries participated in the International Conference for People’s Rights in the Philippines.

Bishop Felixberto Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and one of the organizers of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) said it was the first meeting of global peace advocates in the country under the new Duterte administration.

“The Duterte presidency promises change. We are all hopeful for that change that the entire Filipino people are all struggling hard for and even paid for with their own blood,” Calang said.

But Calang said they also felt anxious about the continuing presence of government forces and paramilitary groups in the local communities.

According to Josephine Pagalan of Kasalo Caraga, at least 24 lumad and farmers were killed during the past administration and about half of these were perpetrated by paramilitary groups.

“These were systematic attacks to force the entry of fake development programs like mining to our communities,” said Pagalan.

What is distressing, Pagalan said, is that the previous administration ended without any resolution to the issue.

“For this reason, we are hoping for an end on the conflict under the new administration. We are calling for the disbandment of paramilitaries and the arrest of those who were behind the attacks,” Pagalan said.

This problem, however, is not isolated to the Philippines and is part of a so-called global war machine, said Joe Iosbaker of the United National Antiwar Coalition.

The group, which is the largest antiwar coalition in the United States, said the conflict in the Philippines involves interventions from foreign forces, including American interests. TVJ