Ecological Solutions, Not Crimes!
Environmental Defenders, not Terrorists!
Unity Statement on the Recent Crackdown on Environmental Defenders in the Philippines
November 8, 2019
We, environmental defenders of the world, stand with our fellow activists, defenders, and development workers in the Philippines who have been arrested for trumped up charges and those who continue to face harassment, threats and human rights violations perpetrated by the government of President Rodrigo Duterte.
On October 31, 57 activists, some of whom are land-rights defenders, were illegally arrested in Bacolod City. Thirty-five (35) of the arrested remained in detention and faced trumped-up charges. During the same day, women’s rights activist Cora Agovida and urban poor rights defender Michael Bartolome were arrested and charged for illegal possession of firearms and explosives in Manila City. The two have led communities in the fight against reclamation projects in Manila City.
On November 2, human rights and environmental defender Honey Mae Suazo was reported missing in Davao del Norte. She was feared to be a victim of enforced disappearance. Suazo was active in campaigns against large-scale mining and agricultural plantations in Mindanao amid military rule in the island region.
This was followed by the arrest of community organizers and leaders Ram Bautista, Alma Moran, and Reina Nacino last November 5. These activists were ardent campaigners against coal stockpiles dumped in Tondo, Manila.
Humanitarian NGOs such as Oxfam Philippines and the Citizens' Disaster Response Center were also red-tagged by the Department of National Defense as a front of terrorist groups. Environmental groups Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment and Center for Environmental Concerns are experiencing harassment and threats of a raid from police forces for more than a month now.
This is but the latest wave of continuing attacks against environmental defenders since a July 2019 Global Witness report said the Philippines as the most dangerous country for environmental defenders.
On August 6, Brandon Lee, a paralegal volunteer and anti-megadam activist working with indigenous people in Ifugao, was shot and critically wounded in front of his house. Brandon survived the assassination attempt and is still in hospital to date.
On September 4, forest ranger Bienvinido Veguilla Jr was hacked to death by illegal loggers in the province of Palawan.
On September 23, Cris Heredia, a people’s lawyer and anti-mining activist, was ambushed along with her daughter.This was 20 days after Cris and her environmental organization successfully reinstated a local ordinance which bans large-scale mining in the province of Capiz.
On October 25, Ronaldo Corpuz, another forest ranger operating in the province of Nueva Ecija, was also shot dead.
They are not criminals. They are our among the many individuals and organizations who are at the frontline of environmental defense in the country.
These continuing vilification, criminalization, killings and impunity must stop!
We thus join hands and link arms in solidarity against all attacks directed at environment and human rights defenders. We will work together to use all human rights mechanisms to ensure our collective safety, care, and protection.
We demand the Duterte government to cease its militarization and human rights violations. The government must immediately lift the martial law declaration in Mindanao. We call on Congress to pass the Human Rights Defenders Act.
Lastly, we call for the conduct of an independent international fact finding mission. We enjoin the United Nations and the rest of the international community to heighten efforts to hold accountable the Duterte Government for the relentless atrocities on the people.
Sign the unity statement
Ecological Solutions, Not Crimes!
Environmental Defenders, not Terrorists!
Unity Statement on the Recent Crackdown on Environmental Defenders in the Philippines
November 8, 2019
We, environmental defenders of the world, stand with our fellow activists, defenders, and development workers in the Philippines who have been arrested for trumped up charges and those who continue to face harassment, threats and human rights violations perpetrated by the government of President Rodrigo Duterte.
On October 31, 57 activists, some of whom are land-rights defenders, were illegally arrested in Bacolod City. Thirty-five (35) of the arrested remained in detention and faced trumped-up charges. During the same day, women’s rights activist Cora Agovida and urban poor rights defender Michael Bartolome were arrested and charged for illegal possession of firearms and explosives in Manila City. The two have led communities in the fight against reclamation projects in Manila City.
On November 2, human rights and environmental defender Honey Mae Suazo was reported missing in Davao del Norte. She was feared to be a victim of enforced disappearance. Suazo was active in campaigns against large-scale mining and agricultural plantations in Mindanao amid military rule in the island region.
This was followed by the arrest of community organizers and leaders Ram Bautista, Alma Moran, and Reina Nacino last November 5. These activists were ardent campaigners against coal stockpiles dumped in Tondo, Manila.
Humanitarian NGOs such as Oxfam Philippines and the Citizens' Disaster Response Center were also red-tagged by the Department of National Defense as a front of terrorist groups. Environmental groups Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment and Center for Environmental Concerns are experiencing harassment and threats of a raid from police forces for more than a month now.
This is but the latest wave of continuing attacks against environmental defenders since a July 2019 Global Witness report said the Philippines as the most dangerous country for environmental defenders.
On August 6, Brandon Lee, a paralegal volunteer and anti-megadam activist working with indigenous people in Ifugao, was shot and critically wounded in front of his house. Brandon survived the assassination attempt and is still in hospital to date.
On September 4, forest ranger Bienvinido Veguilla Jr was hacked to death by illegal loggers in the province of Palawan.
On September 23, Cris Heredia, a people’s lawyer and anti-mining activist, was ambushed along with her daughter.This was 20 days after Cris and her environmental organization successfully reinstated a local ordinance which bans large-scale mining in the province of Capiz.
On October 25, Ronaldo Corpuz, another forest ranger operating in the province of Nueva Ecija, was also shot dead.
They are not criminals. They are our among the many individuals and organizations who are at the frontline of environmental defense in the country.
These continuing vilification, criminalization, killings and impunity must stop!
We thus join hands and link arms in solidarity against all attacks directed at environment and human rights defenders. We will work together to use all human rights mechanisms to ensure our collective safety, care, and protection.
We demand the Duterte government to cease its militarization and human rights violations. The government must immediately lift the martial law declaration in Mindanao. We call on Congress to pass the Human Rights Defenders Act.
Lastly, we call for the conduct of an independent international fact finding mission. We enjoin the United Nations and the rest of the international community to heighten efforts to hold accountable the Duterte Government for the relentless atrocities on the people.