Indigenous peoples in Agusan del Sur face harassment

NewsWatch Plus PH

22 Apr 202202:26

Summary

TLDRPhilippine President Duterte recently granted over 38,000 hectares of ancestral domain land to the Benoitans of San Luisa, Busan Del Sur, affirming their right to own and cultivate it. However, a tribal leader reports ongoing harassment and intimidation by armed men, with locals fearing for their safety. Despite laws to protect indigenous people, the Commission on Human Rights acknowledges their vulnerability to aggression, including land grabbing. The local government has yet to respond to these allegations, highlighting the need for government intervention to ensure the tribe's safe return to their ancestral land.

Takeaways

🏆 President Duterte awarded over 38,000 hectares of ancestral domain land to the Benoitans of San Luisa, Busan Del Sur.
🌾 This land grant gives indigenous people the right to own and cultivate the land, recognizing their ancestral claims.
🚫 Despite the land rights, a traditional leader reports that the tribe faces restrictions on their freedom of movement.
🔍 Locals claim harassment and intimidation by armed groups, with one foreign farmer killed and others under threat.
🚔 There has been no report of these incidents to the local police, suggesting a lack of action or awareness.
😔 The Commission on Human Rights acknowledges that indigenous people are highly vulnerable to aggressions, even with protective laws in place.
📜 The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples admits there are undocumented cases of harassment and intimidation against indigenous communities.
📡 Attempts to reach the local government of San Luisa, Busan Del Sur for comment have been unsuccessful, indicating a potential lack of response or support.
🏞️ Land grabbing is highlighted as a significant issue, with development aggression exacerbating the vulnerability of indigenous communities.
🙏 The tribe is seeking government assistance to safely return to their ancestral lands without fear or restraint.

Q & A

Who has recently been awarded land by President Duterte?
-Over 38,000 actors of land have been awarded as ancestral domain to the Benoitans of San Luisa, Busan Del Sur.
What rights do the indigenous people have over the awarded land?
-The indigenous people have the right to own and cultivate the land.
What is the issue faced by the tribe despite having a rightful claim over the land?
-The tribe cannot move around freely, and locals are being harassed and intimidated by a group of armed men.
What incident involving a foreign farmer was mentioned in the script?
-A foreign farmer was killed last February, and more are threatened to be killed.
Why is there no report of the incident to the local police?
-The script does not provide a specific reason, but it implies that the situation is complex and possibly involves fear or intimidation.
What percentage of indigenous people are considered vulnerable to aggressions according to the Commission on Human Rights?
-80 to 90 percent of indigenous people are considered vulnerable to aggressions.
What does the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples admit regarding indigenous communities?
-There are cases of undocumented harassments and intimidation towards indigenous communities.
What has the local government of San Luisagusan Del Sur been asked to respond to?
-The local government has been asked to respond to the issue of harassment and intimidation of indigenous people.
What is one of the main issues confronting the indigenous people according to the script?
-One of the main issues confronting the indigenous people is land grabbing due to developmental aggression.
What is the government being asked to help with regarding the problem in San Luisagusan Del Sur?
-The government is being asked to help ensure that tribe members can return to their ancestral land without fear and intimidation.

Outlines

00:00

🏆 Land Rights for Indigenous People

President Duterte has awarded over 38,000 hectares of ancestral domain land to the indigenous people of San Luisa, Busan Del Sur. This recognition grants them the right to own and cultivate the land. However, a traditional leader from the area reports that despite the legal claim, the tribe faces harassment and intimidation from armed men, impeding their freedom of movement. The situation has escalated to violence, with a foreign farmer killed in February, and further threats to the community. The incident has not been reported to the local police. The Commission on Human Rights and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples acknowledge the vulnerability of indigenous people to aggression, despite protective laws. The local government of San Luisa, Busan Del Sur has not responded to inquiries, and the indigenous people are seeking government assistance to safely return to their ancestral land.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ancestral Domain

Ancestral domain refers to lands traditionally owned and occupied by indigenous people. In the context of the video, President Duterte's award of over 38,000 hectares of land as ancestral domain to the Benoitans of San Luisa, Busan Del Sur signifies the legal recognition of the tribe's rights to own and cultivate this land, which is a significant step towards affirming indigenous land rights. However, the video also highlights ongoing challenges, such as harassment and intimidation by armed groups, which threaten the indigenous people's ability to freely utilize their ancestral domain.

💡Indigenous People

Indigenous people are ethnic groups who are the original inhabitants of a region. The video discusses the Benoitans, an indigenous group in the Philippines, and their struggle for land rights. Despite legal recognition, they face aggression and intimidation, illustrating the vulnerability of indigenous communities to external threats and the need for stronger protective measures.

💡Land Rights

Land rights are the legal and customary rights to use, own, and control land. The video emphasizes the importance of land rights for indigenous communities, as exemplified by the ancestral domain awarded to the Benoitans. These rights are crucial for their cultural identity, livelihood, and development. However, the video also points out the harsh reality that even with legal rights, indigenous people can be subjected to harassment and violence, indicating the gap between legal provisions and their implementation on the ground.

💡Harassment and Intimidation

Harassment and intimidation refer to the use of threats or coercion to deter or punish people. In the video, it is mentioned that locals are being harassed and intimidated by armed men, highlighting a serious violation of the indigenous people's rights to live and cultivate their land peacefully. This situation underscores the need for effective law enforcement and community support to protect indigenous communities.

💡Armed Men

The term 'armed men' in the video script suggests the presence of non-state actors who are armed and involved in threatening the safety and security of the indigenous community. The mention of a foreign farmer being killed and the threat to others' lives indicates the severity of the situation and the urgency for intervention to ensure the protection of the indigenous people's rights and lives.

💡Human Rights

Human rights are the fundamental rights to which all individuals are entitled. The video discusses the indigenous people's vulnerability to aggressions despite laws meant to protect them, indicating a failure in the implementation of human rights protections. It underscores the importance of human rights as a framework for safeguarding the rights of indigenous communities.

💡National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples is a government agency in the Philippines tasked with protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of indigenous peoples. The video mentions the Commission's admission of undocumented cases of harassment and intimidation against indigenous communities, which points to ongoing issues that need to be addressed by the state to ensure the safety and rights of these communities.

💡Land Grabbing

Land grabbing is the illegal or unjustified taking of land from its rightful owners. The video script alludes to land grabbing as one of the issues faced by the indigenous communities, where their ancestral lands are under threat due to development aggression. This term is relevant to the video's theme as it highlights the struggle of indigenous people to retain control over their ancestral domains.

💡Vulnerability

Vulnerability in this context refers to the susceptibility of indigenous people to various forms of aggression and rights violations. The video emphasizes that despite legal protections, indigenous communities remain vulnerable due to various factors, including the lack of effective implementation of protective measures and the presence of armed groups.

💡Development Aggression

Development aggression implies that the process of development, often led by external forces, can lead to negative consequences for indigenous communities, such as displacement and loss of land rights. The video suggests that development aggression is a factor contributing to the land grabbing issue faced by the Benoitans, indicating a need for development practices that respect and involve indigenous communities.

Highlights

President Duterte awards over 38,000 hectares of land as ancestral domain to the Benoitans of San Luisa, Busan Del Sur.

Indigenous people gain the right to own and cultivate the land.

A traditional leader reports that the tribe cannot move around freely on their land.

Locals claim harassment and intimidation by armed men.

A foreign farmer was killed in February, and more threats have been made.

There is no report of these incidents to the local police.

80-90% of indigenous people are vulnerable to aggressions, according to the Commission on Human Rights.

Laws meant to protect indigenous people are not effectively preventing harassment.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples acknowledges undocumented cases of harassment.

Attempts to reach the local government of San Luisa, Busan Del Sur have been unsuccessful.

Indigenous communities are being taken advantage of due to their vulnerabilities.

Land grabbing is a significant issue confronting indigenous tribes.

Development aggression is a factor contributing to the vulnerability of indigenous communities.

A tribal member is asking for government help to address the problem.

The only solution for tribe members to return to their ancestral land is without fear and restraint.

Prior restraint Philippines is mentioned as a context for the situation.