By SHERWIN DE VERA
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Church and international groups have rallied behind Cordillera activists following their terrorist designation by the Philippine government.

Global Witness and Land is Life condemned the terrorist designation of Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) leaders Windel Bolinget, Stephen Tauli, Sarah Abellon-Alikes, and Jennifer Awingan-Taggaoa in the government’s terrorist list.

In a June 7 resolution, the Anti-Terrorism Council designated them terrorists and two other individuals. The government accused them of being leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The ATC resolution came a month after a regional trial court in Abra dismissed the rebellion charge filed against them and three activists from the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

“This recent government announcement appears to be part of a state-sponsored pattern of ‘red tagging’ with the four defenders – vital members of the Philippines environmental movement – reporting years of harassment and state-backed smear campaigns aimed at undermining their work advocating for the rights of communities and Indigenous peoples in the Cordillera region,” said Global Witness Senior Campaigner Rachel Cox.

The group called on foreign embassies in the Philippines, whose governments have committed to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, to support land and environmental defenders at risk of harassment and attacks.

Land is Life, a New York-based international coalition of indigenous peoples, called on the government to respect the rights and guarantee the safety of Bolinget, Tauli, Alikes, and Taggaoa, including CPA members and staff.

“We also urge the authorities to make sure that due process is respected in any legal proceedings involving activists and land defenders in the Philippines,” the group said.

Meanwhile, the United Church of Canada (UCC), the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), and Not1More, a campaign network for environmental defenders, expressed solidarity with CPA and its embattled leaders.

“The United Church of Canada stands with Mission and Service Partner, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, in condemning the false designation of terrorist of CPA leaders in the Philippines,” the church said. UCC also called for the repeal of the Anti-Terrorism.

“Not1More stands with CPA and all embattled environmental defenders framed as terrorists by their own states. Indigenous and environmental defenders are protecting the rights and well-being of all – defending nature for our common future,” the group said.

Meanwhile, IWGIA called on Philippine authorities to respect indigenous peoples’ and human rights defenders’ civil and political rights and fundamental freedoms. The group also assured CPA that it would stand with its efforts to counter the attacks against indigenous peoples. # nordis.net