By KATRIBU INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ PARTYLIST

KATRIBU Indigenous Peoples’ Partylist is the progressive party of indigenous peoples upholding and fighting for the rights and welfare of the indigenous peoples, the Moro peoples, and all impoverished and oppressed people in the Philippines. We engage in legal and unarmed struggle. We participate in the elections. We operate within the bounds of the law. Our only weapon is our track record of genuine service to the country’s indigenous peoples since our establishment in 2008, with our concrete program and agenda for the protection of ancestral lands and genuine development for the historically marginalized indigenous peoples.

KATRIBU condemns the political vilification and red-baiting of a certain group Pinoy for Peace, which distributed materials with the following content in certain parts of Baguio City: “HUWAG IBOTO! KATRIBU, HUWAD NA BOSES NG MGA KATUTUBO, KASANGGA NG CPP-NPA!” – PINOY FOR PEACE.”

There is simply no truth to this, as this is meant to discredit KATRIBU’s campaign and rob us of people’s votes in the May 2013 elections. We challenge this Pinoy for Peace to come out in the open and face KATRIBU, rather than just appearing in paper, faceless and without a signatory. We denounce this political vilification and other forms of red-baiting, which makes us open targets of various human rights violations. These attacks lead to the perception that progressive candidates, leaders, and partylists are enemies of the State, thus, justify extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations against the members and supporters.

In 2010, we faced the same challenges of vilification and black propaganda. Yet, KATRIBU continued to advance the rights and welfare of indigenous peoples and the rest of the Filipino people, and made certain achievements, with the indigenous peoples’ trust and support. We actively participated in the drafting of the People’s Mining Bill as an alternative to the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and an Anti-Discrimination Bill. We continue to ensure the recognition of our right to free, prior and informed consent, and to fight for justice and human rights. We facilitate delivery of social services for indigenous communities, and maintain our information and education on indigenous peoples, culture and history.

We continue to appeal to the Filipinos to be more critical of these besmirching campaigns. We call on all Filipinos to choose their candidates wisely in the May 2013 elections, on the basis of their electoral platform, position on urgent issues affecting the people, and track record. The people’s support in 2010 brought us to a near win. Once more, with your support and advocacy, we can achieve victory in the May 2013 elections. Let us advance indigenous peoples’ right to self determination and the politics of change. # nordis.net