Support the farmers and indigenous peoples of Opol in reclaiming their lands
Updates:
Farmers' Group condemns the killing of an IP Leader: Demand justice and pull out of A. Brown Company in Opol (3 October 2012)
APC and KMP calls for the punishment of A. Brown Company and all agencies involve in its illegal operation (25 July 2012)
Harassment continues in palm oil plantation in Mindanao (29 June 2012)
International petition to save farmers and indigenous peoples of Southern Philippines from oil palm expansion launched (18 June 2012)
Palm oil plantation in Misamis Oriental has no right to occupy indigenous lands, IFFM says (10 May 2012)
International FFM calls for pull-out of palm oil plantation in indigenous lands in Southern Philippines, end to global landgrabbing (8 May 2012)
PETITION LETTER
To:
Hon. Benigno Simeon Aquino III
President, Republic of the Philippines
Hon. Ramon J.P. Paje, CESO I
Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Hon. Zenaida Brigida H. Pawid
Chairperson, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
Hon. Dexter B. Yasay
Municipal Mayor, Municipality of Opol
Dear Sir/Madam,
This is to express concern over the findings of an International Fact-Finding Mission (IFFM) that was conducted by Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP), Peasant Movement of the Philippines (KMP), Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), Sentro Kitanglad, Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization and other organisations in Opol, province of Misamis Oriental in Southern Philippines. I find it disturbing that the ancestral lands of the indigenous Higaonon tribe have been forcibly taken away by a palm oil plantation owned by A Brown Company, and that they have suffered harassment and violence in the hands of this company and several conniving local government officials.
The IFFM found out, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has confirmed, that A Brown does not yet have a permit to operate in the said area, and is thus violating existing forestry and environmental laws.
Given the circumstances cited above and in order to uphold the rights of the indigenous peoples, I would like to request you to immediately undertake the following measures in Opol:
- A Brown to immediately pull-out of Opol and respect the farmers' and indigenous people's right to their ancestral lands;
- All forms of human rights violations be stopped, the perpetrators punished, and the victims indemnified;
- Desecration of sacred sites must also be stopped; and
- A Brown, together with all concerned units and agencies of the Philippine government to clean-up and rehabilitate the contaminated areas, provide immediate economic relief to the farmers, and strictly follow the FPIC process that is mandated not only by Philippine law, but by international law as well.
I would very much appreciate it if you can keep me informed about the future development of this case.
Sincerely,
Name, Country, E-mail, Organisation
To read more about the results of the International Fact Finding Mission, you may download the Speak Out here:
PETITION LETTER
To:
Walter W. Brown
Chairman, A Brown Company, Inc.
Dear Sir,
This is to express concern over the findings of an International Fact-Finding Mission (IFFM) that was conducted by Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP), Peasant Movement of the Philippines (KMP), Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), Sentro Kitanglad, Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization and other organisations in Opol, province of Misamis Oriental in Southern Philippines. I find it disturbing that the ancestral lands of the indigenous Higaonon tribe have been forcibly taken away by your palm oil plantation, and that they have suffered harassment and violence in the hands of your company and several conniving local government officials.
The IFFM found out, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has confirmed, that A Brown does not yet have a permit to operate in the said area, and is thus violating existing forestry and environmental laws.
Given the circumstances cited above and in order to uphold the rights of the indigenous peoples, I would like to request you to immediately undertake the following measures in Opol:
- A Brown to immediately pull-out of Opol and respect the farmers' and indigenous people's right to their ancestral lands;
- All forms of human rights violations be stopped and the victims indemnified; and
- A Brown to clean-up and rehabilitate the contaminated areas and provide immediate economic relief to the affected population.
Finally, I am calling on A Brown to consider the inherent rights of the peoples in its pursuit to be one of the major players of the palm oil industry in the country.
I would very much appreciate it if you can keep me informed about the future development of this case.
Sincerely,
Name, Country, E-mail, Organisation
Sign the Petition
