The spate of killings of environment and land defenders in different parts of the world is a serious concern as it is ironic that our endeavors to preserve our environment is being suppressed with violent intensity. How is it that such noble causes to preserve and ensure the sustainability of our ecology to support life is paid with punitive acts like human rights violations.

From the reports of an independent international watchdog, Global Witness, it shows a significant number of environmentalists killed in the past year, averaging to three killed in a certain week. The victims are mostly activists and indigenous peoples involved in campaigns to defend the environment and indigenous land rights from the exploitation of mining, energy projects, logging and agribusiness.

It is imperative to point out the fact that the target areas of these development aggression are ancestral domains of indigenous peoples where there are large mineral deposits, home to water bodies with potentials for energy generation and wide expanse of fertile soil. These communities that mainly rely on the land for survival through agriculture and traditional livelihood are constantly threatened with displacement by big business interests, hence the need for them to stand up and lead the struggle to defend their territories from destruction or take over by private and foreign entities; territories that they’ve worked so hard to preserve its biodiversity and fertility for future generations.

For the same reason, indigenous leaders and environmental defenders become victims of human rights violations, killings, abductions, forced disappearances, harassment and slapped with trumped-up charges. Their communities, with the loss of their leaders added to the trauma of these violence are forced to flee from their homes and with resistance suppressed, private corporations are free to plunder and exploit the natural resources and leave it barren after.

Global Witness’s study shows a staggering number of human rights violations related to land disputes from across the globe with the Philippines topping the list followed by other countries from Latin America, Africa and mostly from Asia. In most cases, the victims are indigenous peoples, the tillers and stewards of the land.

The world should not look the other way when the people who put their lives on the line to keep our environment from further degradation are criminalized or killed. Let us unite with the indigenous peoples to further the defense of our lands from exploitation.

This coming August 9th is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples; we call for solidarity and support in our campaigns to stop criminalizing indigenous activists and to join us in our struggle to defend land, life and resources. We enjoin all organizations, groups, networks and individuals to utilize all their platforms and bring global attention to the plight of indigenous peoples and the deteriorating state of our environment.

For reference:

Ms. Jill Carino

AIPNEE Coordinator

Asia Indigenous peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE) is one with the world in commemorating International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Today, we salute all indigenous peoples who have persevered in their struggles for the respect and defense of our collective rights to ancestral land, resources and self-determination.

While we applaud our gains, we equally recognize our losses and challenges. The lessons we learned from this historic struggle are our weapons as we move forward in our quest for true freedom, a healthy natural environment, and lasting peace. These are the fundamental elements for self-determination and sustainable development from the perspective of indigenous peoples.

As we advance our struggles, we confront more difficult and life-threatening challenges such as the plunder of our resources and the aggressive implementation of extractive and destructive development projects in our territories. Indigenous peoples are repeatedly victims of human or people’s right violations in various forms such as harassment, vilification, abduction, rape, incarceration for fake charges, torture, extra-judicial killing, bombing, burning of villages, massacre, etc. At worst, ethnocide and genocide could already be happening among some indigenous groups.

Today, these challenges have worsened to a level beyond expectation as we experience the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, among the most affected are indigenous peoples and the poor majority of the global population. The imposition by States of extreme restrictions in mobility has prevented people from working for their daily subsistence, especially with the closure of many establishments. Medical, economic and food relief support from the government are limited or none at all. Many people are experiencing hunger and mental trauma that have pushed some to commit suicide.

Ironically, transnational corporations engaged in extractive industries seem undisturbed and exempted from restrictions under the COVID-19 quarantine. Corporations continue to operate their businesses especially in the mining and energy sectors. In Asia, the pandemic is being used to further oppress the people with the imposition of various militarist policies and the implementation of anti-people development projects, which indigenous peoples strongly oppose.

In the Philippines, mining-affected people of Didipio, Nueva Ecija were locked down in their homes and communities to stop the spread of the pandemic. Meanwhile, OceanaGold Mining Company insisted on operating despite the expiration of its FTAA permit on June 20, 2019. The mining company aided by policemen, had sneaked into the mine-site to bring in fuel supplies breaking through the community barricade with a fuel tank truck. Community members who strongly protested were even charged for violation of quarantine restrictions.

In Myanmar, on July 2, 2020, a landslide at a jade mine in Hpakant, Katchin state, north Myanmar killed at least 126 mine workers and injured54 others. Reports say that many large jade mine companies are owned by families of former generals, army, cronies, and drug lords. The Katchin minority people of Myanmar have been opposing the Jade mine for decades already.

In Northeast India, an oil spill happened on May 27, 2020 at Baghjan Oilfield of India Limited (OIL) in Tinsukia district in Assam state causing a fire that lasted for 2 weeks. Around 3,000 (1,610 families) people were affected and forced to evacuate. Furthermore, the oil spill badly damaged two biodiversity areas (Maguri-Motapung wetland and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park) where at least 36 species of mammals including feral horses and at least 382 species of birds are found. It was also reported that this is not the first disaster incident at Baghjan Oilfield. In February this year, a blast at the oil pipeline had caused the Burhi Dihing river to catch fire.

In Indonesia, land use conversion for commercial purposes is continuing. 15 million hectares of rainforests on ancestral lands plus another 15 million hectares are being converted into oil palm plantations. In addition, more than 93 million hectares of land are covered by mining concessions, part of which are lands owned by indigenous peoples.

The cases mentioned here illustrate how the tandem of transnational corporations and governments with their armed forces in Asia are advancing

their businesses for huge profits- amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Adversely affected areindigenous peoples, their territories, environment and biodiversity. Now more than ever, we indigenous peoples should act as one in confronting these challenges. We need to persevere in fighting for our rights to land and self-determination, as we strengthen our solidarity with other oppressed sectors around the globe for the common good of the people and the planet.

Long live Indigenous Peoples in Asia! Log live Indigenous Peoples of the World! Long live International Solidarity!