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John Burrows Executive Director Center For World Indigenous Studies ()-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=() ||/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|| ||=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-|| || || || The Fourth World Documentation Project runs entirely on grants || || and private donations. If you find this information service || || useful to you in any way, please consider making a donation to || || help keep it running. CWIS is a non-profit [U.S. 501(c)(3)] || || organization. All donations are completely tax deductible. || || Donations may be made to: || || || || The Center For World Indigenous Studies || || ATTN: FWDP || || P.O. Box 2574 || || Olympia, Washington USA || || 98507-2574 || || Thank You, || || CWIS Staff || || || ||=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-|| ||\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/|| ()=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-() ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: This file has been created under the loving care of :: :: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- :: :: A service provided by :: :: The Center For World Indigenous Studies :: :: :: :: THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT ARCHIVES :: :: http://www.halcyon.com/FWDP/fwdp.html :: :: THE CENTER FOR WORLD INDIGENOUS STUDIES :: :: http://www.halcyon.com/FWDP/cwisinfo.html :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: DOCUMENT: CPA-STAT.TXT E N S U R E T H E V I C T O R Y O F G E N U I N E A U T O N O M Y (Statement of the Cordillera People's Alliance) The ongoing Congress deliberations on Cordillera autonomy has prompted all sincere pro-autonomy adherents to reflect on the proposals being made. Autonomy after all does not merely mean the regionalizing of the five provinces, but the actual empowerment of the people. Autonomy, being the embodiment of the Cordillera peoples' aspiration for self-determination, should not become just another beautifully-worded document. Rather, an organic act on regional autonomy should ensure the following: 1. The right of the Cordillera people to their ancestral domain and to the management of the surface and subsurface resources contained therein; 2. The right of the Cordillera people to freely determine their own legislative, administrative and judiciary system appropriate to their existing socio-political structure; 3. Due respect and recognition for the indigenous socio- political structure, and providing for the protection of, and the development of the Cordillera culture; taking concrete measures to correct past discriminatory practices against the Cordillera people; 4. Proper representation of the majority of Cordillera people to the national government, thereby promoting their just participation with the rest of the Filipinos in national level of policy-making; and 5. The right of the Cordillera people to chart their economic destiny according to their needs, practices and abilities, and free from the dictates of vested interests. Any document on autonomy that lacks the above provisions falls into the trap of merely mouthing grand rhetorics on autonomy. In the same way, any charter which advocates the above ideals yet falls short in stipulating mechanisms and methods to guarantee their realization is as good as cold rhetorics. The draft charter of the Cordillera Regional Consultative Commission is a case in point. While the draft advocates the virtues of "self-governance", "democratic participation", "devolution of power" in the future autonomous system, it fails to substantiate the mechanism of and runs short of guaranteeing these virtues in any of the following provisions. The provisions to "ban foreign military bases and troops" and to "prohibit the use of nuclear weapons" are commendable. Yet, reality says that not even the embodiment of similar provision in the 1987 Philippine Constitution has guaranteed the banning of nuclear armaments in the country. Whereas, the draft charter proudly defines the scope of the Cordillera ancestral domain and patrimony and guarantee "a just share of the revenues derived" from the exploitation of natural resources, it remains silent on the existence of unjust land laws such as P.D. 705 and R.A. 410. Hence, even the much-acclaimed CRCC draft charter with its vaunted progressive and pro-people provisions falls short of actually delivering the bacon to the Cordillera people. Congress is fast concluding its deliberations on the final draft of the Organic Act. The House of Representatives has reportedly agreed on a 50% retention of national taxes and revenues in the autonomous region. It has also settled for a convenient compromise between a parliamentary form and presidential form of government not to mention the instant and complete disregard for the original proposals to include the geographic area in the autonomous area (which after all was the sentiment during the CRCC consultations). Don't these serve enough as warning for more compromises to come especially on the so-called progressive provisions contained in the original draft? While a lot are being led to believe that the ratification of an organic act is the solution to their problems, painful realities negate such hopes. Human rights records in the past six months alone give a discouraging trend. To mention some of the more glaring cases, these are: 1. The illegal arrest and detention of two farmers of Mainit, and a vegetable gardener of Balugan, Sagada, Mr. Province, and the harassment of several others; 2. The illegal arrest and detention of two PETA staff members in Baguio and the continuing harassment of cause-oriented groups and institutions; 3. The torture and salvaging of Danilo Tifmo of Tabuk, Kalinga-Apayao by still unidentified men; 4. The murder of Fr. Leo Vanwinkle of Lubuagan, Kalinga- Apayao by still unidentified men; 5. The illegal arrest, torture, and detention of a rebel- returnee turned businessman from Sagada, Mt. Province; 6. The harassment by CPLA elements on Fr. Mike Haltermann and Domingo Tumbali after both survived murder attempts where both were seriously wounded; 7. The continuing threat and harassment of Church people. 8. Bombing and strafing of Cordillera communities. As the notorious Conrado Balweg actively lobbies for the institutionalization of the CPLA into the regional structure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the APF-CPLA tandem goes into mutual cooperation to implement the counter-insurgency project, human rights advocates have a lot to worry about. Not even a case of violation of human rights pending at the Supreme Court has stopped some members of Congress rom entertaining Balweg in the halls of the Legislature. The masses are led to doubt the sincerity of the present dispensation to address the people's grievances and demands in a meaningful manner. While the economic chaos prevails all over the nation, it is even more felt among the marginalized majority of the Cordillera society who continue to lose hope in the Aquino Government. It becomes increasingly obvious that emancipation from a worsening economic crisis and the realization of genuine autonomy can come only with a government which goes beyond rhetorics. It comes with a government with the will-power to improve the plight of the impoverished and oppressed Filipino. As such, genuine regional autonomy can only be achieved under a truly democratic and sovereign Philippine society. The Cordillera People's Alliance calls upon all Cordillerans to unite and persevere in the continuing struggle for genuine autonomy under a sovereign and democratic Philippines! OPPOSE AND REJECT ANY SCHEME OF THE U.S. - AQUINO REGIME TO IMPOSE FAKE AUTONOMY IN THE CORDILLERA! JUSTICE TO ALL VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS! STOP THE TOTAL WAR POLICY OF THE USAR! DISBAND AND DISARM THE CPLA AND OTHER VIGILANTE GROUPS! ONWARD WITH THE STRUGGLE FOR NATIONAL FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- To have a current Center For World Indigenous Studies Publication Catalogue sent to you via e-mail, send a request to jburrows@halcyon.com http://www.halcyon.com/FWDP/cwiscat.html Center For World Indigenous Studies P.O. Box 2574 Olympia, WA U.S.A. 98507-2574 FAX: 360-956-1087 OCR Provided by Caere Corporation's OmniPage Professional