Cagayan de Oro City—Various groups launched Wednesday an interfaith network supporting the indigenous peoples in their fight for their rights.
Named ‘Higala sa Lumad’ [Friends of the Lumads] Network, the higalas will help protect indigenous communities primarily through campaign popularization.
Its members are composed of individuals and organizations from various denominations that will be monitoring the rights situation of the communities and will conduct quick response activities when needed.
These include fact-finding missions, lobbying, legal support, and online campaigns, among others.
“We have gathered over a hundred supporters not only from the Philippines but also from other countries the campaigns on indigenous peoples’ rights have reached,” said lawyer Czarina Golda Musni, core group member of the Higala sa Lumad.
The network is created under the ‘Healing the Hurt’ Project, an initiative aimed at addressing marginalization issues of the lumad. One of its components hopes to increase financial, material and other forms of support for the protection and security of indigenous leaders and communities.
The inauguration program starts with a message from the project manager, Sr. Ma. Famita Somogod, MSM. The nun has previously worked with indigenous communities through the literacy and numeracy schools of the Missionary Sisters of Mary.
“As workers in lumad communities, we have experienced threats and harassments ourselves,” said Sister Somogod. “I am glad that despite the attacks on the lumad campaigns, many are still convinced that what we are fighting for is right.”
