Tumandok Massacre 12/30/2020
TW: state violence, genocide
Who are the Tumandok?
(graphic taken from @prwc_info on twitter)
In Western Bisayas, “Tumandok” means native, or one who belongs to a place. They are the indigenous people of Central Panay – those who dwell in the Aklan river are called Akeanon, while those who reside in Pan-ay river are Pan-ayanon, and those who live along Jalaur river are called Jalawudnon.
What’s Been Going On?
Dam, logging, and mining projects have been steadily swallowing up indigenous lands across the Philippines for decades now. Land belonging to Tumanduks has been subjected to various dam projects that have already submerged countless homes and farming areas, displacing growing numbers of their population and severely impacting their livelihood.
And while violence and land theft is unfortunately nothing new for the government to wage against the indigenous peoples of the Philippines, the Duterte regime is cracking down on any form of activism it deems unfavorable as “terrorism”. People are disappearing, some even being murdered in broad daylight. It is a very dangerous time to be outspoken against land theft in the Philippines, and indigenous groups are the most vulnerable to the government’s criminal acts.
The Massacre
On the morning of December 30, 2020, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched an attack on Tumanduks resisting the construction of the Jalaur Mega Dam. Nine indigenous leaders were killed. One of the witnesses went on to say in an interview that everyone was asleep at the time of the attack and scrambled to defend themselves once it began, but could not.
17 people were also arrested, and potentially face death as well. This is an ongoing crisis. The AFP is still there and working to remove the people in order to aid in the construction of the dam.
The aftermath of this attack has displaced a growing number of Tumandok families, who are now taking shelter in evacuation sites as military raids continue across their villages. They are in need of donations.
Please donate to the links provided below, and DO NOT donate to any links you find that are sponsored by the government. The government will not aid the evacuees.
