Frustration atop frustration
Last week we tried for many days to go and visit a Lumad village near Dumingag, however the municipal mayor would not allow it. This is a man who used to be an activist, working with our partners at InPeace here in Mindanao, but since entering politics. he has done his best to distance himself from the hard left.
While in office he has implemented somee great things, a smoking ban, clean streets policy and an impressive organic farming infrastructure. However, he has had trouble with the military and government because he refuses to let mining companies have access to the mineral rich mountains that surround the municipality. As a result, higher ups are looking for any excuse to oust him from government, because to help the people here is to critique the corruption.
It is because he is so intent on protecting his work and programs that he is not letting us go into the mountains to see the Lumad village, even though the villagers themselves consented.
Instead we were shown a propaganda video of his initiatives and toured an organic farm. While there his representative who met us kept making references to the the Lumad and how great their organic farms are thanks to this mayor, yet we are kept from seeing for ourselves. It makes one wonder what they really don't want us to see.
Julius, the mayors representative, told us that certain mining companies have sent in expeditions to survey without official permission, but they are not restricted as we have been. It is very frustrating that those looking to exploit the people are given full access, but we who are fighting for their rights are expected to passively swallow whatever shiny bauble the mayor wants us to see in order to push his agenda and hide any injustice.
