Shifting from Armed Struggle to Non-Violent Action in Indigenous Communities in Mindanao

Patricia Mae Deocampo AliñoMaster of Peace and Conflict Studies

Overview

• Philippines and the IndigenousPeoples in Mindanao

• Root causes of conflict and therole of the State and thecommunist insurgency

• Pillars of support

• Shift from violent resistance tonon-violent action

• Current efforts of IndigenousCommunities

Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines

• The IPs in the Philippines comprise of 10% of the country’s total population.

• Majority of the IPs live in geographically isolated areas (‘GIA’)

• They are considered among the poorest and most marginalized sectors of society.

• They have suffered a long history of oppression and their need for basic social services continues to be neglected by the government.

History of colonization in the Philippines

Situation of the Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao

• Discrimination and marginalization

• Dispossession of lands

• Harassment by armed groups

• Lack of delivery of basic services

Effects of Armed Conflict

• Loss of source of livelihood and ancestral domains

• Child and youth recruitment to armed struggle

• Closure of schools in communities

• Displacement of IP communities

Pillars of Support

Psychological

Factors (Social

categorization)

Presence of

security forces

and

paramilitary

groups

Material

resources

Laws and

policies

STATE

From armed struggle to non-violent

resistance

• Recognition of their right to self-determination.

• Right to their Ancestral Domains (AD)

• Non-involvement in ongoing conflict

• Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)

Current efforts

• Conventional politics

• Protest and Rallies

• Non-violent constructive programs

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Patricia Mae D. Aliño

pali0828@uni.sydney.edu.au