TO THE PUBLIC OPINION

We reject persecution of indigenous rights defenders

by the Government of the Philippines
CHIRAPAQ, Center for Indigenous Cultures of Peru, expresses its support
for Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous
peoples and Joan Carling, Co-convener of the Indigenous Peoples Major
Group for Sustainable Development, who have been arbitrarily qualified as
terrorists by the Government of the Philippines.

As part of the global indigenous movement we have witnessed the

inexhaustible struggle of both to achieve the recognition of the rights of our
peoples in the United Nations system and in accordance with the democratic
principles of the States.

Their determined commitment and activism has contributed to the adoption

of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by
the States, and to the creation of other UN mechanisms for the defense of our
rights, that have also been supported by the Government of the Philippines
on the international scene.

We call on the Government of the Philippines to backtrack on the

unjustifiable use of this qualification and we ask the allies of the indigenous
peoples worldwide to join their voices of protest against this attack on the
defenders of the rights of our peoples.

Lima, March 9, 2018

Róger Rumrrill
Chairman of the Board of Directors
CHIRAPAQ, Center for Indigenous Cultures of Peru

Organización con status consultivo especial ante el Consejo Económico y Social (ECOSOC) de Naciones Unidas
Av. Horacio Urteaga 534 Of. 203 Lima 11 Perú - Telefax (511) 423-2757
E-mail: ayllu@chirapaq.org.pe - web site: www.chirapaq.org.pe