Back in 2007, when the Subanon first approached the Gukom Office, they also filed a complaint with the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) against the Philippine Government for its own role in the Canatuan mine.
As the Gukom explain in the press release, the government is just as responsible for what happened as TVI. Only they don't want them to go through a ceremony. They want to proceed with the complaint. As Honorable Timuay Noval states, "...our complaint in the UNCERD is against the violations of the Philippine Government to our rights, customs and traditions. The Buklog... is TVIRDI's compliance to the Gukom's imposed penalty."
"Whether we accept or not TVIRDI's atonement, it does not matter to our UNCERD complaint because the fact remains that the Philippine Government violated our rights," added Timuay Lambo.
"We are not imposing penalty nor requiring the government to conduct a cleansing ritual, what we are asking is an admission of their fault and commitment to protect the rights of indigenous peoples, first and foremost," said Timuay Jose Boy Anoy.
For more information, please contact:
Soliling Eufemio Undadi
Media Relations Officer
Mobile Phone: +63 (0)921-254-6917
Or
Honorable Timuay Noval L. Lambo
Gulang Gukom
Mobile Phone: +63 (0)926-485-9820
Or
Gukom sog Pito ko Dolungan Office Block 7 Lot 8 Phase I Country Homes, Ayala Zamboanga City Email: gukom7d @ yahoo.com
