July 12, 2013 Press Release International Solidarity Mission to be held in Ifugao

On July 19-21, 2013 the International Conference for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (ICCHRP) will be held in response to the need to assist the Filipino people in the struggle against growing human rights violations in the country and the government's utter disregard for the people's legitimate rights, also in strengthening international solidarity for common causes towards the attainment of human rights and just and lasting peace. The conference will be attended by around 300 participants from different national and international organizations. Prior to the conference, an International Solidarity Mission (ISM) will be held in 8 sites in the country. One of the ISM sites is Tinoc, Ifugao. Ifugao is threatened with the entry of high-impact destructive projects such as the mining ventures of Lepanto Goldfields and Nickel-Asia and the geothermal project of Chevron. Sta. Clara Power corporation is also installing 6 hydros in Tinoc. The peoples resistance against these destructive projects is met with militarization and the heightening political vilification of development and human rights workers and militarization. Staff of Non-Government Organizations and Peoples Organizations working for sustainable and pro-people development are threatened and harassed by the 86th IBPA. 28 civilians were included in the target list of the 86th IBPA last year and they have been subjected to continuing surveillance, threats and harassment. The ISM proper will be conducted on July 15-17 at Tinoc, Ifugao and its results will be shared through a press conference on July 18, 10am at the office of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance. The ISM in Tinoc, Ifugao was organized by the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance with the Ifugao Peasant Movement and the Ulnoh ni Kalanguyan Tinek or ULNOH.

For Reference: Mr. Jude Baggo Secretary-General Cordillera Human Rights Alliance Mobile numbers : 09189199007, 09168312391