NANANAWAGAN ang grupo ng mga iskolar, cultural workers, at mananaliksik para magkaroon ng kapayapaan ang indigeneous peoples communities sa Iloilo at Capiz matapos ang sunod-sunod na pagsalakay sa mga hinihinalang miyembro ng New People’s Army.

Ipinahatid ng Panay Indigeneous Culture Advocacy Group ang kanilang mensahe sa Facebook, lakip ang panghihikayat sa publiko na tulungang makabangon at magkaroon ng masaganang pamumuhay ang mga IP na naninirahan sa Gitnang Panay.

“We, IP professionals, academic scholars, researchers, and cultural workers that compose the Panay Indigenous Culture Advocacy Group appeal for peace for the indigenous peoples in Central Panay,” sabi ng grupo.

“The residents of our research sites and the communities where we have conducted knowledge-building since the late 1980s have become concerned with their safety and well-being. The loss of a maaram (learned) culture bearer is irreplaceable. Amidst being scared for the loss of more lives, the scholars are disturbed by the trauma that the recent events have brought to the children, women, and respected magurang — the elder members of the community who are the cultural bearers and keepers of indigenous traditions,” dagdag pa ng grupo.

Ang pahayag ay ginawa ng grupo matapos na mapaulat ang pagpatay sa siyam na IP leaders ng Isla ng Panay na umano’y pinagsuspetsahan ng Philippine National Police na miyembro ng Communist Party of the Philippines.

Pinabulaanan ito ng Panay Alliance Karapatan sa pamamagitan ng pagsisiwalat ng kongkretong katibayan na ang mga pinatay ay mga katutubong pinuno ng komunidad at hindi kailanman naging kasapi ng teroristang grupo.

“Those killed were recognized indigenous community leaders in their respective barangays. They were civilians and not armed combatants. They have consistently opposed militarization and human rights violations in their communities as they upheld their rights as indigenous people,” sabi ng Karapatan.