“Philippines: UN experts urge probe into killings of three Indigenous peoples’ rights defenders”, 23 Sept 2015

The United Nations Special Rapporteurs on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, and on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst…called on the Philippines Government to launch a full and independent investigation into the killings of three human rights defenders in Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, which is currently affected by armed conflicts…One of the human rights defenders killed was the director of…a school providing education to indigenous youth who live in the mountains and service communities in the CARAGA region…Two other representatives of the Manobo community, including a tribal chieftain and the chairperson of MAPASU, an indigenous (Lumad) organization protesting against human rights violations, mining operations and land conversions, were shot in front of their community members by alleged paramilitary forces…