Hands Off the International Solidarity Mission Delegates in the Philippines!

Philippine Government

STATEMENT OF CONDEMNATION

We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, strongly condemn the ongoing harassment, intimidation, and surveillance of the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) delegates currently in the Philippines.

British, Irish, American, Canadian, and European delegate have joined Filipino organizations for a peaceful and legitimate solidarity and humanitarian mission. The ISM aims to learn from and stand in solidarity with communities suffering from land dispossession, militarization, and corporate exploitation. These delegations are invited and hosted by local communities who face displacement and repression due to large-scale mining, dam, and energy projects backed by the Philippine government and foreign corporations.

Despite the peaceful nature of this mission, state forces under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) have repeatedly harassed and intimidated delegates. Participants have been followed by military and police agents, photographed and filmed without consent, and monitored by drones—clear acts of surveillance that violate their rights to privacy, security, and freedom of movement as guaranteed under international law.

In Occidental Mindoro, dozens of fully armed soldiers and police entered the Mangyan-Iraya campsite—the main venue of the ISM—on October 14, causing fear and distress among residents, especially children. These incidents follow days of surveillance involving intelligence operatives and drones in the area. Similar acts of harassment have been documented in Rizal, Samar, Tacloban, and Negros, where delegates have been approached or followed by armed personnel.

The International Solidarity Mission is a peaceful and legitimate initiative organized by the affected communities themselves. It seeks to understand the concrete conditions of the Filipino people who continue to suffer under imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, and feudal oppression. Through their immersion with the basic masses, the delegates express solidarity with the people’s struggle and resistance—the same systemic injustices that force millions of Filipinos to migrate abroad in search of livelihood and dignity.

We remind the Philippine government of its obligations under:

  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
  • The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998), and
  • The Geneva Conventions, which protect civilians and humanitarian workers.
The continued red-tagging, harassment, and intimidation of solidarity and humanitarian workers constitute grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. These attacks further expose the fascist character of state forces and their attempts to silence those who stand with oppressed communities.

We call on the Philippine government to:

  1. We call on the Philippine government to:
  2. Immediately cease all forms of harassment, intimidation, and surveillance of International Solidarity Mission delegates and host communities.
  3. Uphold the rights of the International Solidarity and Learning Mission delegates under international law.
  4. Hold accountable the officials and military units responsible for these violations.

We urge the international community, migrant organizations, and solidarity allies to:

  1. Expose the ongoing harassment of ISM delegates to your communities and networks.
  2. Issue statements and condemnations directed at the Philippine government and its embassies.
  3. Sign the statement of condemnation,
  4. Wage collective actions addressed to your government to ensure and guarantee the safety of the delegates.
Hands off the International Solidarity Mission delegates!
Stop the harassment and surveillance now!
Defend the right to humanitarian work, solidarity, and resistance!
Sponsored by
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MIGRANTE UK

To: Philippine Government
From: [Your Name]

STATEMENT OF CONDEMNATION

We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, strongly condemn the ongoing harassment, intimidation, and surveillance of the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) delegates currently in the Philippines.

British, Irish, American, Canadian, and European delegate have joined Filipino organizations for a peaceful and legitimate solidarity and humanitarian mission. The ISM aims to learn from and stand in solidarity with communities suffering from land dispossession, militarization, and corporate exploitation. These delegations are invited and hosted by local communities who face displacement and repression due to large-scale mining, dam, and energy projects backed by the Philippine government and foreign corporations.

Despite the peaceful nature of this mission, state forces under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) have repeatedly harassed and intimidated delegates. Participants have been followed by military and police agents, photographed and filmed without consent, and monitored by drones—clear acts of surveillance that violate their rights to privacy, security, and freedom of movement as guaranteed under international law.

In Occidental Mindoro, dozens of fully armed soldiers and police entered the Mangyan-Iraya campsite—the main venue of the ISM—on October 14, causing fear and distress among residents, especially children. These incidents follow days of surveillance involving intelligence operatives and drones in the area. Similar acts of harassment have been documented in Rizal, Samar, Tacloban, and Negros, where delegates have been approached or followed by armed personnel.

The International Solidarity Mission is a peaceful and legitimate initiative organized by the affected communities themselves. It seeks to understand the concrete conditions of the Filipino people who continue to suffer under imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, and feudal oppression. Through their immersion with the basic masses, the delegates express solidarity with the people’s struggle and resistance—the same systemic injustices that force millions of Filipinos to migrate abroad in search of livelihood and dignity.

We remind the Philippine government of its obligations under:

- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
- The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998), and
- The Geneva Conventions, which protect civilians and humanitarian workers.

The continued red-tagging, harassment, and intimidation of solidarity and humanitarian workers constitute grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. These attacks further expose the fascist character of state forces and their attempts to silence those who stand with oppressed communities.

We call on the Philippine government to:

1. Immediately cease all forms of harassment, intimidation, and surveillance of International Solidarity Mission delegates and host communities.
2. Uphold the rights of the International Solidarity and Learning Mission delegates under international law.
3. Hold accountable the officials and military units responsible for these violations.

Hands off the International Solidarity Mission delegates!
Stop the harassment and surveillance now!
Defend the right to humanitarian work, solidarity, and resistance!