PHILIPPINES – Anti-mining campaign leader killed in Mindanao
1 June 2009 2:41 am

Leodinio
"Manong Dos" Monson, a human rights defender who condemned the large-scale mining, was killed by two armed men on 29
April 2009, in Boston, Davao Oriental, southern Philippines.
Manson was the leader of anti-mining campaign in area. He was also
active in helping the indigenous Lumad-Mandaya
farmers file cases to
the Commission of Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP). The farmers
were
victims of human rights violations in Davao Oriental and Compostela
Valley. He was also the chairperson of Nigkahiusa Koy Mag-uuma to
Boston (NIGKOMB) and
council member of PASAKA and Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao
(KALUMARAN).

A month before
his death, Monson reported to the PASAKA office that he was tailed by armed
men, who he believes to be members of the Military Intelligence Battalion (MIB).
It was also alleged by unnamed sources that he was in the list of the Philippine military's Order of Battle (OB).

Human rights organisations in the country criticised the administration of
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in
the past for carrying out a policy of including human rights
defenders in its list of alleged insurgents and carrying out attacks against
them.