Philippines
Recent Conflict
The Filipino government has been removing citizens including Muslims and indigenous inhabitants, from their land in order to promote the development of dams, mining, and tourism in the country. Although this does promote economic development, it is only for the few, and it leaves citizens who were forced off their land with nowhere to go.
Due to military backing, the people cannot stand up to the government and eventually lose all rights to their property. These new government initiatives are even more problematic as they have immense environmental, social and economic implications.
First, projects such as dams, mining and increased tourism alter the ecosystems that indigenous people rely on for survival and degrade the land so that it is less productive. In a country in which 50% of citizens are impoverished, resources such as land are vital to their well being and long-term success.
