This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 16, May 29-June 4, 2005
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Manobo Villages Looted by Soldiers, Persons
Missing – Rights Group
More than 2,000 Manobo
indigenous peoples were forced out of their village in the wake of military
operations. Upon returning to their homes, they were shocked to see most of
their properties either stolen or destroyed. Though uncertain of what the future
holds for them, the Manobos are demanding justice for what the military did to
them.
By TYRONE VELEZ Some 2,200 Manobo evacuees
finally returned to their homes early last week, after an emergency provincial
Peace and Order Council ordered the military to stop the latter’s harassment and
occupation of Manobo villages. (The Manobos are an indigenous peoples group in
Mindanao.) One such case is in the
village in Km. 9 Emerald, Lianga where livelihood projects under the Tribal
Filipino People of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) were looted and destroyed by the
military, Karapatan reported. In the grinding shop,
electrical wires were cut off. A chainsaw was damaged as well. The water hose
was also damaged, temporarily cutting the village's water supply. At the
moment, the residents had to fetch water from a nearby river. The Casil brothers Junrey,
17, and Ranly, 13, who themselves survived a three-day ordeal under the
military, are still waiting for their father Arnulfo and three other relatives
who have remained missing. The three other relatives include uncles Lolong Casil
and Lowi Casil, and Joel Amahan. The four were held by their
captors in exchange for their release. Jessica Bacasmas, a young
mother at the age of 21, returned to Emerald without her husband, Jessie, who
was shot reportedly by soldiers and made to bleed to death without medical
attention during the evacuation last May 12. Other cases documented by
Karapatan include aerial bombings and strafing in five communities, coercion of
farmers to act as military guides in their search for NPA camps, forcible
reconcentration and food blockade, and placing of CDX bombs near civilian
villages. © 2004 Bulatlat
■
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Bulatlat
ANDAP VALLEY, Surigao del Sur – Home at last. Or are they?
Despite their much-awaited return, however, the Manobos still do not have peace
of mind.
Based on reports from the human rights alliance Karapatan in Surigao del Sur, 75
cases of human rights violations were committed by the 58th Infantry Battalion
and the 6th Scout Ranger group under the 402nd Infantry Division in military
operations from April 28 to May 14. An average of four military atrocities were
committed everyday during this time.
A village looted
On May 18, 33 families or 280 people from Emerald were the first batch of
evacuees to return home following the local government's order. Initially
relieved at seeing their homes still standing, the residents were later incensed
when they found out that their village was looted.
Finding the roof forced open, the cooperative store was near empty as soft
drinks, cigarettes, shampoo, canned goods and noodles were stolen. According to
the cooperative management, P8,000 ($147.06, based on an exchange rate of P54.40
per US dollar) worth of goods were stolen.
Outside, they found empty cans of sardines and softdrinks scattered around
houses where freshly dug foxholes were made by the soldiers.
To the relief of parents and school teachers, the school was left unharmed.
Four still missing
Karapatan lawyer Antonio Azarcon has filed a demand in the court for the 58th IB
to reveal the wherabouts of the four missing persons. The commanding officer,
Lt. Col. James Jacob, however, denied having detained the four persons.
The Manigaonons (Manobo tribal leaders) have earlier demanded the release of the
four.
A slow death
Jessica, along with her mother-in-law Rosita, remembers the ordeal of trying to
bring her husband to the nearest hospital. A one-hour ride to the town center
turned into a four-hour torment as their truck was stopped by three checkpoints
going down from their village. Soldiers frisked through every evacuees
belonging, ignoring the condition of Jessie.
In one of the checkpoints, soldiers held Jessie's family for questioning. Rosita
said the soldiers were pressing that the wounded Jessie might be a New People’s
Army (NPA) rebel. They were only made to pass after half an hour. Jessie
eventually died when they arrived at the barangay health center in Diatagon.
In tears, Jessica said, "My husband is not an NPA. Just look at his hands and
you will see his hands hardened by threshing abaca. His death was senseless, and
I want justice for the killing of my husband."
As if adding insult to injury, the military held a concert in the Diatagon Gym
where most of the evacuees were staying on May 17, the day after Bacasmas was
buried. The military insisted on holding a concert as their way of “winning
back” the Manobos' trust.
More cases documented
The towns affected by military operations included San Agustin, Lianga, San
Miguel, Marihatag and Cagwait.
Karapatan said they would prepare cases against the military for abuses
committed against civilians in violation of the International Humanitarian Law
and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
For now, the Manobo villages are relatively peaceful as soldiers keep their
distance. Their future, however, remains uncertain. Bulatlat