The soldiers clipped farmer Ruben Wating’s left thumbnail with pliers. Then, another soldier pulled out a .45-caliber gun, aimed it at his forehead, and threatened to kill him.
By MARYA SALAMAT
The MILF leadership, particularly its negotiating panel headed by Mohagher Iqbal, views the “3 in 1” proposal of the Philippine government for a peace agreement as “detached,” has “no connections” and has in fact “derogated the past agreements and consensus reached by the two parties in the past 14 years of negotiations.”
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“Why is it becoming harder to be of service to your fellow Blaan? What does the government want us to do?” – Blaan Teacher
SECOND PART: Encampment in communities, instilling fear, part of ‘peace and development’ operations?
Sidebar: Neglected, Blaans unite, empower themselves
Sidebar: News in Pictures: Suffer the little children to go to this school
Sidebar: Slideshow: In Upper Suyan Village, children suffer the worst from poverty, militarization
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“Our lives as Blaans are not affected no matter who wins the national elections. It is these non-government agencies who have been doing a big chunk of their work to improve our lives. So no one could take that away from us.”
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Soldiers belonging to the 73rd Infantry Battalion forced 10-year old Jimboy Saya to hold a chain of sub-machine gun bullets and carry an M-16 rifle. The soldiers then photographed the child and distributed it to local media with the caption “NPA child warrior going to school in Dlumay.”