Monday, June 16, 2008 Thousands march against NPA: military
MORE than a thousand residents of Guihulngan City in Oriental Negros coming from the barangays formerly controlled by the New People's Army (NPA), marched Sunday around the city proper in an indignation rally against the rebels' atrocities and harassments allegedly committed by Karapatan Negros.
Army Lieutenant Colonel Franco Nemesio Gacal, commanding officer of 11th Infantry Battalion, said participants were led by their respective village chiefs and officials.
The rallyists carried anti-communist slogans, displayed placards condemning NPA's revolutionary tax collection, summary killings, forced recruitment and other forms of harassment as well as denouncing the Karapatan's black propaganda against the government and the military, Gacal said.
The activity started with a 35-minute march around the city proper before proceeding to the city public market where a program proper was held, he added.
Pastor Al Molinos of the People's Movement for Peace and Development lectured on the rebels strategy while a number of residents from Barangay Linantuyan, T-Hill and Trinidad reportedly delivered their respective testimonies on various forms of human rights violations committed against them by the NPA's Leonardo Panaligan Command, Karapatan and other militant groups, the Army also reported.
Barangay Chief Elpidio Villar of Linantuyan narrated the ordeal and the sufferings they endured from the rebels reportedly under the employ of Lourdes Baloy.
He also denounced the indiscriminate firing of the NPAs targeting their Barangay Poblacion last June 12 at around 10 p.m.
The incident, Villar said, was done a day after barangay officials and some residents exposed to the media during the Dumaguete PIA press forum the atrocities and harassments allegedly done to them by the NPAs and Karapatan members.
Other speakers from Linantuyan, Trinidad and T-Hill also protested the revolutionary tax collection activity of the NPAs in cahoots with some militant members, which they said is bringing more economic sufferings to poor farmers in their localities.
The march-rally was also highlighted by the burning of flags of CPP/NPA/NDF and effigies of Karapatan, with the demonstrators calling for the banning of Karapatan members in Guihulngan City, Gacal said.
"The peace-rally was the beginning of a new life for Guihulngan residents. The military will always support the clamor of the majority for an NPA-free community. There will be no let-up in our effort." (Erwin Ambo Delilan)
