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Monday, May 16, 2005
Groups ask halt of militarization
By Ben Serrano
Caraga correspondent
BUTUAN CITY -- Surigao del Sur Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) President Antonio Azarcon and human rights group, Karapatan, requested the military to stop bombings in at least seven hinterland villages of the towns of San Agustin, Marihatag, Cagwait and San Miguel.
This following charges by residents in the areas of displacements, torture, harassment, intimidation and alleged killings which reportedly led to the rise in the number of missing farmers to eight.
In his appeal for support aired in various local radio stations in the region last Friday morning, Azarcon called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for help on the plight of nearly 200 families or 1,295 persons.
He said the victims, most of whom are children, had evacuated from various hinterland barangays in the affected municipalities of Surigao del Sur where military operations are ongoing.
Earlier, Fourth Infantry Division (4th ID) chief Major General Samuel Bagasin ordered an intensification of military operations in the areas.
The campaign came following the discovery of an NPA bomb horde in a cave at Andap Valley, Barangay Buhisan, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur last May 8.
The discovery resulted to the deaths of two troopers and wounding of one and the deaths of four New People's Army (NPA) rebels and wounding of an undetermined number in their ranks.
Investigation
The military however until now could not produce the remains of the communist rebels they claimed were killed and in their possession in the encounter following the discovery of a cave full of explosives.
Bagasin ordered an investigation into alleged military abuses as raised by Attorney Azarcon and local human rights group, Karapatan, through accounts of evacuee residents who their fled homes in the hinterlands for fear of being caught in the crossfire.
Karapatan and the law office of Azarcon have recorded the following:
* The alleged disappearances of eight farmers;
* The killing of Jessie Bacasmas, a farmer from kilometer 9 who was shot while boarding a truck full of evacuees;
* The alleged torture of 18-year-old Junrey Cata, of Magkahunao, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, who was harvesting abaca in his farm near Andap valley when alleged military men approached him and asked whereabouts of the NPA rebels in the area.
Karapatan also accused operatives from 58th IB and the 6th Scout Rangers Company as the suspected perpetrators, their documented reports as per account of witnesses claimed.
To date, Karapatan reported that 425 families mostly children estimated to total to 4,095 individuals are still in different evacuation areas.
They had evacuated from low lying and hinterland barangays of Montenegreen in Marihatag town, Puroks Magkahunao, Yadawan and Kabuhian, all in Barangay Buhisan; San Agustin town, Lagangan, Caras-an in the Municipality of Tago and puroks Han-ayan, Mambog, Manluy-a in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town and Barangay Mat-I of Cagwait, all in Surigao del Sur.
'Resource control'
As this developed, Fourth ID spokesman Army Major Alexis Noel Bravo said they are extending assistance to "legitimate evacuees" in the area along with the investigation into the military abuses so that "proper sanctions" against erring soldiers be meted out.
But General Bagasin reiterated anew a challenge to local government officials in the affected areas to respond to the call in the campaign against hardcore communist insurgents who are deadset in achieving their communist goals.
Bravo claimed that it is untrue that the military imposed a "food blockade" in villages near Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
However, he admitted they imposed "resource control" because of intelligence reports that some NPA sympathizers have rationed food, medicine and others to the fleeing NPA rebels.
But Karapatan Surigao del Sur and Atty. Falcon claimed otherwise saying NPA regulars in the area decreased in numbers over the years because of efforts of the different local government units.
Azarcon has called for renewing initiatives for "peace talks" to address the problem which was also welcomed by Major Bravo and General Bagasin.
(May 16, 2005 issue)
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