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Thursday, March 17, 2005
Bagong Diwa assault an 'overkill': group
By Jeffrey M. Tupas
THE police assault in Camp Bagong Diwa Tuesday to subdue members of the Abu Sayyaf was an "overkill", said the civil group Moro-Christian Peoples Alliance following the death of some "innocent inmates."
The siege resulted in the death of 22 detainees including three top Abu Sayyaf leaders Commander Kosovo or Alhamsar Manatad Limbong, Commander Robor or Galib Andang, and Commander Global or Nadsmi Sabdullah.
"It was an overkill. The operatives need not spray bullets indiscriminately at the inmates for this will surely hit some innocent inmates used by the Abu Sayyaf as human shields," said Amirah Ali Lidasan, secretary-general of the Moro-Christian People's Alliance.
But as they condemned the police action, Lidasan also aired their disgust over the hostage taking by "Commander Kosovo's" group that was "never advocated by most of the detainees and their families."
Lidasan said that most of the detainees killed in the first floor of the Special Intensive Care Area are victims of military crackdown in Basilan.
"The fact that out of 400 inmates, only 10 were identified as Abu Sayyaf hostage takers. This is almost half of the 22 dead and others listed as wounded as a result of the rescue operation of Naktaf (National Anti-kidnapping Task Force)," Lidasan said.
One of those who were killed was Ahmad Upao who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Other fatalities who were not Abu Sayyaf members were Ibnohasser Agasi, Ahmad Arawangsa, Ibrahim Joe Arip, Gaffar Mundi and Badran Abdulhamid.
For the past four years, Lidasan said, the detainees and families have called for the speedy trial of their cases using all legal means to get the justice that they deserve.
In 2003, 15 of those who were jailed after the Basilan crackdown had been released due to lack of evidence that could link them to the Abu Sayyaf.
Lidasan said somehow they already expected grandstanding from the government with the presence of Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes on the lead of the police operation.
"We surely expect a grandstanding display of violent action against Muslim detainees for he is known as the general who had a long record of disregard to the lives and rights of the Moro people," Lidasan said.
"What is more condemnable is for President Gloria Arroyo to applaud and even push for such violent action to take place. We had hoped that she will issue a more diplomatic way to solve the crisis, to make way for a negotiation. Such is her disregard for the innocent lives inside the prison compound," Lidasan added.
The bloody end of the hostage drama showed the government's penchant for militaristic solution and response to the peace and order crises of the country, Lidasan said.
MCPA is a human rights group involved in social services. It is also working for the release of inmates who were "victims of the 2001 military crackdown in Basilan.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (March 17, 2005 issue)
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