Sunday, January 20, 2008 Moro party-list group opposes Armm Balikatan
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The militant Suara Bangsamoro party-list has urged the government to stop the holding of Balikatan exercises set on February this year in Sulu and Basilan.
They were saying that previous military exercises held in these provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) have left issues of human rights violations still unresolved.
Amirah Ali Lidasan, national president of Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Moro People), said US officials and their soldiers should be made answerable to the complaints made by civilians against the US soldiers.
Lidasan complained at the brazen display of might by the US soldiers, even in non-combatant areas.
"The government should look into the complaints against US soldiers who issued an order at a hospital chief in Panamao, Sulu to shut down hospital operations at night," said Lidasan.
She cited a recent case in Zamboanga City where passengers of a tricycle complained in a radio station about US soldiers who accidentally bumped the tricycle they were riding in Calarian village on December 15, 2007.
Instead of helping the victims to get up, US soldiers got down from their vehicle complete with high-powered guns that according to the complainants looked like they were going to war.
"Ordinary citizens of Mindanao have been exposed to the impertinent attitudes of the US soldiers, and this is aggravated if government officials do not act on it," Lidasan said.
Lidasan praised Saranggani Governor Miguel "Migz" Dominguez, however, for apprehending US soldiers who were seen at a local fast food establishment in uniform and "prominently displayed" their firearms which according to Dominguez is a violation to our laws.
Lidasan expressed fear that should these cases continue to be unresolved, the civilians in designated Balikatan areas will be more vulnerable to the presence of US troops.
"It is a pain for the victims of Balikatan to learn that their complaints have fallen on deaf ears as the government gave a go-signal to commence the Balikatan exercises in their areas despite the unresolved cases of human rights violations involving US soldiers," Lidasan added.
Another case was the reported involvement of US soldiers in a combat operation that happened in a camp of the chair of the Moro National Liberation Front based in Sulu, Sulu State Chairman Khaid Ajibon in November 2005.
Lidasan said the case caused a congressional inquiry by the Committee on Peace and Reconciliation. Several witnesses came forward and revealed the involvement of US troops during a military operation that affected the camp of MNLF chair Ajibon.
The incident has infuriated the people of Sulu and caused massive protests in Jolo in 2006.
Lidasan also fears the vulnerability of the Moro civilians in areas where Balikatans are held.
Previous statements made by US officials on having the right to carry guns and fire at people whom they think will compromise their security absolves them of these crimes. (Malu Manar)
