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Militant groups expose worsening human rights situation in Quezon, announces formation of task force against militarization

ICHRP Secretariat
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Militant groups expose worsening human rights situation in Quezon, announces formation of task force against militarization

PRESS RELEASE, 14 May 2012 –  Different sectoral groups from Southern Tagalog led by KARAPATAN-ST and KASAMA-TK today held a press conference to expose the worsening human rights situation in the southern part of Quezon, which they said was caused by intensifying militarization of the rural communities in the said area.

According to KARAPATAN-ST Secretary General Glenl Malabanan, Eight (8) combat battalions of the Army, the PNP and CAFGU are currently deployed in 22 towns of the 1st and 2nd district of Quezon alone.  She added that, in the history of counterinsurgency operations in Southern Tagalog, they believe this is the largest concentration of military forces in a relatively small area.

“We are alarmed at the real intention of this large scale militarization. While the AFP is saying that this is part of their efforts to crush down NPA rebels, it is the countryside civilians who become victims to human rights abuse by soldiers,” Malabanan said.

The group cited a case of abduction in March last year in Macalelon town. Unidentified armed men allegedly took Farmer Felix Balaston to the 85th Infantry Battalion’s camp. He remains missing to date.

Just recently, last March 22, 2012, some drunken members of the 74th Infantry Battalion were reported to have manhandled some youth in San Andres town. Other cases of threat, harassment, intimidation, illegal arrest and detention perpetrated against local farmers are also being verified by KARAPATAN-ST.

Malabanan slammed the Aquino government’s counterinsurgency program “Oplan Bayanihan” as the culprit behind the human rights abuse.

“Like its predecessor, Arroyo’s Oplan Bantay Laya, Pres. Aquino’s ‘Bayanihan’ is targeting farmers and rural folks who struggle for land reform and are critical of government anti-people policies. We must not forget that under ‘Bantay Laya’ there have been 1,206 victims of extrajudicial killings, 206 enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations cases numbering in the thousands. What we see now is a repeat of this situation,” Malabanan said.

Meanwhile, Pedro “Tata Pido” Gonzales, secretary general of fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA-ST and who hails from Quezon, said in the press conference that the protection of landlord and big business interests could be the real intention of the intensified militarization. He said that though Quezon is rich in agriculture, farmers suffer in the hands of landlords.  “Adding to this burden is the military acting out a private army for landlords and big businessmen,” he said.

KASAMA-TK Secretary General Orly Marcellana, also a native of Quezon, added that while farmers ask for land, the Aquino government replies with battalions of armies. “This proves that there is no difference between Aquino and Arroyo. Then, during the Arroyo regime, farmers call for land but are answered with brutality. Now, the situation remains the same,” he said.

The groups in the press conference announced the formation of a task force under the banner “Stop Militarization, Save the People of Quezon” with a rally on May 15 as its kick-off.

“May 15 is well-known for Pahiyas Festival in Quezon where we celebrate the feast day of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. While during this day we usually give our thanks for a bountiful harvest, our protest action tomorrow will show that there is no reason to celebrate because of the killings and injustices that we are experiencing,” Gonzales said.

The group said a satirical parade will highlight tomorrow’s rally where instead of being colorful, typical of a traditional fiesta parade, theirs will show the dark and brutal reality of the countryside because of militarization. ###

KARAPATAN-SOUTHERN TAGALOG
PRESS STATEMENT
14 May 2012

STOP MILITARIZATION, SAVE THE PEOPLE OF QUEZON!

The human rights group KARAPATAN-Southern Tagalog, along with the victims’ families and other sectoral organizations in the region, condemn in the strongest possible terms the unprecedented deployment of military in the province of Quezon, which has resulted to escalating human rights violations in the area. To date, at least 8 battalions of the Philippine Army have been operating in the Southern part of Quezon alone.

Units deployed in the area include Philippine Army’s 85th, 76th, 74th, 59th Infantry Battalions, 1st Special Forces of the Philippine Army, 201st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, CAFGU and 416th Provincial Police Mobile Group. While past administrations have also employed militarization in their counterinsurgency programs, the recent deployment in South Quezon is but alarming considering the concentrated number of military relative to the area it operates.

Quezon, specifically South Quezon and Bondoc Peninsula, can be considered as center of agricultural production where products such as coconut, corn, and grains abound. Minerals such as gold and petroleum also flourish in these areas. Development programs of both the government and private companies which include Bio-diesel in Gumaca, Mirant Powerplant Extension in Atimonan, and dam construction in Macalelon are also concentrated in South Quezon and Bondoc Peninsula. Touted as ‘Hacienda belt’, Bondoc Peninsula, meanwhile, has thousands of farm lands owned by the families Murray, Soleta, Estrada-Quizon, Tan, Reyes and Matias.

With these potential coupled with the agricultural blissfulness of the province, and the growing resistance of the locals particularly of the farmers, it is no wonder why the government has deployed that much number of military and police to South Quezon and Bondoc Peninsula.

A case of abduction in Macalelon town in March 27, 2011 was already reported to Karapatan. Unidentified armed men allegedly took farmer Felix Balaston to the 85th Infantry Battalion’s camp. He remains missing to date.

Just recently, last March 22, 2012, some drunk members of the 74th Infantry Battalion were reported to have manhandled some youth in San Andres town namely Rey Rodrigo (16 y/o), Reynaldo Delos Santos(18y/o) and Elmer Desuyo(21 y/o).

Other cases of threat, harassment, intimidation, illegal arrest and detention perpetrated against local farmers are also being verified by KARAPATAN-ST.

Army forces are currently stationed in houses and barangay (village) centers. Detachments are mounted in about 50 barangays in the rural areas of South Quezon. Several local farmers’ groups in South Quezon consistent in their struggle for genuine land reform against big landlords and businesses are now targeted by the military in their operations.

We call on the Aquino administration to immediately pull out the military and police troops deployed in South Quezon. While the government proudly banners its counter insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan in the name of ‘peace and development’ and continues to echo its mantra for the ‘respect for human rights’, farmers, workers, and other members of the basic sectors fighting for their democratic rights experience the most inhumane treatment from state forces.

We decry the brutality and manhandling of the military and police forces to the people of Quezon. It is unacceptable how those who have sworn to protect the interests of and defend the people are now the ones causing terror and sowing fear to them. The militarization in Quezon is not an isolated case. Elsewhere in the country, suppression of democratic and civil rights is blatant and prevalent. During the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, there were about 180 reported cases of extra judicial killings (EJKs), 32 enforced disappearances, and other atrocities in the Southern Tagalog region alone. The human rights situation has even exacerbated when President Aquino assumed position, with 16 cases of EJKs and 3 disappeared in the region. Not to mention the continuing crackdown and filing of trumped up charges against political activists.

If President Aquino is serious in bringing justice and long-lasting peace in the country, then we challenge him to investigate the human rights cases and put an end to these human rights abuses by denouncing its Oplan Bayanihan. He can never silence the growing unrest of the people. As his regime continuously deny the people of their basic rights and liberty, the oppressed people are left with no other choice but to stand up and fight.

We rally all peace loving citizens to unite in condemning this injustice and abuse done to our fellow men. We also call on everyone to support the anti-militarization and anti-fascist campaign in the region.

This is just the start. We vow to continue the struggle until all forms of human rights violations is stopped and justice is served to all victims.

EXPOSE AND OPPOSE OPLAN BAYANIHAN!
JUSTICE TO ALL VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!
MILITARY TROOPS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, OUT NOW!

Reference: Glenn Malabanan [09185682090]
Secretary-General, Karapatan-ST
Contact: Carmela Lagang (Media Liaison) [09166233176]
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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

Bloody Bukidnon: Anti-dam farmer-activist latest victim of extra-judicial killing in Bukidnon, Philippines

ICHRP Secretariat
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Bloody Bukidnon: Anti-dam farmer-activist latest victim of extra-judicial killing in Bukidnon, Philippines

Margarito “Boy” Cabal, 47 years old was gunned down by unidentified men riding a red motorcycle 6:30 pm on May 9, 2012 in Kibawe town province of Bukidnon.

Boy Cabal is a resident of Brgy. Tumaras, Kibawe, Bukidnon, a predominantly agricultural area hosting thousands of rural poor who depend much on land for daily sustenance. He has been vocal against plans to establish a Hydroelectric Mega Dam Project – Pulangi V of the electric firm First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative (FIBECO) which if materialized would submerge 22 villages in Bukidnon and Cotabato inclusive of several sacred indigenous peoples’ sites and countless small farms directly displacing thousands of the rural population.

Being a member of the Save Pulangi Alliance, a coalition of peoples in Bukidnon and Cotabato resisting the dam project, he has actively helped raise awareness of the issue. They have gathered strong support for their cause especially among the residents in the target communities. Through his invaluable effort, the alliance has also persuaded several local government officials to withdraw their endorsement of the project. His actions has empowered residents and at the same time angered the few who are in cahoots with the big businesses.

In his death, the rural sectors of Bukidnon spearheaded by the Bukidnon Farmers’ Association (KASAMA-BUKIDNON) expressed condemnation of the incident. The group said that they shall remain unfazed by Cabal’s death and that they shall thwart all attempts to weaken their organization’s unity in the struggle for genuine land reform and against development aggression.

And we collectively shout:

Justice for Boy Cabal, end human rights violations and impunity in Northern Mindanao!
No to Electric Mega Dam Project!
Stop the killings in the Philippines!
Justice for all victims of human rights violations!
End impunity now!

*Alerto Peasante (Peasant Alert) is published by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Philippine Peasant Movement) in Northern Mindanao.

For reference:
Gary Ben Villocino
Public Information Officer, KMP-NMR
E: kmp_nmr@yahoo.com
Mobile #: +63 946 717 9227
—
RURAL MISSIONARIES OF THE PHILIPPINES-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR)
Room 01, Kalinaw Lanao Center for Interfaith Resources
0016 Bougainvilla Puti, Villaverde
9200 Iligan City, Philippines
T/F: +63 (63) 223 5179  E: rmpnmr@gmail.com  W: www.rmp-nmr.org

“our love is not to be just words or mere talk but something real and active” –1 John 3:18

Women’s rights group hail moms on Mother’s day, deplore increasing attacks vs women’s rights defenders

ICHRP Secretariat
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Women’s rights group hail moms on Mother’s day, deplore increasing attacks vs women’s rights defenders

MEDIA RELEASE | May 12, 2012 – Tanggol Bayi, an association of women human rights defenders in the Philippines, today hailed Filipina mothers, especially in recent “her-story,” in defending the rights and democratic interests of women and the poor and marginalized in the country.

“Many of them, such as Mrs. Edita Burgos and Ka Mameng Deunida, became public figures and personifications of the women’s struggles for social justice and human rights. Erlinda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño, mothers of disappeared Sherlyn and Karen respectively, have taken steps forward to bring justice for their daughters by filing a case that resulted to warrants of arrests against notorious human rights violators such as Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr.,” said Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, convenor of Tanggol Bayi and a former political prisoner from the illegally arrested and tortured Morong 43 health workers.

Burgos, whose son Jonas was abducted in April 2007, has been at the forefront of the campaign to surface her son and all victims of enforced disappearances as chairperson of Desaparecidos. Deunida, a former laundrywoman in Malate, Manila, is the most known figure among urban poor leaders in defense of their right to decent housing, livelihood and socio-economic rights.

Clamor said that it is important that, beyond the pomp and commercialized celebrations of Mother’s Day worldwide, the general public should be reminded of the simple yet significant lives of mothers who are in fact fighting for a better world for their children.

Cristina Palabay, spokesperson of Tanggol Bayi, said that it is unfortunate that, as the public commemorates this day, rights violations continue to impair the well-being of women human rights defenders, with the recent reported cases of harassment, vilification, illegal arrest and detention.

She cited the arrest and incarceration based on trumped up charges of health worker Helen Igloria, a mother of three children, from Zamboanga del Norte; and the continuing harassment and threats to her life against Benedictine nun Sr. Stella Matutina, OSB, and secretary general of Panalipdan! Mindanao, an environmental organization in defense of indigenous people’s rights against big corporate mining.

“These women are dedicated human rights workers who are being vilified by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines with Oplan Bayanihan as their tool of terror. They are not merely made vulnerable by such attacks against their persons, they are made fair targets for extrajudicial killings and further rights violations,” Palabay commented.

Barangay officials in Davao Oriental reported they were gathered by the 28th Infantry Battalion for an assembly last March 2, 2012, when 1st Lt. Hermie Montelibano, member of the battalion’s Civil Military Operations (CMO) spoke at the assembly, and said according to witnesses, “Kahinumdom mo adtong bag-o lang nga gipatay nga Italian Priest Fr. Tentorio?  NPA man to!  Naa pod nagpaila nga madre siya, pero dili siya mdre kay NPA man.  Stella ang ngalan.”  (Do you remember the recently killed Italian Priest Fr. Tentorio?  He was an NPA!  There’s also a woman introducing herself as a nun, but she’s not a nun because she’s an NPA.  Stella is her name.)

Reference: Cristina Palabay, Spokesperson, 09175003879
———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

Peasants forced to evacuate as military bombings strike anew in Trento, Agusan del Sur—Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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Peasants forced to evacuate as military bombings strike anew in Trento, Agusan del Sur—Karapatan

MEDIA RELEASE | May 12, 2012 – Initial reports from Karapatan-Southern Mindanao region said that more than 80 families from Sitio 33, Bgy. New Visayas in Trento, Agusan del Sur forcibly evacuated on May 7 due to bombings and intense military operations by soldiers from the 25th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

The evacuees are now temporarily housed in New Visayas barangay hall and in the Pulang Lupa multi-purpose center, while some 20 families were prevented by the military from leaving the community.

Karapatan spokesperson Cristina Palabay commented that, “bombings of communities by the military and the consequent displacement of people from their communities have become frequent and widespread since the start of the 2012, the second year of the implementation of Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan. Thousands, including women and children who are most vulnerable under the situation, have now become victims of forced evacuation.”

Karapatan-Southern Mindanao’s account revealed that elements of the 25th IB bombed the community twice, dropping a total of seven bombs. The type of bombs has yet to be identified. Aside from the bombing, the soldiers also ransacked two sari-sari stores and stayed in civilian houses.

Karapatan-Southern Mindanao said that on May 6, soldiers arrived in Sitio Limot, Bgy. Cogonon aboard two military trucks. Shortly after, on May 7, around 7a.m., an encounter ensued between forces of the 25th IB and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) which, reportedly resulted to a heavy casualty among the soldiers.

What followed, according to Palabay was, “the usual act of the military to retaliate by way of turning their guns against the people aside from the fact that there is an ongoing mining exploration in the area conducted by the Osmetal Mining Corporation. Large-scale destructive mining and militarization have obviously become inseparable twin evils.”

Barely a month ago, representatives of indigenous people and peasants from the Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Bukidnon were in Manila to call the attention of various government agencies to the multiple human rights violations committed against them because of the ongoing military operations and bombings in their communities. They also sought support from non-government organizations, Church groups and diplomatic missions in the Philippines on the plight of the displaced people in the evacuation centers and expressed their desire to go back to their homes.  All these communities have on-going, or are targets for, large-scale mining operations.

“The marginalized people in the countryside have become so dispensable with the government’s policy of favouring large-scale mining corporations and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as in the past, has become its tool to drive away people in favor of big business,” said Palabay. ###

Reference: Cristina Palabay, Spokesperson, 09175003879
———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

Rights group slams aerial bombardments and human rights violations in Trento, Agusan del Sur

ICHRP Secretariat
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Rights group slams aerial bombardments and human rights violations in Trento, Agusan del Sur

Press Release |May 11, 2012, Davao City  — KARAPATAN-Southern Mindanao slams massive military operations with indiscriminate aerial bombardments jointly launched by the 10th and 4th Infantry Division of Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM) in Sitio Upper New Visayas, Brgy. New Visayas, Municipality of Trento, Agusan del Sur Province which resulted to forcible displacement, hamletting, and other human rights violations against the farmers and civilian residents.

“Victims narrate the horror as they flee from their homes amidst aerial bombings and ground operations conducted by the 25th and 75th Infantry Battalions.  This grand military action reveals the brutal costs of militarism hiding beneath the peace and development façade of Oplan Bayanihan,” ” said Rev. Jurie Jaime, spokesperson of KARAPATAN Southern Mindanao.

He added, “Up to now, communities in the boundary of the mining – targeted towns of Monkayo and Trento are blanketed with fear as the AFP and mining corporations are hell bent on clearing the area for Oz Metal Corporation and Monkayo Consolidated Mining Corporation (MCMC) partly-owned by Mayor Junjun Brillantes (Monkayo, ComVal Province) which is financed by Yinyi (Taiwanese mineral exploration).

KARAPATAN-SMR sent a Quick reaction Team (QRT) on May 8 to investigate the incident and facilitate the concerns of the internally displaced persons (IDPs). The rights group’s initial report confirmed that there are 83 families, amounting to 397 individuals including children from Sitio Upper New Visayas and Sitio Maitom of Brgy. New Visayas forcibly fled their homes after 7 occasions of indiscriminate aerial bombings and heavy ground operations led by the military on the morning of May 7.

“Even in the evacuation center, military men in civilian clothes led by Col. Benavides of the 75th IB, accompanying the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the distribution of relief goods, posed threats on the evacuees,” said Jaime.

KARAPATAN added that a civilian 16-year-old-boy “Jessie” (name withheld), was also wounded on his left thigh during the military operations. 4th Infantry Division alongside with Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia’s EASTMINCOM of the Armed Forces of the Philippines once again paraded the wounded child and branded him as New People’s Army (NPA) Child Warrior. Jessie was instructed by his father on the morning of May 7 in Sitio Upper New Visayas to gather some woods for their makeshift hut which they will use in time for the “Araw ng Trento”. Moments later, the military conducted combat heavy operations, indiscriminately fired and bombed the forested portion of the community.

“The entire community including our family left our place because of fear. All I thought that my son Jessie managed to evacuate himself and that we would reunite at the evacuation site, but he was declared missing all day long. Until the evening of May 8, I was so surprised when my son arrived at the evacuation site but his left thigh was already wounded. But before I could reach him so that we can send him to the nearest hospital, the military men seized him and accused my son as NPA member. They arrested my son and brought him to the headquarters of 4th ID in Cagayan de Oro City. What we demand right now is for the military to release  my son and we will have him treated to a civilian hospital,” lamented Melchor Malimbasao, 54, father of Jessie.

One pregnant woman and another who just gave birth complained of heavy bleeding after escaping from the military operations in Upper New Visayas.  Evacuees also complained that 25th IB elements ransacked their stores and slaughtered their livestock.

“We are greatly alarmed by the plight of those who are within the hamletted area of Upper New Visayas. The military should vacate the civilian communities to allow the residents, especially the women and children, to recover from the trauma. The 10th ID and 4th ID are  culpable for violating international humanitarian laws for using civilian communities as launching pads of their war and endangering civilian lives,” said Jaime.

Jaime added, “With only barely a month and with the questionable promotion of Eastern Mindanao Command chief, Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia, has clearly illustrated the blatant costs of Oplan Bayanihan. Which under his leadership translates to classic militarism of the rural communities marked with full – scale war operations, completely disregarding civilian lives and human rights laws for corporate benefit.”

For Reference:
Rev. Jurie Jaime, Spokesperson, 09215311893
Hanimay Suazo, Secretary-General, 09199675059
KARAPATAN-Southern Mindanao
———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

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