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News Release
06 August 2008
Suara calls on PGMA to stop the Pinols from reviving vigilante groups
on BJE issue
Suara Bangsamoro calls on the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop
North Cotabato Representative Ben Pinol and Vice-Governor Emmanuel Pinol
from stirring people in their province by calling on them to arm against
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front saying Moro civilians were the ones
vulnerable to the attacks and harassment.
Amirah Ali Lidasan, national president of Suara Bangsamoro, said her
organization has been getting reports from their chapters in North
Cotabato that Pinol statement has bolstered military-trained civilian
volunteer organizations and CAFGUs to attack Moro civilian communities.
“The house of one of our members in Midsayap was lobbed with an old
grenade that fortunately did not explode,” said Lidasan.
Lidasan said that Vice-Governor Pinol should be exposed for stirring the
Christian settlers and Lumads to arm against the MILF.
“He is barking at the MILF for mapping out the villages that would
constitute the Bangsamoro ancestral domain to veer away Christians and
Lumads’ attention at how he is stripping them of their land
Lidasan said that because of Pinol’s PALMA Complex and ARAKAN Valley
Complex projects, many farmers were flushed out of their communities to
accommodate palm, rubber and fruit plantations set up by foreign
businessmen. Talks of mining exploration have also affected the
communities in North Cotabato.
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According to Lidasan, the
Pinol's are known landgrabbers during Martial Law and used fanned
anti-Moro hysteria by supporting Christian vigilantes that victimized not
only Muslims but Christians as well.
"As a government official, Pinol should be made responsible for the
harassment and violations committed by his remarks about reviving
vigilante groups in his province," said Lidasan.
Lidasan also lambasted the deployment of several soldiers and police in
Moro areas under the pretext of ensuring security for the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao polls against possible MILF attacks.
"Government officials are fermenting unnecessary fears to the public by
beefing up security for the ARMM and accusing the MILF of intervening in
the ARMM elections," said Lidasan.
Lidasan said that her group joins the call for the government to go back
to the negotiating table and even calls for the resumption of the talks
between the GRP and the National Democratic Front (NDF).
"If the Arroyo administration is really for peace in Mindanao, then it
should resume its talk with all revolutionary forces in Mindanao," said
Lidasan.
Lidasan said land is also the core issue in the government's resumption of
talks with the NDF, especially on the agenda of social and economic
reforms.
"This would help dispel misconceptions about Muslims and Christians
fighting over land in Mindanao, said Lidasan.#
Reference: Amirah Ali Lidasan
Mobile # 09196603839 |
