International Peasant Solidarity Mission (IPSM):

Defend peasant rights!

Fight political repression!

Sponsored by: Asian Peasant Coalition (APC)

Balay Kalinaw, UP Diliman,

August 6 - 8, 2006

Summary execution

Frustrated killings

Physical assault

Torture

Arbitrary arrest/detention

Illegal search/seizure

Coercion

Threats/harassments/intimidation

Violation of domicile

Sexual abuse/rape

Enforced disappearance

54% of the 720 victims of human rights violations

 as of Aug. 6 are peasants

Yasmeen Khan

Delegate from OCHRP,

 North America

Balram Banskota

Delegate from

 ANPA, Nepal

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano

KMP Chairman

Participants, including relatives of victims, in the APC presentation of  its fact-finding mission

KMP3 postcard to be mailed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Case of Killing, Harassment, Massacre and Divestment of property: Testimony given by Yolanda Lorenzana

Yoland Lorenzana is from Bgy. Pinaod, San Ildefonso, Bulacan. She is 55 years old, married with 10 children and 5 grandchildren. She testified that before the arrival of the military they lived in a peaceful barangay.

But things changed after the military arrived in the later part of 2005. The military told the community that they were there on the orders of General Palparan to find the NPAs and its supporters.

The first incident  was the killing of Antonio Gutierrez. He was killed on Dec. 3, 2005 at 9 PM in his house in the presence of his wife.

On January 30, 2006, 12 military men under Rolly Castillo (CO) entered the compound of Lorenzana family. They ordered everyone to come out of their house as they were searching for 2 sons of Yolanda. The military threatened another son of Yolanda by pointing a gun at him and demanded that he tell where his two brothers, suspected NPAs, were.

On Feb. 1, 2006, the Valmocina massacre took place. Five were killed and two were abducted and are still missing. The military also stole jewelry and P100,000 in cash.

After the massacre, the Lorenzana family received news that they were next. The family fled their home. On Feb. 26, 2006, the military burnt down their house. The next day, according to Yolanda Lorenzana, Palparan himself and Castillo admitted in a barangay meeting that their house was burnt down because the owners were suspected NPAs. Till this day, the Lorenzana family cannot go back to their community and are still in hiding.

(From the IPSM report)

• Inquirer news: Int’l team here to probe killings of local militants

• Int’l group links military to killings

• IPSM forum on the killings

Let Us Shatter the Silence

of the Graveyard

by Alexander Martin Remollino (Bulatlat.Com)

They in the Palace seek to have their peace
by consigning the country
to the silence of the graveyard.

They want life for themselves.
They are irked by the sound of breaths
other than theirs.
And so their guns are ever trained on the people,
ever waiting to fire at anyone apart from themselves
who dares to breathe their shallowest.

If we pretend to be dead,
we let them keep life for themselves:
we fire their guns at our heads.

Let us shatter then the silence of the graveyards.
Let us all sing our songs of homage to life
until all our voices made one
reach beyond the heavens.

They Can Tell Where You Are

by Alexander Martin Remollino (Bulatlat.Com)

(For Fr. Rudy Romano, abducted and missing since July 11, 1985)

It is still hoped that you would one day return,
even as it is now certain
that you have reached the point of no return.
Twenty years and more have passed
and not a single trace of you has been found.

Did you just suddenly vanish into thin air,
like a bubble?
You did not:
that much is known.

The armed hands disgorged
by a white Ford Cortina with a government plate
who seized you on your way to visit striking workers
can surely point to where you are,
and like them the feet in combat boots
that trailed Fr. William Tadena
and Revs. Edison Lapuz, Raul Domingo and Jemias

      Tinambacan                                                                  
before they were felled by bullets
can lead us to whence the bullets came.

Your abductors can tell whether your head
was served to the despot on a silver platter,
like that of John the Baptist.

Casee of abduction and forced disappearance:

Testimony given by Joan and Marlyn Abellera

and Michelle Pobre

Within one week, three abductions occurred in the same barangay.

On July 13, 2006 in Lupao, Barangay Parista, Nueva Ecija, the Abellera family were watching television around 7:30 in the evening. At this time, Tessie Abellera was in the kitchen when unidentified men with black bonnets entered their home. They commanded the family to lie down on the floor, pointing high powered rifles at them.

With the unfamiliar noises coming from the living room, Tessie came out and the unidentified men said that she is a member of the NPA. Various forms of harassment followed that included tying her hands behind her back and hitting her in the stomach with the back of a rifle. After this Tessie was abducted. She was the Municipal Coordinator for Bayan Muna partylist in 2001

Rodel Abellera, 25, is the son of Tessie and is a farmer in Barangay Parista. On the smae day, two men wearing black bonnes entered a house. The men told Rodel to come outside with them. He questioned why he had to go with them but was forced out and was hit with a rifle. Rodel called for help but the people around were not able to because the two military men were not allowing other people present to come closer. He was forced to ride in the unmarked van with Tessie inside as well.

Philip de la Cruz, 45, is a resident of Lupao, Barangay Parista. On July 20, 2006 at 5:30 pm, Philip was repairing his motorcycle on the highway. His niece (10 years old) noticed a Sarao jeep driving slowly, passing Philip and later came back to where he was.   --- >>>

At that point, 4 uniformed men got off the jeep and struck him with the back of a rifle. He was taken into the jeep. His daughter, Michelle, saw 9 military men inside the jeep. His abduction was based on military suspicion of his being a member of the NPA because he ws often away from home. According to Michelle, Philip hadto tend to their farm in Aritao, Nueva Viscaya.

Immediately after the incident, Philip's family went to the Barangay Hall and reported the incident. The military did not take the report seriously and told the family that they need to produce evidence to continue with any investigation.
 

Report of the IPSM

with copies to CHR, Senate and the House