Unicef, CHR urged to probe 'NPA child warrior' case
04/08/2007 | 01:26 PM
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An alliance of 51 groups advocating children's rights in Mindanao urged the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) over the weekend to look into the killing of Grecil Galacio, a nine-year-old girl whom the military claimed was a "child soldier" of the New People's Army (NPA).

Online newspaper MindaNews reported on Sunday that the KABIBA Alliance for Children's Concerns, an alliance of 51 child-based, child-focused groups, and the Children's Rehabilitation Center (CRC) made the request of the CHR.

It said both groups want the CHR "to bring justice to the victim because we cannot let this to happen again to our poor and disadvantaged children and their families."

"We will also call the attention of other local and international rights-based groups and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund, through Dr. Nicholas K. Alipui, UNICEF Country Representative, to respond on this concern," KABIBA and CRC said in a press statement dated April 7.

The statement came on the same day the Communist Party of the Philippines denied military claims that Grecil, who was killed in an encounter last March 31 in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, was a child soldier of the NPA.

KABIBA executive secretary Honey May Idul-Suazo and CRC regional program director Girley Layaguin cited "compelling findings and evidences" that the elements of 67th and 8th Infantry Battalion "could be held accountable for violating domestic and international instrumentalities on children's rights."

The statement said they sent a Quick Response Team on April 4 to conduct an investigation and that the team's findings "negated the claim of Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command under Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Obaniana that Grecil Galacio was an 'NPA child-soldier.'"

Idul-Suazo also said the team found that Grecil was "summarily executed" because "the presence of gunpowder burns on the right side of the back of Grecil's head indicates that she was shot at close range."

The joint statement said the killing of Grecil was a "concrete violation" of Article 38, Section 4 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) that the State shall also ensure the protection and care of children who are affected by armed conflict.

The groups also said the incident violated Geneva Protocols 1 and 2 mandating parties of conflict to distinguish civilians and combatants and and Article 10, Section 22a of the Republic Act 7610.

The said article declares that children shall not be the object of attack and shall be entitled to special respect and must be protected against any form of indecent assault.

"Further, the AFP's irresponsible practice of using Grecil for war propaganda purposes by misrepresenting her as an 'NPA child soldier' is also a violation of children's rights that the public must condemn," the statement read. - GMANews.TV