Press Release
November 22, 2007


20 KILOMETERS WALK TOWARDS SAFETY?

RESIDENTS OF LUMAD COMMUNITIES

USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS

Yesterday, November 21, 2007, at around 9 o’clock in the morning, more than a thousand lumads and settlers, both young and old from nine lumad communities braved the rains and walked for more than 15 kilometers with whatever belonging they can carry. They arrived at the barangay center of Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur at around 5 o’clock in the afternoon. They add to the 48 families that evacuated from the hinterland communities of San Agustin last November 17. They leave behind homes, precious belongings, animals and farmlands.

It took more than an hour of dialogue with the military elements before the community members were allowed to leave the community.

There are however, at least 23 families along with 2 literacy teachers from the lumad community of Manluy-a, Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur prevented by the military from going with the neighboring communities to evacuate to safer grounds.

Around 500 military elements from the 58th IB PA have been living in, under and around the houses of residents, lumad literacy schools and teachers’ cottages since November 4, 2007 up to the present. Military tents have been set-up in the middle of the community. Community members have become the military’s human shields in their military operations prompting the people to evacuate for fear of possibly being caught in a crossfire. Classes of the seven Lumad Literacy Schools and Lumad High School have been suspended.

Children have not been spared from being questioned by the military on the presence of NPAs in the area. Restrictions and checkpoints have been established. Names, cell phone numbers, engine numbers of single motors that pass by and licenses are listed. They were not allowed to go to their farmlands.

Community members lived in fear for more than two weeks, reliving the massive human rights violations that happened in the April to May 2005 military operations that resulted in scores of human rights violations.

They are now staying at the same cramped, cold evacuation centers that had been their homes in the 2005 evacuations in San Agustin and Lianga in Surigao del Sur.

The evacuees are demanding for the stop of military operations.

For Reference, contact: Rev. Modesto Villasanta, UCCP, CP. No.: 09192584146
Or Atty. Antonio Azarcon Tel. No.: (086) 211-3492

Download statement
 

Lumads gather in Simowao, Diatagon, Lianga to evacuate to Diatago Gym, Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur

High school students assemble in Simowao under the watchful eyes of soldiersi

Press Release
November 19, 2007

IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN!!!
RESIDENTS OF LUMAD COMMUNITIES

FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES

More than twelve (12) hinterland and lumad communities in Diatagon, Lianga and San Agustin have been fearing for their safety and lives since the start of November this year. More or less 500 military men, some belonging to the 58th IB PA, have been living in their communities and staying at the houses of civilians and Lumad Literacy Schools since November 1 up to the present.
 

The military men arrived in the lumad communities of Simowao and Emerald and brought with them two (2) 6x6 military trucks of which one was loaded with rice and foodstuffs; two (2) armored personnel carrier (APC) with the label of SEMIRARA and two (2) 105 howitzer cannons. They mounted makeshift tents in the vicinity of the houses of the residents and converted an unfinished sari-sari store into a military station in Emerald. A certain Major Ental and Captain Oson led the group of, according to the military men, around one hundred soldiers in Simowao alone.
 

At Manluy-a, around one hundred (100) military men in full battle gear arrived and stayed at the houses of the community folks. Others rested and slept at the houses of local residents, school and surrounding areas. Around 4–10 military personnel stationed themselves at the houses of the residents.
 

The military elements have put up checkpoints and have been monitoring the activities of local residents. Residents were asked for their names, present their IDs and/or cedulas and had their names listed. Celphone numbers of residents and teachers were asked and listed. Bags and belongings were checked by the military. Motor drivers were asked for their names, driver’s license and the motor vehicle serial numbers.
 

In the evening, some military men stayed in their makeshift tents while quite a number stayed and slept in the houses of residents. Some military men even slept beside the local residents.
 

They interrogated Tribal Filipino Community School teachers and students about the school. Military personnel who lived in the houses of residents frequently ask questions to the children on their involvement with the New People’s Army. Children were asked if they have elder brothers or sisters that joined the NPA and that they must surrender.
 

One young man named Ritchie Enot, 19 years of age from Upper Oregon, San Isidro was arrested by the military while he was harvesting rattan at Venus forest area. The young man was then forced to guide the military in operation. He was freed on November 15, 2007 four (4) days after his arrest, when relatives demanded his freedom from the battalion headquarters at St. Christine, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
 

The military warned the school children, teachers of the Tribal Filipino Program, Inc. and the local residents that if they (military) will be bombed during their military operations, they will harm the civilians.
 

The military presence violates the residents’ sense of security. Residents do not leave their houses at night even for waste disposal afraid of being harmed by military personnel who stationed themselves in their houses. Movements and economic activities of residents were limited and monitored by the military. They were restricted from going to their farmlands. There were families that only ate once a day due to the restrictions set for going to their farmlands. Five (5) families from Panukmoan had sought refuge with the community of Manluy-a for fear of the military operations.

On November 17, 2007, more than 40 households from Magkahunao, San Agustin, evacuated to Janipaan Elementary School in fear of the military men who arrived in their community. Three (3) families of Emerald lived only from the foodstuff contribution of other local folks.
 

Residents at Emerald and Simowao have expressed the need for evacuation because of hunger and fear.
 

The tribal leaders and elders of Emerald, Simowao and other neighboring communities have asked the leaders and officers of the Local Government Units and the Armed Forces of the Philippines:
 

1. That, the military personnel refrain from staying at the houses of the civilians;

2. That, economic activities would not be restricted;

3. That, the military personnel would not stay and sleep in the community schools;

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4. That, the military personnel would protect and respect the projects and services initiated by the Local Government Units and the Non-government organizations in the community/ies;

5. That, foodstuff and other basic commodities would not be restricted and;

6. The lives of the civilians would be secured.
 

No action have been taken by the LGU and the military.

For Reference, contact: Rev. Modesto Villasanta, UCCP, CP. No.: 09192584146
Or Atty. Antonio Azarcon Tel. No.: (086) 211-3492

Download statement

Statements:

■   November 18, 2007-around 40 families from Magkahunao, San Agustin fled their homes and farmlands and evacuated to Hanipaan Elemetary School in fear for their lives.

■   Gloria makes her own calamity "Mina"

■   National literacy awardee schools threatened due to massive military operations

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