NEWS RELEASE
06 February 2008
 
WestMinCom should be accountable for the massacre of civilians in Maimbung, Sulu
 
Suara Bangsamoro condemns the massacre of eight civilians, among them a 4 year-old child, as a result of an indiscriminate firing of the Philippine Navy under the Western Mindanao Command in Bgy. Ipil, Maimbung Sulu on February 4, 2008.
 
Amirah Ali Lidasan, national president of Suara Bangsamoro, belies the claims of the Western Mindanao Command that the incident in Bgy. Ipil last Monday was a “legitimate encounter” between the Philippine Navy’s Special Warfare Group and the Abu Sayyaf who are holding as a kidnap victim a Chinese woman from Tawi-Tawi.
 
She says that local leaders in Jolo, Sulu denies any presence or camps of Abu Sayyaf in Bgy. Ipil and that one of the prominent families in the said baranggay is even related to Sulu Governor Sakur Tan.
 
Lidasan said that the military should be held responsible for the massacre of the civilians and that local leaders in Sulu should immediately conduct and investigation to the incident.
 
Temugen “Cocoy” Tulawie chairman of Bawbug-Sulu and Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society in Sulu, gave the list of civilians killed in the incident as the following:  Eldisin Lahim, 35 yrs. Old, male;  Kera Lahim, 40, male; Ibnol Lahim 30, male; Narsiya Ben, 28,  female; and her husband Ben, 33; Alnalyn Kira, 21, female, Duni Lahim, male;  Sernalyn Kimar, female, around 4-5 yrs old.
 
Lidasan re-echoes reports coming from different civil society organizations in Jolo, Sulu that the incident was more of a fight between two warring families who vied for baranggay leadership last election. 
 
Yet to be confirmed reports from witnesses claim that one of the warring families sought the help of the military by reporting that they were members of the Abu Sayyaf.
 
Lidasan also points out the claims of Cocoy Tulawie that members of US soldiers were seen by local residents accompanying the military in the mission. 
 
Lidasan calls for the senate and congress to hear the testimonies of the people of Sulu about the involvement of the US troops in military operations in Sulu that has affected a number of civilians. 
 
She also calls for the Western Mindanao Command to stop using the Abu Sayyaf presence in Sulu as a pretext for military operations in Sulu, and by condoning the massacre of civilians and participation of US troops in the carnage. #