“We need action.”
By BETTINA CATLI and CHRISTINE ANNE T. CABANATAN
Bulatlat.com
Youth groups picketed in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) today, Sept. 9, demanding the immediate pull out of military troops in Mindanao after the Sept. 1 killings in Surigao del Sur.
The youths, led by students from the University of the Philippines-Manila and the League of Filipino Students (LFS), stated that they are not content with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s statement that they will conduct an independent investigation on the attacks on the Lumad people.
“We need action,” said Charisse Bañez, spokesperson of LFS.
“The state of severe human rights crisis in Mindanao has become increasingly alarming. The situation should prompt the DOJ to go beyond investigations and act for the immediate pull-out of AFP troops who are the main perpetrators of violence against Lumads,” she said.
The groups also expressed their anger and slammed President Aquino over his statement that “there is no campaign to kill Lumads.
“Aquino’s response was simply empty. Our Lumad brothers and sisters are mercilessly killed yet the president didn’t speak about condemnation,” said Banez. “The Lumads who desire to uplift themselves, to build their own schools because the government is denying their right to free education – these are the people the government has been killing.”
The groups cited that there are 55 battalions deployed in Mindanao, and nine of which are stationed in Surigao del Sur. The military presence serves the logging and mining operations in Mindanao.
“We challenge him to hold accountable those in the AFP who are guilty of the crimes against the Lumads,” said Bañez. 
