Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume IV, Number 12 April 25 - May 1, 2004 Quezon City, Philippines |
Misamis Farmers Demand Army Troops' Pullout A
group of villagers have called for Army soldiers to pull out from Misamis
Occidental. Based on their stories – of beatings and lootings they said the
soldiers had committed in a recent military operation – they may have every
reason to complain. BY
MARS MARATA
Other
farmers also related during the forum their own tales of abuse committed by
soldiers from the 10th IBPA. Thirteen
farmers complained that soldiers butchered and ate their goats and chickens.
Some complained that their bags of clothes, blankets and bolos got lost. One
farmer complained that soldiers conducting pursuit operations tried to force him
to act as guide. He resisted for
fear of being caught in the crossfire in case a gun battle ensues.
The
forum was able to list 14 cases of looting, destruction of properties, coercion
and grave threats allegedly committed by elements of Bravo Company of the 10th
IB PA under a certain Lt. Col. Libertino. These
alleged human rights violations were committed in the course of pursuit
operations conducted by the AFP unit following an encounter with suspected New
People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas last March 14. Four soldiers and one NPA
fighter were reportedly killed in the encounter. When
confronted with the findings by the human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for
the Advancement of People’s Rights)-Western Mindanao, a Captain Toraino of the
10th IB denied the accusations stating that his men are professionals and
well-disciplined and he cannot believe that his men can commit such human rights
violations. Meantime, farmer leaders participating in the forum resolved to exert all efforts at making the 10th IB account for these violations and to fight for justice for the victims. They also called for a pull out of AFP troops in the area. Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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