CPP: CPP condemns AFP for aerial bombings, school occupation in Sagada

From the CPP Website (Aug 31): CPP condemns AFP for aerial bombings, school occupation in Sagada

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemned the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for carrying-out indiscriminate aerial bombings and strafings yesterday morning in Sagada, Mt. Province and occupying and making use of an elementary school as a military camp.

“Fascist soldiers of the AFP, employing two MG-520 attack helicopters, launched two successive aerial bombardment runs yesterday morning in Sagada, pounding the land and watershed areas with bombs and bullets, endangering the lives of thousands of residents and causing environmental damage to the watershed areas.”

The attack helicopters were deployed by the Philippine Air Force’s 1st Division Strike Wing.

“That the AFP was pursuing a unit of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the area is no justification for carrying out such aerial bombardments which have no clear targets, subject entire communities to fear and traumatize civilian residents,” said the CPP.

“The use of aerial bombardment to awe and instill fear on the people is one of the most cowardly acts of war being conducted by the AFP in the course of its Oplan Bayanihan war of suppression against the Filipino people and their revolutionary forces,” added the CPP.

“While unleashing aerial fire, ground troops of the AFP train their guns against the people who they regard as combatants,” said the CPP. “Entire communities are subjected to the AFP’s suppression operations.”

“The CPP condemns the occupation and encampment of armed combat troops of the Aguid elementary school in the outskirts of Sagada. The military occupation of the school is in outright violation of rights of children and subjects the students, their parents, their teachers and the community to fear and abuse.”

The CPP calls on the Filipino people, human rights advocates, children’s rights advocates and agencies of international humanitarian law, to condemn and hold the US-Aquino regime responsible for its campaign of aerial bombardments and policy of encamping in schools and school grounds.

Just last May 30 and 31, the AFP also dropped bombs in farmlands of Barangays Gacab, Duldulao, Umnap, Buanao, and Lat-ey in Malibcong Abra. At least two teenagers were traumatized as the bombs were dropped around 40 meters from their residence. In April, the 1002nd Bde carried out an aerial bombing run in Brgy. Luayon, Makilala, North Cotabato causing grave damage to nearby communities and their farms. Last March, forces of the 10th ID carried indiscriminate aerial bombings for two days in barangays of Malita, Davao del Sur.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20130831_cpp-condemns-afp-for-aerial-bombings-school-occupation-in-sagada