The Eastern Mindanao Command on Tuesday scored New People's
Army (NPA) harassment tactics which prompted IPs (Indigenous People) residing
in forested communities in San Luis town, Agusan Del Sur to flee to safer
grounds.
Major Ezra Balagtey, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson,
said rebel harassment tactics against these minority groups started last Jan.
23 to 24.
He added that the rebel bands, in two groups, forced the IPs
residing in Barangay Balit, San Luis town, to flee by claiming that the
military will undertake a massive operation in the locality.
This false report triggered panic and caused the IPs to flee
from their communities.
As of this posting, the evacuees were composed of 194
households totaling 890 individuals including children.
Balagtey said that these individuals are now being sheltered
at the IP Infirmary Hospital, also in San Luis.
Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, Eastern Mindanao Command head,
slammed the NPAs for their blatant disregard of human rights .
"The NPAs displayed their blatant disregard of Human
Rights when they forced the massive evacuation of the community. They displaced
the IPs from their place of abode and prevented them to practice their way of
life that blatantly erodes their dignity as a people." Baladad said
He also scored the anti-development initiatives of the
rebels.
"They don’t want the government's presence in these
communities so that they will blame the government for neglecting its
responsibilities and thus lay the basis for more recruits. They want the
marginalized communities to be constantly in quagmire so that they will have
constant issues to manipulate the poor and hammer down issues against the govt.
If they truly are for the welfare of the IP communities, why stop the delivery
of basic services and development in these areas," Baladad stressed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=729479
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