NPA's 'protracted war' killing the lumad - AFP

From InterAksyon (Mar 28): NPA's 'protracted war' killing the lumad - AFP



Weapons recovered by government troops from alleged 'lumad' rebels who died in a clash in Sarangani province i February. (photo from Eastmincom)

The military said it is alarmed at the growing number of “lumad” turning up as rebel casualties in clashes in Eastern Mindanao, proof it claimed that it is the “protracted war” being waged by the communist New People’s Army that is killing off Mindanao’s indigenous people.

“There is no amount of propaganda to cover up the reality that majority of the casualties during encounters with our operating troops are ill-equipped and untrained Lumad combatants recruited into the NPA. We’re not happy with this and we too weep for the loss of innocent lives because of the NPA’s senseless war,” Brigadier General Joselito Kakilala, Civil Relations Service chief and concurrent spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said.

Kakilala accused the NPA of using “force and intimidation” to exploit what he called the “innocence and vulnerability” of the lumad to transform their communities into “laboratories of (the rebels’) own protracted war,” directed by “self-centered communist leaders such as Jose Maria Sison, Luis Jalandoni and others who enjoy the luxuries of life abroad.”

The NPA celebrates its 46th founding anniversary on March 29, an occasion the military says is often preceded by tactical offensives against government forces and economic sabotage on public and private installations and facilities.

However, Kakilala said the military is always ready to quell NPA attacks.

‘War against the lumad’ 

Lieutenant General Aurelio Baladad, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the NPA sees the ancestral domains of the lumad as ideal areas to build their “laboratories of protracted war.”

“The NPA uses communist propaganda through force and intimidation to corrupt the minds of our lumad brothers and sisters. The NPA introduces violence that destroys the simplistic nature and peaceful culture of the lumad. We’ve got to stop this,” Baladad said.

He cited the deaths of seven alleged NPA lumad fighters in Sarangani this February: alias Brigol, identified as deputy secretary and political officer; JM, identified as a team leader and logistics officer; Jonas/Batot, aother team leader; alias Lieutenant, a vice team leader; alias Mark, a medic; and alias Monet, a new recruit.

“Who wants war? Who wants death? We’re ready to die as your soldiers in order to protect and save lives of our people. But please don’t bring this war against us to the abodes of our peaceful and loving lumad people. This protracted war that the NPA is waging is destructive; it destroys life, culture and people. Our recent encounters show that more and more of our lumad brothers and sisters were the casualties of the NPA’s protracted war,” Baladad said.

He said of the estimated 1,985 NPA fighters within his command’s operational jurisdiction, 74 percent are lumad recruits.

“Truly our lumad people have been being used by the NPA as sacrificial lambs for its senseless and destructive protracted war,” Baladad said.

The Eastmincom claims to have killed 138 NPA fighters and captured 44 last year, with another 741 surrendering. It also claimed to have recovered 356 high-caliber and 386 low-caliber weapons, although Baladad said, “We don’t take pride in scorecards, anyway. We live and die defending and protecting our people from the violence of the NPA’s senseless and destructive protracted war.”

Lumad’s emancipation

AFP of staff General Greogrio Pio Catapang Jr. has ordered Baladad to reinforce efforts by his command to support lumad “emancipation movements” against the NPA.

Catapang said this movements allow the lumad to “take the lead and for us to provide the necessary lifelines. This is the spirit of our Internal Peace and Security Plan or Bayanihan,” referring to the government’s counterinsurgency program.

The AFP chief has given his full support to an AFP-IP Framework drawn up by the Easmincom to guide them and concerned local government units and other agencies in the formulation of specific campaign plans to address the issues and concerns of the lumad in Region 11 and CARAGA.

In line with this, said Baladad, they initiated the creation of a multi-sectoral Technical Working Group to focus on the enhancement of indigenous political structures, economic and development programs, security, quick reaction teams, and protection of ancestral domain.

“We’ve been conducting a series of meetings and consultations with all stakeholders and we really see a lot of hopes with the IP communities with the active participation of the LGUs and government agencies concerned,” Baladad said.

Lumads: We’re not against progress

Datu Lumansad Sibugan, the IP-mandated representative in Talaingod, said the indigenous peoples are not against progress.

“We also want economic progress in our abodes, to harness our natural resources. Let development and investment initiatives come into our homes if these would bring us economic progress without sacrificing of course our identity, culture and way of life, and also our environment. You respect us and we will also respect you,” Sibugan said.

Sibugan said they have had enough propaganda from the NPA on how to fight for their rights and ancestral domains.

“It’s time to move on from mere communist propaganda to reality. We have had enough of exploitation from the NPA and their allies. We wish that roads will be built leading to our areas as well as schools in order for us especially our children to learn,” Sibugan appealed.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/107851/npas-protracted-war-killing-the-lumad---afp