Residents of sitio Burabod, Barangay Mabini, Basey, Samar gather before evacuating at the village school that is now occupied by soldiers. (photo by Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas)
Farmers from Basey town in Samar have fled their community following alleged abuses by troops of the Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion who have been occupying their village since last month, a human rights organization said.
The Eastern Visayas chapter of Karapatan said the soldiers set up their camp in Sitio Burabod, Barangay Mabini following clashes with the New People’s Army more than a month ago.
Since then, however, Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas spokesman Jun Berino said residents complained of abuses, among these the sexual harassment of a woman and the detention and interrogation of sitio president Leni Sabaniao and a 30-year old “habal-habal” (commuter motorcycle) driver suspected of being a rebel sniper.
Sabaniao and the driver were interviewed on a local radio station about their experience over the weekend.
However, 87th IB commander Colonel George Domingo, who also spoke on the same radio program, denied the accusations against his men and instead labeled the two of being rebel supporters for their opposition to the Army’s presence in the village.
Domingo also allegedly claimed that the Burabod residents and Katungod are “part of the problem” and “wala pong karapatan sa (have no right to) protection of the law.”
He confirmed that his troops encamped at the village school but said this was approved by the mayor and barangay officials.
Worse, said Katungod, he uttered what Berino said amounted to a threat, saying: “Tatandaan niyo, dahil sa pagsasalita nyo d’yan … makikilala ko kayo, at makikilala niyo rin ako (Remember this, because you have talked … I will know you and you will also know me).”
Berino called the soldier’s presence in Burabod a violation of international humanitarian law.
8th Infantry Division spokesman Captain Andrew Linao said in an interview that they have received no complaints against the 87th IB.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/118850/samar-farmers-decry-military-occupation-of-village
Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas is the Eastern Visayas chapter of KARPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights), the main Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) human rights front organization that is active nationwide.
ReplyDeleteKatungod Sinirangan Bisayas maintains a Website at https://katungodsiniranganbisayas.wordpress.com/ where is recently posted a statement entitled "Farmers in Samar protest military encampment, HR violations in community; but Army official denies, responds with ‘public threats’" which appears to have formed the basis for the above article.
For a list of regional/local human rights organizations affiliated with KARAPATAN see the group's brochure at the following URL:
http://www.karapatan.org/files/karap_brochure_2007_edited.pdf
Note: At one time Basey was an NPA stronghold and it appears that group still exerts some influence in the area given the active presence of CPP front organizations.