SurSur to conduct community dialogue for IDPs in Lianga

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 11): SurSur to conduct community dialogue for IDPs in Lianga

A community consultation dialogue that would discuss urgent pressing matters relative to the reported internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the upper communities in Lianga town is set on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 to be held at the Mayor’s Office Conference Room in Poblacion, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

The local government unit of Lianga has invited the members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) – Conflict Management Cluster to join in the said dialogue. Some identified (selected) sectors are also invited that could contribute and take their part to help resolve the issues and concerns that would be raised by the local constituents specially the affected Indigenous Peoples (IPs).

It can be recalled that some 2,000 Manobo lumads from nine hinterland communities of Lianga fled their homes recently, fearing for the military operation and strict checkpoints conducted by government forces in the area.

Allegedly, the IPs noticed the presence of military helicopters and a bomber plane hovering around their villages in Andap Valley a day before they left their communities on July 6.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1741499739505/sursur-to-conduct-community-dialogue-for-idps-in-lianga