NDF-NEMR: Continuing military operations in NEMR accompanied by brutal and deceitful propaganda and activities by the AFP

NDF-Northeast Mindanao Region propaganda statement posted to the National Democratic Front Website (Feb 4): Continuing military operations in NEMR accompanied by brutal and deceitful propaganda and activities by the AFP



Statement
February 3, 2018

Starting January 7 of this year, the sustained massive military operation launched by AFP forces in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur, have gone on for 27 days. It covers the municipalities of Tandag, Tago, San Miguel, Marihatag, San Agustin, Cagwait and Lianga in Surigao del Sur and Bunawan, Rosario, Trento, Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur. This operation is launched by forces from the 75th IB, 36th IB, 3rd SFB, 16th SFcoy, Scout Ranger under the 401st Bde, Philippine Army (PA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Special Action Forces (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Within this period, there were eight (8) incidents of clashes in Surigao and Agusan del Sur. According to reports and as witnessed by the masses themselves, the AFP forces suffered at the minimum, 9 casualties excluding those wounded, because of the brave resistance of the Red fighters. Because of this, the enemy indiscriminately fired canons and launched aerial bombing of mountain areas in San Agustin, Marihatag and Lianga in Surigao del Sur last January 15-18, 2018.

While combat operations continued, the AFP also committed abuses and implemented psychological operations to scare and mislead the people in the region. They released fake information to the mass media and social media in an attempt to damage the revolutionary movement and the New People’s Army (NPA).

Because of the sustained military operations, the livelihood of the Lumad in the area have been paralyzed because of terror, not just of the bombing but because of the threats of retaliation made by the fascist military, if they will be attacked by the NPA. They cannot go to their farms and hunt as they have always done during the amihan season. They were forced to evacuate and suffer hardship in the center of Km. 9 in Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur to avoid military abuses. Other communities evacuated to Sitio Luknodon, Brgy. Mahaba, Marihatag and Brgy. Hanipaan, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur since January 10.

In the second week of January, 29th IBPA forces strafed the home of farmer Jinky Asay and fired at and destroyed his passenger motorcycle in Brgy. Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. A few days after the incident, 75th IB PA forces shot and killed farmer Jimmy Notarte while he was leaving his farm in Brgy. Imelda, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur and was falsely accused as a member of the NPA.

In January 29, the AFP spokesperson and the paid Lumad aristocrat leaders released the fake news that the NPA brutally killed a CAFGU member and beheaded and hacked his arm in Brgy. Castillo, San Miguel. This is a big lie and nothing but black propaganda so the AFP can claim that the NPA is a terrorist organization thus rationalize its plan of arming the Lumad they conned, against the revolutionary movement. The truth however, came out, that the bandits in the area backed by the AFP/PNP were the ones responsible for the brutal crime which happened because of infighting for control of the area, especially the gold mines. NDFP-NEMR condemns the brutal killing of the CAFGU member.

On the other hand, the AFP/PNP instigated the forced surrender of former NPA members and ordinary civilians to make it appear that many active Red fighters have surrendered and prove that the New People’s Army-North Eastern Mindanao Region (NPA-NEMR) is weakening.

Aside from this, the reactionary government and the AFP deceived the Lumad by promising millions of money for the supposed livelihood development to push the economic interests of capitalists in the ancestral lands of the Lumad, at the Indigenous People’s Summit in the camp of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) of the Philippine Army in Panacan, Davao City. They were promised admittance as soldiers and police whose salaries have been increased. They were taught how to use computers within a few days for the Lumad to learn how to operate such. This is but another way of belittling the Lumad and an attempt to mislead them so they will easily hand over the riches of their ancestral lands to the mining and plantation capitalists.

Such manner of propaganda and activities are but part of the move implemented by bad people with bad intentions in our society. Because the AFP/PNP and the fascist US-Duterte regime wish to promote the interests of the imperialists and ruling classes in the region, implement the “build build build” program and strengthen their ambitious dictatorial rule at the expense of the people, it is of no wonder that they make such bad moves.

In line with this, the brutal, devious and evil intention of the AFP/PNP and US-Duterte regime must be exposed. Bravely resist and launch more sustained counter-attacks against the continuing psywar and combat operations of the enemy.

Ka Maria Malaya
Spokesperson
NDFP-NEMR

https://www.ndfp.org/continuing-military-operations-in-nemr-accompanied-by-brutal-and-deceitful-propaganda-and-activities-by-the-afp/