Military blamed for abuses vs children

From the Manila Standard Today (Mar 4): Military blamed for abuses vs children

Reports of rape, extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests, detention and torture have marked the first two years under the Aquino Administration as result of the military counter-insurgency operation in the countryside, a left-leaning women’s party-list group said on Sunday.

Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus called on President Aquino to scrap Oplan Bayanihan, a joint civilian and military operation that focus on civic action rather than combat operation.

She said that in the past two years at least 64 children have become victims of rape and sexual assault, 14 of extra-judicial killings, 18 of frustrated murders, 15 of illegal arrest and 13 of torture.

“We call on the president to scrap Oplan Bayanihan and immediately pull out troops from the communities. For as long as this government condones human rights violations, the president is accountable for aggravating the culture of impunity,” De Jesus said.

Oplan Bayanihan was the military response to incursion by the Communist New People’s Army in the communities in the countryside. It’s aim is to control a particular community or population instead of defeating a particular enemy.

Oplan Bayanihan was implemented on January 1, 2011 and officials called it “a whole-nation approach.” It was part of the battle for the hearts and minds of Filipinos in the countryside.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/03/04/military-blamed-for-abuses-vs-children/