From Tinay Palabay of KARAPATAN
Dear friends,
Military elements in full combat gear conducted operations in nine (9) communities in the mountain areas of Lianga, San Miguel and San Agustin in Surigao del Sur since July 2, 2017. These communities have recently just returned home in September 2016, after spending a year in an evacuation center in Tandag City. Residents witnessed the brutal killing of their leaders on September 1, 2015, which prompted their evacuation. Now, amid martial law and continuing militarization, these indigenous communities are again threatened by military operations.
Join us in condemning the renewed military operations, threats and harassment in indigenous communities. Let us support the demand to junk the Duterte administration’s counterinsurgency program Oplan Kapayapaan, as well as the immediate lifting of martial law in Mindanao.
BACKGROUND OF THE INCIDENT:
On September 1, 2015, MAPASU (Malahutayong Pagkigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod) chairperson Dionel Campos and Kiwagan Datu Juvello Sinzo were brutally killed in front of more than 200 residents of Km. 16 and Han-ayan, Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Residents, teachers, and students were forcibly gathered by composite elements of the 75th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IBPA) and paramilitary group Magahat/Bagani in Km. 16 to witness the execution of their leaders. After killing Campos and Sinzo, paramilitary forces threatened the entire community, saying they will all be massacred if they do not leave. After the military and paramilitary elements left, the dead body of ALCADEV (Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development) executive director Emerito Samarca was found in the faculty guest room of the school compound. The entire incident came to be known as the Lianga massacre.
Following the incident, around 2,700 individuals from twenty-six (26) communities evacuated to Tandag City on the same day. They were only able to return to their communities last September 3, 2016, after strong international and national campaign forcing military elements to withdraw from the communities.
In 2015, trumped up charges of trafficking were filed against eleven (11) Lumad school volunteer teachers and community leaders, while in evacuation.
Since their return, residents of 26 communities have been rebuilding their farms, homes, schools and livelihood. Lumad schools run by TRIFPSS (Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur) and ALCADEV started holding regular classes for the school year 2017-2018 this June.
Upon President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, a checkpoint was placed in front of the military detachment in Post 1, Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, requiring residents and visitors to show their ID or write their names in a logbook.
ACCOUNT OF THE INCIDENTS:
On July 2, 2017, at around 2am, about 60 soldiers of the 75th IBPA in full combat uniform were seen gathered at a detachment in Post 1, Brgy. St. Christine, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. They were later seen going towards the other communities.
On July 3, 2017 at around 6am, the same number of soldiers from the 75th IBPA were seen in Km. 6, Brgy. St. Christine, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Later that day, more soldiers from the 36th IBPA and 16th Special Forces Battalion (SFB), all in full combat uniform, arrived in the Lumad communities of Hayon and Sangay Brgy. Libas Sud, San Miguel. These communities are located on the other side of the mountain, adjacent to the Lumad communities in Lianga.
On July 4, 2017, soldiers were seen in the communities of Tambonon and Bishop in Brgy. Bolhoon, San Miguel. These two communities are also located on the other side of the mountain, near the Lumad communities of Lianga.
Meanwhile, residents of Emerald in Brgy. Diatagon and Panukmoan saw soldiers in combat jungle uniform in the farm areas of their community, prompting them to evacuate near community centers. Residents of Mike, Km. 16 and Km. 14 evacuated to Han-ayan and stayed in the Lumad schools of TRIFPSS and ALCADEV along with the students and volunteer teachers.
On July 5 to 6, 2017, at around 11 pm to midnight, while the residents slept, bomber planes flew over the said communities, circling about 15 times. Residents from 9 Lumad communities — Han-yan, Mike, Km. 14, Km. 15, Km. 16, Manluy-a, Kabuluhan, Panukmoan and Decoy — all of Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga evacuated to and arrived in Emerald at around 6 o’clock in the morning. The residents, fearing for their lives given the harassment and threats that they have been constantly subjected to, thought it best to move out.
As of this writing, about 2,043 men, women and children are staying in the school grounds and classrooms of the Simowao Tribal Community School, located about 9 kilometers from the national highway and poblacion of Brgy. Diatagon.
Reports of food blockade have also been reported by the teachers, as military checkpoints prevent relief from entering evacuation centers. This is despite the desperate need for food and other assistance for evacuees.