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PHILIPPINES: Massive displacement of indigenous villagers in Agusan del Norte due to military operation

May 11, 2012

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-072-2012

11 May 2012
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PHILIPPINES: Massive displacement of indigenous villagers in Agusan del Norte due to military operation

ISSUES: Indigenous people; Right to food; Right to health; Child rights
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Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned about the military operations in Agusan del Norte that led to massive displacement of indigenous communities. The soldiers had allegedly indiscriminately fired upon and launched aerial bombardment in the mountain village close to their communities. As a result, the indigenous villagers, including children, had to flee depriving them their means of subsistence for fear of their lives.

CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN- Caraga)

On 5 March 2012, at about 10am, residents attached to an indigenous Mamanwa in Ansili and Zapanta, in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, saw two fighter airplanes airstrike over their community, dropping four bombs in the nearby mountain areas. They estimated the detonation sites to be around 300 to 400 meters aerial distance from their homes. Some of the women experienced pressure on their chests during the detonations. They heard rapid gunfire after the bombing.

At about 11am, the two fighter airplanes return with one helicopter. The airplanes again dropped bombs four times while the helicopter strafed the forest areas. The women and children shouted in fear, others panicked while one of the pregnant women suffered contractions because the bombing seemed to come nearer this time.

At about 2pm, both airplanes and the helicopter returned. Residents saw fully armed soldiers rappelling out of the helicopter that was hovering over a nearby hill. They heard chainsaws and saw big trees fall as the soldiers set up camp.

In fear of encountering the soldiers who were in combat mode, they were unable to gather firewood that was their daily source of income. They were also unable to gather food from their farms. They divided the rice that was sold in sari-sari (mini) store but it was not enough to sustain them while they were unable to farm. Motorcycle drivers did not ply their usual route to bring food supplies in fear of being detained by soldiers (as they have repeatedly experienced in the past) along the uninhabited roads to Zapanta and Ansili.

On 6 March 2012 at about 8am, two fighter airplanes and another helicopter circled the community. Residents saw the helicopter land on a nearby mountain they call Bongtud, around 1 km aerial distance from Ansili. The helicopter returned at about 9am, again at 1pm and 3pm.

Residents were becoming increasingly afraid of the coming operations because of the rapid buildup of fully armed soldiers so close to their communities and the use of helicopters and airplanes during the aerial bombardments.

At about 3pm, because of hunger and fear of another bombing and aerial strafing, the indigenous villagers decided to evacuate to the village center in Bangayan village.

At about 5pm, 45 Mamanwa families from the Lumad communities of Ansili and Maribuhok started the eight kilometer trek to Bangayan village. Bringing only what they could carry such as a few clothes and livestock, children, old folks and pregnant women with their families walked in the gathering dusk. As night time neared, they used only fire lamps to light the way. They arrived in Bangayan at about 8pm.

On 9 March 2012, because of sporadic gunfire and increased military presence and encroachment in the middle of Sitio Zapanta, eighty peasant families evacuated at about 2pm. They also walked to Bangayan village to seek sanctuary from the military operations.

On14 March 2012, 24 families from the Mamanwa community of Manhumapay, in the mountainous areas of Kitcharao reached sanctuary after one week of walking and avoiding the aerial bombings. Mamanwa is a Negrito tribe often grouped together with the Lumad. They are lesser in number and more scattered and nomadic. These groups of about 100 individuals were very near the areas where the bombs were dropped, some children were hit with shrapnel from the bombs, others suffered wounds and scratches as they lay on the ground during the bombings. They are currently among the 78 Mamanwa families who are in an evacuation center in Butuan City.

At present 149 evacuees families from Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. About 80 families are in the village hall and nearby houses of relatives and friends in Bangayan village, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, while 69 families, mostly Mamanwa, are in Butuan City, seeking sanctuary from soldiers who continue to pursue them even in the evacuation center in Bangayan

At Butuan City evacuation center on 14 March, 78 Mamanwa families with about 345 individuals from Kitcharao and Sitio Lusong, Puting Bato village, Cabadbaran City arrived in Butuan City to seek sanctuary and ask for help from the Agusan del Norte Provincial Government to petition the pullout of military troops from their communities and desist from the airstrikes in the community. They asked for shelter from the Provincial Government but were refused the use of the Provincial Capitol’s covered gym, in favor of a private contract with an entertainment company who were to set up an exhibit until May. Local leaders from Kayapan – Amihan, a local indigenous organisation, were able to ask for assistance from the village officials of Imadejas village for the use of their village covered court where they are now sheltered.

Since their arrival, four children under six years old suffered diarrhea and were dehydrated while about 30 adults and children complained of abdominal pains. There were about 16 children and two adults who had upper respiratory tract infection requiring antibiotics while many others had colds and intermittent cough. There are three pregnant women, with one suffering profound anemia. There are also children with infected wounds on their feet.

The evacuees are in need of food, medicines, clothes, laundry soap, sleeping mats and potable water. They also need slippers and change of clothes, especially the children with infected wounds.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case.

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SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear __________,

PHILIPPINES: Massive displacement of indigenous villagers in Agusan del Norte due to military operation

Number of affected families:
1. 125 families with about 500 individuals. There are 45 Mamanwa families from the lumad community of Ansili and 80 Bisaya peasant families from Sitio Zapanta Bangayan village, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. The evacuees include ten pregnant women and over 150 children under the age of six years old.
2. 24 families with about 100 individuals from the Mamanwa community of Manhumapay from the triboundary area of Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Sur. They are also members of the intermunicipal lumad organization Kayapan-Amihan, a local organization under the Kapunungan sa Lumadnong Organisasyon sa Caraga (KASALO Caraga).
Security forces involved in the operation: 3rd Special Forces, 402nd Brigade, Philippine Army under the command of Col. Ferdinand Napule
Date of incident: 5 March 2012 -present
Place of incident: Ansili and Sitio Zapanta, Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte and Mamanwa community of Manhumapay

I am writing to draw your attention to the massive displacement of indigenous villagers in Agusan del Norte due to military operation. On 5 March 2012, at about 10am, residents in Ansili and Zapanta, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte saw two fighter airplanes airstrikes over their community, dropping four bombs in the nearby mountain areas. They estimated the detonation sites to be around 300 to 400 meters aerial distance from their homes. Some of the women experienced pressure on their chests during the detonations. They heard rapid gunfire after the bombing.

At about 11am, the two fighter airplanes return with one helicopter. The airplanes again dropped bombs four times while the helicopter strafed the forest areas. The women and children shouted in fear, others panicked while one of the pregnant women suffered contractions because the bombing seemed to come nearer this time.

At about 2pm, both airplanes and the helicopter returned. Residents saw fully armed soldiers rappelling out of the helicopter that was hovering over a nearby hill. They heard chainsaws and saw big trees fall as the soldiers set up camp.

In fear of encountering the soldiers who were in combat mode, they were unable to gather firewood that was their daily source of income. They were also unable to gather food from their farms. They divided the rice that was sold in sari-sari store but it was not enough to sustain them while they were unable to farm. Motorcycle drivers did not ply their usual route to bring food supplies in fear of being detained by soldiers (as they have repeatedly experienced in the past) along the uninhabited roads to Zapanta and Ansili.

On 6 March 2012 at about 8am, two fighter airplanes and another helicopter circled the community. Residents saw the helicopter land on a nearby mountain they call Bongtud, around 1 km aerial distance from Ansili. The helicopter return at about 9am, again at 1pm and 3pm.

Residents were becoming increasingly afraid of the coming operations because of the rapid buildup of fully armed soldiers so near their communities and the use of helicopters and airplanes during the aerial bombing.

At about 3pm, because of hunger and fear of another bombing and aerial strafing, indigenous villagers decided to evacuate to the village center in Bangayan village.

At about 5pm, 45 Mamanwa families from the Lumad communities of Ansili and Maribuhok started the eight kilometer trek to Bangayan village. Bringing only what they could carry such as a few clothes and livestock, children, old folks and pregnant women with their families walked in the gathering dusk. As night time neared, they used only fire lamps to light the way. They arrived in Bangayan at about 8pm.

On 9 March 2012, because of sporadic gunfire and increased military presence and encroachment in the middle of Sitio Zapanta, eighty peasant families evacuated at about 2pm. They also walked to Bangayan village to seek sanctuary from the military operations.

On14 March 2012, 24 families from the Mamanwa community of Manhumapay, in the mountainous areas of Kitcharao reached sanctuary after one week of walking and avoiding the aerial bombings. Mamanwa is a Negrito tribe often grouped together with the Lumad. They are lesser in number and more scattered and nomadic.This group of about 100 individuals were very near the areas where the bombs were dropped, some children hit with shrapnel from the bombs, others suffered wounds and scratches as they lay on the ground during the bombings. They are currently among the 78 Mamanwa families who are in an evacuation center in Butuan City.

I have learned that at present 149 families-evacuees from Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. About 80 families are in the village hall and nearby houses of relatives and friends in Bangayan village, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, while 69 families, mostly Mamanwa, are in Butuan City, seeking sanctuary from soldiers who continue to pursue them even in the evacuation center in Bangayan

At Butuan City evacuation center on 14 March, 78 Mamanwa families with about 345 individuals from Kitcharao and Sitio Lusong, Puting Bato village, Cabadbaran City arrived in Butuan City to seek sanctuary and ask for help from the Agusan del Norte Provincial Government to petition the pullout of military troops from their communities and desist from the airstrikes in the community. They asked for shelter from the Provincial Government but were refused the use of the Provincial Capitol’s covered gym, in favor of a private contract with an entertainment company who were to set up an exhibit until May. Local leaders from Kayapan – Amihan, a local lumad organisation, were able to ask for assistance from the village officials of Imadejas village for the use of their village covered court where they are now shltered.

Since their arrival, four children under six years old suffered diarrhea and were dehydrated while about 30 adults and children complained of abdominal pains. There were about 16 children and two adults who had upper respiratory tract infection requiring antibiotics while many others had colds and intermittent cough. There are three pregnant women, with one suffering profound anemia. There are also children with infected wounds on their feet.

I also urged you to investigate on this matter and give attention to the evacuees who are in need of food, medicines, clothes, laundry soap, sleeping mats and potable water. They also need slippers and change of clothes, especially the children with infected wounds.
I hope you take immediate action in this case.


Yours sincerely,

------------------------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Benigno Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80

2. Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
E-mail: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com

3. Director General Nicanor Bartolome
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2724 8763
Tel: +63 2 726 4361/4366/8763
E-mail: ruth_cossid@yahoo.com

4. Ms. Leila de Lima
Secretary
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: soj@doj.gov.ph

5. Atty. Rudiger G. Falcis II
Officer-in-Charge / Director
Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military
and Other Law Enforcement Offices
3rd Floor, Ombudsman Bldg., Agham Road, Diliman
1104 Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 926 8747

6. Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com

7. Corazon "Dinky" Juliano-Soliman
Secretary, Department of Social, Welfare and Development
Constitution Hills, Batasan Pambansa Complex,
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel/Fax: +63 (2) 931-81-91

8. Atty. Roque N. Agton, Jr.
Southern & Eastern Mindanao
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
2nd Floor N. dela Merced Building, Cor. West and Quezon Avenues
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Telefax:+63 2 373 9787
Tel.: +63 2 575 1200
Email:resource@ncip.gov.ph


Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)

Document Type :
Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID :
AHRC-UAC-072-2012
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Extended Introduction: Urgent Appeals, theory and practice

A need for dialogue

Many people across Asia are frustrated by the widespread lack of respect for human rights in their countries.  Some may be unhappy about the limitations on the freedom of expression or restrictions on privacy, while some are affected by police brutality and military killings.  Many others are frustrated with the absence of rights on labour issues, the environment, gender and the like. 

Yet the expression of this frustration tends to stay firmly in the private sphere.  People complain among friends and family and within their social circles, but often on a low profile basis. This kind of public discourse is not usually an effective measure of the situation in a country because it is so hard to monitor. 

Though the media may cover the issues in a broad manner they rarely broadcast the private fears and anxieties of the average person.  And along with censorship – a common blight in Asia – there is also often a conscious attempt in the media to reflect a positive or at least sober mood at home, where expressions of domestic malcontent are discouraged as unfashionably unpatriotic. Talking about issues like torture is rarely encouraged in the public realm.

There may also be unwritten, possibly unconscious social taboos that stop the public reflection of private grievances.  Where authoritarian control is tight, sophisticated strategies are put into play by equally sophisticated media practices to keep complaints out of the public space, sometimes very subtly.  In other places an inner consensus is influenced by the privileged section of a society, which can control social expression of those less fortunate.  Moral and ethical qualms can also be an obstacle.

In this way, causes for complaint go unaddressed, un-discussed and unresolved and oppression in its many forms, self perpetuates.  For any action to arise out of private frustration, people need ways to get these issues into the public sphere.

Changing society

In the past bridging this gap was a formidable task; it relied on channels of public expression that required money and were therefore controlled by investors.  Printing presses were expensive, which blocked the gate to expression to anyone without money.  Except in times of revolution the media in Asia has tended to serve the well-off and sideline or misrepresent the poor.

Still, thanks to the IT revolution it is now possible to communicate with large audiences at little cost.  In this situation there is a real avenue for taking issues from private to public, regardless of the class or caste of the individual.

Practical action

The AHRC Urgent Appeals system was created to give a voice to those affected by human rights violations, and by doing so, to create a network of support and open avenues for action.  If X’s freedom of expression is denied, if Y is tortured by someone in power or if Z finds his or her labour rights abused, the incident can be swiftly and effectively broadcast and dealt with. The resulting solidarity can lead to action, resolution and change. And as more people understand their rights and follow suit, as the human rights consciousness grows, change happens faster. The Internet has become one of the human rights community’s most powerful tools.   

At the core of the Urgent Appeals Program is the recording of human rights violations at a grass roots level with objectivity, sympathy and competence. Our information is firstly gathered on the ground, close to the victim of the violation, and is then broadcast by a team of advocates, who can apply decades of experience in the field and a working knowledge of the international human rights arena. The flow of information – due to domestic restrictions – often goes from the source and out to the international community via our program, which then builds a pressure for action that steadily makes its way back to the source through his or her own government.   However these cases in bulk create a narrative – and this is most important aspect of our program. As noted by Sri Lankan human rights lawyer and director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, Basil Fernando:

"The urgent appeal introduces narrative as the driving force for social change. This idea was well expressed in the film Amistad, regarding the issue of slavery. The old man in the film, former president and lawyer, states that to resolve this historical problem it is very essential to know the narrative of the people. It was on this basis that a court case is conducted later. The AHRC establishes the narrative of human rights violations through the urgent appeals. If the narrative is right, the organisation will be doing all right."

Patterns start to emerge as violations are documented across the continent, allowing us to take a more authoritative, systemic response, and to pinpoint the systems within each country that are breaking down. This way we are able to discover and explain why and how violations take place, and how they can most effectively be addressed. On this path, larger audiences have opened up to us and become involved: international NGOs and think tanks, national human rights commissions and United Nations bodies.  The program and its coordinators have become a well-used tool for the international media and for human rights education programs. All this helps pave the way for radical reforms to improve, protect and to promote human rights in the region.