How can the nation walk the path towards a just and lasting peace?

While there is growing optimism among human rights groups and peace advocates on the resumption of the formal peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NJDFP), the failure on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its paramilitary forces to end the long practice of human rights abuses is an outlandish blow against all the Filipino people who are working towards a just and lasting peace.

Despite the AFP’s suspension of military operations (SOMO) against the New People’s Army (NPA) during the 5-day unilateral ceasefire declared by President Rodrigo Duterte, it is extremely outrageous that military elements and the AFP-backed paramilitary forces have continued atrocious combat operations in communities they tagged as stronghold of the NPA.
Reportedly, a few hours before the president lifted the unilateral ceasefire on July 30, eleven (11) elements of the 8th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army headed by Alde ‘Butsoy’ Salusad, a leader of New Indigenous People’s Army for Reform– (NIPAR) indiscriminately fired at a house where 80 people from the Tighawanon tribe are attending a wedding ceremony in Barangay Kawayan, San Fernando, Bukidnon.

The military did not spare anyone, targeting both young and old. After shooting spree that lasted for 10 minutes, 6-month pregnant Makenet Gayoran was found lying on the ground bathing in her own blood. She orphaned her 9-month old child who was in her arms, when a bullet pierced through her chest and killed her instantaneously. Aside from Makenet, seven individuals were reportedly injured including five minors – three teenagers, one 8-year old boy, and another 7-year old boy. Due to the disturbing incident, around 48 families composed of 81 individuals evacuated their community.

As child rights advocates, we cry our strong condemnation of this outright disregard of human rights of members of state forces and their paramilities. Impunity, indeed, persists.

We can easily draw a difference between the past and present administrations in terms of willingness to pursue peace talks and their strategies in handling negotiations with armed groups. In fact, it is laudable that President Duterte has made a remarkable jumpstart to accelerate the talks with the NDFP, including the promise to release its peace consultants and other political prisoners as well as the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 25.

However, the president cannot raise the white flag while his troops on the ground continue to aim their rifles against civilians including children.

In rural areas, children of farmers and indigenous peoples are heavily stricken by poverty and scarcity of social services which gravely affect their survival and development. Moreover, these factors are compounded, when they become targets of military abuses.

With barely two weeks prior to the scheduled talk on August 20 in Oslo, Norway, we strongly urge President Duterte to keep up his promise of peace and change. The GPH under his leadership should resume peace negotiations with the NDFP, release all political prisoners, uphold previous bilateral agreements and continue working on substantive peace agenda, especially on the social and economic reform to address the roots of conflict. Only through these actions can the nation walk the path towards a just and lasting peace.

[SOLIDAGRO] Statement of Condemnation & Solidarity

JUSTICE FOR EMERITO, DIONEL AND AURELIO, VICTIMS OF THE SEPTEMBER 1 MASSACRE IN SURIGAO DEL SUR!

We at SOLIDAGRO vehemently condemn the murder of EMERITO “Emuk” SAMARCA, Executive Director of Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), DIONEL CAMPOS, Chairperson of MAPASU, and his cousin AURELIO SINZO. They have been killed by the paramilitary group MAGAHAT/BAGANI, which has been organized by the regular AFP, around 4AM, September 1, 2015.

ALCADEV has been providing assistance to the Lumad in the Caraga region through high school education and enhancing sustainable agriculture practices with the Lumad communities. Emerito Samarca served as Executive Director with much vigor and sincerity to reach the goals and mission of ALCADEV. He has amply contributed to ALCADEV’s topping the regional (CARAGA) level of the National Literacy Award in the outstanding literacy program category and subsequently placed fifth in the national level last year.
But despite the meaningful output of ALCADEV in educating and assisting the Lumad people, they experience regular threats and obnoxious vilification from the government through the armed forces assigned in the area.

Their partner-PO MAPASU (Persevering Struggle for the Next Generation) chaired by Mr. Dionel Campos was instrumental in the building of the school in 2004. MAPASU takes its pride in defending their ancestral domain and preserving their customs and tradition and at the same time, improving their lives with secondary education provided by ALCADEV.

Mr. Samarca and Mr. Campos are staunch advocates of the rights of the indigenous peoples, and of the “Save our School” campaign. Their recent activities were to seek audience with the local government of Surigao del Sur to assist them with the Lumad’s predicament of their schools being harassed, and threat of being closed.

We are outraged by this event whereby development workers are being subject to targets of paramilitary and armed forces of the government. The right to development of the people is being curtailed through violence, and through arbitrarily pointing at our partner NGOs who are assisting communities which are poor and deprived of government services. Development programs in other regions have experienced the same as what ALCADEV has experienced: trump-up charges have been pressed on development workers, and are threatened and harassed in the communities that they serve.

We join all our partners, other international and local NGOs, and others who work for genuine development in the call for justice. Harassing communities and those who assist them is absolute injustice to the people.

Justice for EMERICO SAMARTA!
Justice for DIONEL CAMPOS!
Justice for AURELIO SINZO!
Justice for all development workers threatened by government repression!
Justice for the lumad communities, and other communities that struggle for their land and resources!
End Impunity!