Human rights advocates are wary of a countrywide martial law if the military’s proposed amendments to the anti-terror law will be legislated.
The massive human rights violations committed against the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) or lumads and peasants are designed to silence the opposition to the continuing operations of large-scale mining and plantations in Northern Mindanao and the rest of Caraga Region.
The peace group Sowing the Seeds of Peace (SSP) said the death of National Democratic Front peace consultant was a big blow to the peace process and apparently sends a chilling effects to peace advocates.
Karapatan deplores pattern of killings, arrests of civilians recently 'abducted' by military or police in Mindanao.
Human rights group Barug Katungod Mindanao condemned the arrest of a lumad and peasant leaders Datu Jomorito Goaynon and Ireneo Udarbe in Cagayan de Oro on “false criminal charges and planted evidence.”