Meanwhile, Karapatan said the military operations in Sitio Inalay, Barangay Dagohoy and Sitio Lasakan, Barangay Palma Gil, all in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, have resulted in various human rights violations such as destruction of properties, indiscriminate aerial bombardment, threats, harassments, intimidation, forcible evacuation or displacement and use of public places for military purposes and endangerment of civilians.
Last March 14, about 79 Ata-Manobo families with 553 individuals and 235 children were forcibly displaced from Sitio Inalay and Sitio Lasakan.
We believe that the forcible evacuation/displacement is a concrete result of the military operations done by the elements of the 73rd IB PA, CAFGUs and Alamara, Delgado said. The indiscriminate aerial bombardment forced the Ata-Manobo to leave their place and economic activities for their safety.
This is another effort by the military and its paramilitary forces to spread fear among civilians during their operation. Every time the military fails to protect themselves from New Peoples Army (NPA) attack, they immediately accuse civilians in the community as members, sympathizers or supporters of the rebel group, Delgado said.
Datu Doloran Dawsay, spokesperson of Salupongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon in Sitio Durian, Barangay Palma Gil, was threatened with death by members of the Alamara group headed by Andigao. They maliciously charge Dawsay of conniving with the rebel group. Dawsay is vocal in exposing human rights violations in the area and active against negative effect of Integrated Forest Management Agreement (Alsons-IFMA), Delgado said.
We are certain that as long the military operation exists and civilians populace are being considered as part of their operational targets, gross human rights violations will occur. These become always the problem of the AFP. They fail to protect civilians and civilian properties during their military operations, Delgado said. (davaotoday.com)
