Allies of indigenes condemn militarization in Misor town

By GERALD LEIGH LAQUINON,
Correspondent

Missionaries and others groups in northern Mindanao has expressed solidarity with the evacuees from Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental who are camping out at the Provincial Capitol Grounds since Thursday to demand for the respect of their rights against militarization.

In a press statement, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines – Northern Mindanao Region (RMP-NMR) criticized the Philippine Army for “being the reason once more of the forced evacuation of the lumads.”

Sr. Ma. Famita Somogod, regional coordinator of RMP stressed that it is the fourth time these lumads were forced to leave their ancestral lands “by no less than the state forces – forces we feed with our taxes.”

“It is with sadness that we have now acknowledged that these military operations and consequent human rights violations have come to define our state forces… the military is actually a force of destruction for our communities that are on the margins of society,” said Somogod.

RMP-NMR underscored the 58th Infantry Battalion for “brushing aside the concerns raised by the community when they said they feared the presence of the military among their homes, and when they mocked the evacuees by staging concerts, and asking for donations for the evacuees where no money reached the concerned families.”

“But while we say that the AFP has been predictably abusive and offensive, it is not with exhaustion that we condemn their atrocities once more – and will continue to do so as long as these keep on recurring,” added Somogod.

Meanwhile, other religious and progressive groups welcomed the 130 evacuees at the Capitol Grounds on Thursday with a simple “Solidarity Night” where representatives gave speeches of support for the displaced lumads.

Fr. Jong Abejo of the Iglesia Filipina Indepien-dente said that they commend the collective strength of the lumads in “defying the state that not only neglects them but violates their human rights as well.”

Militant groups like Anakbayan, League of Filipino and Gabriela also expressed their outrage to the “incessant harassment” of the indigenous people by the 4th Infantry Division.

In response, the evacuees graced the event with lumad cultural presentations and speeches of gratitude.

However, Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the 4ID, said that they will not pull out the military troops in the rebel-infested areas of Misamis Oriental.

Martinez also denied the allegations of harassment of lumads by state forces since they are only doing their mandate of protecting the people.

Initially set on Friday, June 17, the dialogue between the evacuees, the provincial governor and the military officials was postponed to another date since accordingly no military official was available.

The evacuees have vowed that they will not to leave their camp and go home unless a written agreement will be reached ensuring that the military will not stay in their communities during operations.