PHILIPPINES: Soldiers threaten an indigenous woman human rights defender

Dear Friends, 

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern regarding ongoing threats by soldiers to a woman human rights defender. She had been forced to act as their guide in military operations pursuing rebels. If she refuses or tells them there are no rebels in the area, they threaten her. The victim is a member of an indigenous group.

CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by the Citizens Alliance Unified for Sectoral Empowerment – Davao del Sur (CAUSE)))

On 26 February 2015, at 8am, Gloria Sanuntay, a member of Solidarity of Indigenous Peoples in Sarangani (T’boli Lumad Kasbakas Di Sarangani (LUMAKAS), was inside her house in Maasim, Sarangani Province, when soldiers attached to the 27th IBPA came looking for New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. 

When Sanuntay told one of the soldiers, “wala may NPA diri Sir (there are no NPA here Sir),” the soldiers threatened that if anything happens to them (presumably an ambush by rebels), they would come back for her.

The soldier’s threats cannot be taken lightly. Prior to the incident, on November 6, 2014, at 10pm, Sanuntay had been forced by soldiers to act as their guide again in pursuing rebels. Sanuntay’s house is in the mountains and she is familiar with the local area. Usually, soldiers deployed in such places are not familiar with the terrain, so they coerce local villagers to serve as their guides.

Before Sanuntay was forced to act as their guide, the soldiers first asked her if she was a member of the indigenous group, LUMAKAS. After she confirmed to them that she is a member, they forced her to guide them.  The soldiers ignored her question on why they were asking about her and her organization.

Two days earlier, on 4 November 2014, at 12:40pm, Sanuntay was bathing her child by the river near her home. She heard gunfire coming from Sitio Tubak, Barangay Lumasal, a mountainous area in Maasim, Sarangani Province. Frightened and worried for their safety, she immediately reported to Ponting Sendo, a village council member. After investigating the incident, Sendo advised her not to evacuate just yet until they had enough information as to what happened.

However, two days later, on November 6 at 10pm, soldiers came to her home. One of the soldiers claimed that Sendo had instructed her to accompany them; however, it was confirmed later that Sendo did not gave such an instruction. Nevertheless, Sanuntay was forced to accompany the soldiers against her will. She had to walk for two hours towards the highway of Barangay Lumasal, about six kilometers from her house, effectively making her  a human shield to the rebels. They gave her five kilos of rice and 35 pesos (less than 1USD) as a token for accompanying them. 

Gloria believed that by purposely targeting her to serve as their guide, it confirms the existing prejudice of the soldiers against her and her group. She and her organization are labeled “anti government” and “supporters of the rebels.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Gloria Sanuntay’s case confirms the ongoing concerns of the “harassment, stigmatization and threats against human rights defenders, in particular environmental and indigenous rights defenders.”

In December 28, 2012, United Nations Special Rapporteurs had expressed their concern about the on-going threats by Government representatives in the military. Following are the Rapporteurs names, each with their special expertise .Frank La Rue, on promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Maina Kiai, on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Margaret Sekaggya, on human rights defenders; James Anaya, on the rights of indigenous peoples; Christof Heyns, on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and Rashida Manjoo, on violence against women, its causes and consequences.

In their joint urgent appeals, they requested the Government to:

…adopt urgent measures to protect the life of human rights defenders, including the realization of prompt, impartial and independent investigations into the reported acts of violence, and to ensure an environment where human rights defenders can carry out their peaceful and valuable work without fear of violence and repression.

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

The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights defenders and on the rights of indigenous peoples. 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER