PHILIPPINES: Massive displacement of indigenous peoples due to aerial bombardment

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned about the aerial bombardment in the mountains of Sarangani province, Mindanao due to military operations, resulting in massive displacement of indigenous Blaans in the area. Soldiers also threatened and forced confessions from villagers on locations of rebel groups in their community. 

CASE DETAILS: (Based on information received from Kafye de Lagad and Kahugpongan sa mga Lumad sa Halayong Habagatang Mindanao (KALUHHAMIN), an indigenous people’s organization; and the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN)

On March 27, 2015 360 families or more than 2,000 individuals were displaced due to military operations conducted by the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in uphill villages of Malapatan and Alabel, Sarangani Province.

The soldiers forced civilians to ‘confess’ the rebel camp location of the New People’s Army. If they refused to cooperate, the military would accuse them of either being rebels themselves, or rebel informants. The aerial bombardment in the Blaan communities has destroyed their crops—banana, cassava, vegetables and coffee—upon which they make their livelihood.

Indigenous B’laan evacuees descending from their mountain villages/Photo by KALUHHAMIN and Karapatan

On the evening of May 18, 100 families or more than 400 individuals from the remote village of Upper Suyan and Barangay (village) Pagasa, Alabel, Sarangani province had to evacuate to Sofan Elementary School, in the same town. The villagers feared they would be killed in the bombardments if they do not evacuate.

Some of the evacuees moved to United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) compound in General Santos City, where local NGOs provided for some of their immediate needs, including trauma counseling, especially for children. Some women and children fell sick. One of the women, Meling Bagit, mother of a 10-day old baby, suffered bleeding, and another gave birth on May 21 in the evacuation center. Many pregnant and lactating mothers are showing signs of trauma.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

On June 10, 2015 at 9 a.m., a dialogue was conducted between civilians, local government officials of Sarangani province, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and 73^rd Infantry Battalion (IB).

During the dialogue, the villagers asked: Have the military left our place? (Wala na bay militar sa among gipuy an?). Do we have assurance that we will be secured in our community? (Naa bay klaro na siguridad sa amoa na mga Blaan didto sa among gipuy an?). But their concerns were not categorically answered.

In fact, local groups have discovered that the aerial bombardment and military operation in the area could be due to the alleged plan by the local government units and three mining corporations—the Trans Multi Corporation, LOOC Mining Corporation and the Legenda Mining Corporation—to conduct mining in the area. Rich in minerals, the area covers 16,096 hectares. 

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 Rapporteurs on the rights of indigenous peoples, in the field of cultural rights, on the right to food and on minority issues.

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