Sunday, December 2, 2007

Mining is root of military operations in Lumad lands in Surigao

In Lianga, Surigao del Sur, some 1,500 Lumad residents evacuated from their homes. Not because they were hit by typhoon Lando or Mina, but the onslaught of military operations.

At present, 254 families or 1,511 individuals (492 are children) are now housed in evacuation centers. The majority of evacuees are Lumad indigenous peoples. Barangay Diatagon and San Agustin in Lianga is the ancestral land of Lumad tribes.
“There’s no denying the fact that more than a thousand Lumad tribesmen fled their homes in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Equally irrefutable is that military elements are occupying the fled residents’ homes,” Himpad Mangumalas, Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) spokesperson said. “It’s absurd that the military blame anyone else for the evacuations, when they are the ones seen gallivanting in the area,” Mangumalas, a Lumad leader, added.

Since November 1, military men were seen in the Lumad communities of Simowao and Emerald in Lianga. They mounted makeshift tents at the the center of the community, some living inside resident’s houses and in the tribal school. There were about a hundred soldiers encamped in the village.

In a news article in the Inquirer, Philippine Army’s 401st Brigade commander Col. Jose Vizcarra denied that they are occupying civilian homes, adding that the reports of evacuation are propaganda of the Communist Party. They said that the military are occupying a New People’s Army camp site.

“This is an outright lie. The military encamped on homes of civilians and schools duly recognized by the Department of Education,” Mangumalas counters. The Lumad school in Lianga is a National Literacy Awardee.


No stranger to evacuation


Renewed military operations are like a recurring nightmare to the residents of Lianga. In the late 1980’s Diatagon residents were forced to evacuate in the course of military operations against armed rebels. Again in April to May 2005, full-blown military operations caused 2,241 individuals to flee their homes.

“To survive military operations, the people had to evacuate. These people have a long history with the military, and their ruthlessness sowed fear,” Mangumalas claimed. In the 2005 military operations in Diatogon, 1,234 cases of human rights violations including killing, torture, aerial bombardment, and enforced disappearances were recorded by human rights group KARAPATAN-Caraga.

“The military does not heed human rights. Aside from occupying the resident’s homes, they regulated civilian activities, even planting in their own lands. They have caused fear, insecurity, and hunger,” Mangumalas said. “This humanitarian crisis is a moral issue to President Arroyo and her armed forces. The cold-blooded military watched children walk 20 kilometers to the town.”

Guarding private interests


Surigao del Sur is rich in forest and mineral resources, all of which are found in Manobo ancestral lands. Benguet Corportion (BenCorp) aquired rights in the 1980s to mine 6,000 hectares of coal lands surrounding Lianga, called the Surigao Coal Project. The same area is the bewailed military operation site.

“Militarization is a prelude to commence ‘development zones’. They smooth out any dissenters by fear or death,” Mangumalas said. “Massive military operations coincides were the government pronounces as a priority economic zone. As for President Arroyo, mining is her pet project” Mangumalas added.

KAMP claims that renewed military activities in Surigao del Sur will facilitate the entry of mining companies in Lianga. “The military is scraping the bottom of the barrel to justify their terrorism in indigenous people’s lands. It is clear to us that they are razing indigenous people’s lands to pave the way for corporate interests.” ##

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good day !.
You may , perhaps curious to know how one can reach 2000 per day of income .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may start earning with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you need
AimTrust represents an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

Its head office is in Panama with offices around the world.
Do you want to become an affluent person?
That`s your choice That`s what you desire!

I feel good, I began to get income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to select a proper companion utilizes your money in a right way - that`s the AimTrust!.
I make 2G daily, and my first deposit was 1 grand only!
It`s easy to get involved , just click this link http://ydoxeqidy.dreamstation.com/katihi.html
and go! Let`s take this option together to feel the smell of real money

Anonymous said...

Good day !.
You may , perhaps very interested to know how one can manage to receive high yields .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may begin to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you haven`t ever dreamt of such a chance to become rich
AimTrust represents an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

It is based in Panama with structures everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become an affluent person?
That`s your choice That`s what you desire!

I feel good, I started to get real money with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. It`s all about how to select a proper companion utilizes your funds in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I earn US$2,000 per day, and what I started with was a funny sum of 500 bucks!
It`s easy to start , just click this link http://equsojom.digitalzones.com/rosiwur.html
and go! Let`s take this option together to become rich

Anonymous said...

Good day, sun shines!
There have were times of troubles when I didn't know about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright stupid person.
I have never thought that there weren't any need in big starting capital.
Now, I feel good, I begin to get real money.
It's all about how to select a correct companion who utilizes your money in a right way - that is incorporate it in real business, and shares the income with me.

You may ask, if there are such firms? I'm obliged to tell the truth, YES, there are. Please be informed of one of them:
http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

Hi everybody!

For sure you didn’t here about me yet,
my name is Nikolas.
Generally I’m a social gmabler. recently I take a great interest in online-casino and poker.
Not long time ago I started my own blog, where I describe my virtual adventures.
Probably, it will be interesting for you to utilize special software facilitating winnings .
Please visit my blog. http://allbestcasino.com I’ll be interested on your opinion..

Anonymous said...

It isn't hard at all to start making money online in the undercover world of [URL=http://www.www.blackhatmoneymaker.com]blackhat forums[/URL], You are far from alone if you have no clue about blackhat marketing. Blackhat marketing uses alternative or not-so-known methods to generate an income online.

Anonymous said...

An Great Leap Forward cash loan online takes only a few hours to can put a full stop on all your needs. This will avoid you getting payments, insolvency, bankruptcy etc. [url=http://paydayloansdepr.co.uk]payday loans uk[/url] It is with this principle, we help live in, the lender's fees, and the accounting adjunct rate (APR) that the lender charges. The features of payday loans bob from adjustment to organization that is why not be your acceptable why did you address for payday loans. A payday loan is a agitating adaptation for a lot of the issues of bad accept implicitly borrowers.

Anonymous said...

Gгeat аrticle.

Have a look аt my ωeb pagе: virtual matrimonial dress games for girls
Feel free to surf my webpage - adobe flash

Anonymous said...

If some onе wіshes exρert view concerning running a blog aftегward i adѵise him/her
tο pаy a quick visit this website, Keep up
the fastidious job.

Мy web-sitе: salampakistan.it
Feel free to surf my blog horse betting

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]casino[/url], also known as accepted casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of ancestral ("buddy and mortar") casinos. Online casinos corroborate gamblers to yield aptitude in and wager on casino games boldness of the Internet.
Online casinos superficially forth odds and payback percentages that are comparable to land-based casinos. Some online casinos contend higher payback percentages in the servicing of deficiency defender games, and some promulgate payout participation audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an fittingly programmed unspecific assorted generator, note games like blackjack take an established accumulate a crease edge. The payout match after these games are established at closest the rules of the game.
Uncountable online casinos asseverate into public see or be true their software from companies like Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Cosmopolitan Reckless Technology and CryptoLogic Inc.

Anonymous said...

Very rapidly thіs ωеb page wіll be famous аmong all
blοgging and site-building νieωers, duе to іt's pleasant posts

Here is my web-site: seopressor.loydtuerk.com

Kate Godoy said...

Good morning! I am Kate Godoy, a third year communication student from Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila. My production team and I would like to know if you are available for an interview for our documentary about the Tagbanua tribe of Coron, Palawan this coming Friday, March 13. Please contact me at 09178080105, and our assistant director as well, Patrick Reyes at 09178681135 and at patrickrreyes@outlook.com.

Hoping for your soonest response. Thankyou and Godbless