Military abuses’ complainants allegedly reds
All complainants on military abuses who approached Human Rights Group Karapatan are all allegedly members of the communist rebels. In fact, many of them are also members of cause-oriented groups according to Barangay Linantuyan, Guihulngan Captain Elpidio Vilar in an answer to the Inter-Faith Movement for Justice and Peace (IFMJP) aimed to convey that there are human rights violations that the 11th Infantry Battalion members have done to the residents of Barangays Linantuyan and Trinidad, both in Guihulngan.
Earlier, IFMJP in a press statement alleged that the military has used the public market and the barangay hall as shelter for two months already. These are the military detachments which were admitted by Barangay officials as barangay defense system based near the residents of the place. This has been the reason of the destruction of a residence owned by Rosita Sildora when an encounter between the military and the New People’s Army occurred.
However, Barangay Captain Vilar stood up at DYEM Energy FM Dumaguete Tonight discrediting the said allegation. He said those who are interviewed by the Human Rights Group were only those who belong to 4 sitios in Barangay Linantuyan which are believed to be dominated by the New People’s Army. These sitios include Alamak, Pinasagan, Kansayawan and Hinobaan. Barangay Linantuyan has 12 sitios and out of the 12, only 4 have residents who complain of military abuses. Vilar added that the residents coming from the other sitios even filed charges against Kaugmaon leader Lourdes Baloy.
Barangay Captain Vilar also disclosed that even the barangay officials receive threats.
Meanwhile, the barangay officials of Linantuyan criticized the meddling of the religious groups and foreigners with the activities of their barangay. According to barangay Captain Vilar, they were not amused with the involvement of some foreigners in their case filed against Lourdes Baloy of Kaugmaon.
He said that the religious groups should have at least tried to listen to the residents of their barangay if their sole purpose is to defend and promote human rights. Vilar cursed Karapatan Negros Island Secretary General Fred Cana for insisting that there really are human rights violations in his barangay. Captain Vilar said that they have sent letters to the pastors who conducted a fact-finding mission in order to invite them to come over to their barangay hall. However, their letter was not headed.
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Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:19 pm