Papers, Newsletters, Reports & StatementsPCID Denounces Killing of Civilians in Sulu; Calls for Independent Probe

Eight villagers, including two children, two teenagers, and an AFP integree on vacation were killed in Maimbung, Sulu during a military operation early Monday. The following are the victims of what many has described as a massacre:

1. Marisa Failan – 4 years old;
2. Sulayman Akub – 17 years old;
3. Alnalyn Lahim – 15 years old;
4. Wedzme Lahim – 9 years old;
5. Jamin “Kirah” Lahim – 40 years old, father of Alnalyn and Wedzme;
6. Eldisin Lahim – 43 years old, a barangay councilman of Ipil.  Accordingly while still alive Eldisin’s fingers were cut and his eyeballs taken out with the aid of a bayonet.
7. Narcia Abud – 24 years old, 4 months pregnant; and
8. Ibnul Wahid – a MNLF integree assigned at the 6^th Infantry Division in Cotabato who was on R & R in his hometown in Ipil and who was killed in front of his wife.

Already, this early, the military has turned apologist for the misdeeds of their officers and soldiers claiming that the civilian casualties were “collateral damage” to a legitimate operation against the Abu Sayyaf Group. Local residents and local government officials, however, have accused the military of deliberately killing the civilians. “Some of those killed were shot at sea while escaping the fighting on the boat,” recounted one village leader.

The Sulu provincial government has condemned the killing. Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman and Sulu Rep. Yusop Jikiri have likewise condemned the killing and called for an urgent investigation of this incident in Sulu by the House of Representatives.

The Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) joins Muslims across the country in denouncing this latest atrocity inflicted upon the people of Sulu under the guise of “legitimate military operations” against the Abu Sayyaf Group.

We ask: Is the ASG still a force to contend with? Are there terrorists in Sulu? Or are civilians, MNLF members, or ordinary criminals labeled ‘terrorists’ to justify military operations in the province?

There is no military objective, not even under the cover of anti-terrorism, that can make the atrocious killings of civilians excusable. Victory over the terrorists is tantamount to defeat if it is tainted with the blood of innocent civilians.

PCID commends the Commission on Human Rights for immediately conducting an independent probe of the incident and pursue the prosecution of those responsible for this carnage. We appeal to the Senate and the House of Representatives to exercise their oversight function and investigate the military’s actions in Sulu.

The people of Mindanao, particularly the people of Sulu are gravely concerned that this gruesome incident will go the way of similar incidents in the past that have been relegated to the dustbin of history. This is the opportunity for Speaker Prospero Nograles to prove that all the talks about the historic rise of a Mindanaoan to the Speakership are not just some political spin or rhetoric to cover up a brazen power grab.

We urge Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to ensure that no whitewash will happen in this case and to initiate court martial proceedings against those responsible for this slaughter.

We call on the international community to give this latest violation of human rights the same attention it gave to the issue of extra-judicial killings in the Philippines.

Further, we also appeal to our friends in media to give this story the coverage it deserves. We understand that significant political events (the ouster of Speaker De Venecia and the continuing ZTE broadband contract saga) have recently unfolded but we need to work closely with media so it can focus the attention of the nation not just to the political scandals involving the government. The militarist policy of the Administration towards Muslim Mindanao has neither crushed the rebels nor the terrorists; rather it has crushed the hopes of a people already mired in poverty and neglect.