DOCUMENT: CORDILL.TXT CORDILLERA PEOPLES DENOUNCE MILITARY OPERATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IN DEFENSE OF OUR LAND ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Statement from the Kalinga-Bontoc Peacepact Holders' Association) Recent events in the Cordilleras are both disturbing and condemnable. Since June 11, 1984, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been sending more and more troops to Kalinga areas namely Basao and Batalao for no apparent reasons. These military personnel have been on a bloody rampage since then, causing the residents to live in terror and uncertainty. On June 11, a PC Company arrested a busload of Kalinga residents coming from Baguio for allegedly carrying underground letters. They were subsequently detained and one of them was buried up to the neck while being pressed for information. On June 12, negotiations for the release of the detained proved unfruitful as the military commander responsible for the arrest subjected all 74 negotiators to the usual run-around. On June 15, Gen. Azada of the Regional Unified Command announced in Bontoc that he will push through with the military plan to send an AFP battalion to the province to combat NPAs. This, despite protestations from a 2,000 - strong indignation march demanding the release of those detained. On June 16, a PC trooper from the provincial command seriously shot a native from Talubin, Bontoc for no obvious reason. On June 21, a composite battalion of PC/Army/Marine soldiers launched a search and destroy operation in Agawa, Basao and Aguid, Sagada burning four huts and raping two women. On June 23, AFP troops continued to burn farmers' huts around Aguid area while some troopers looted, taking with them several pigs and chickens. On June 24, another AFP battalion arrived together with an American military advisor apparently to reinforce military units in the area. From June 27 to 29, the areas of Basao, Boscalan and Bugnay were transformed into a fiery battleground with the AFP troops using mortars and helicopters allegedly against the NPAs. The military also dropped bombs from two warplanes in an obvious effort to decimate the latter and their alleged sympathizers in the area, in the process destroying several rice terraces (payaos) all ready for harvesting. Fearing for their lives, people ceased to go out into the fields to harvest and look for food. If operations continue, people will go hungry since food supplies will not last long. The on-going military operations have severely destroyed our main sources of livelihood. In this regard, we, of the Kalinga-Bontoc Peacepact Holders' Association, denounce, in strongest terms, the AFP's virtual invasion of our life, liberty and property through massive and large-scale military operations in our area. We condemn this manifestation of the state's blatant disregard for our well-being. We, Kalingas and Bontocs, are known for being a warrior people. If the AFP pursues its kind of war against the Kalinga-Bontoc people, we shall have no other recourse but to fight back in defense of our land, our life and our well-being. We call on our brother Filipinos to help us fight this armed invasion on our sacred land. We demand an end to all military operations and atrocities in our area. JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF MILITARY ATROCITIES! Mario Yag-ao Chairman, KBPHA July 5, 1984 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- :: :: A service provided by :: :: The Center For World Indigenous Studies :: :: www.cwis.org :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Originating at the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Olympia, Washington USA www.cwis.org © 1999 Center for World Indigenous Studies (All Rights Reserved. References up to 500 words must be referenced to the Center for World Indigenous Studies and/or the Author Copyright Policy Material appearing in the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive is accepted on the basis that the material is the original, unoccupied work of the author or authors. Authors agree to indemnify the Center for World Indigenous Studies, and DayKeeper Press for all damages, fines and costs associated with a finding of copyright infringement by the author or by the Center for World Indigenous Studies Fourth World Documentation Project Archive in disseminating the author(s) material. In almost all cases material appearing in the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive will attract copyright protection under the laws of the United States of America and the laws of countries which are member states of the Berne Convention, Universal Copyright Convention or have bi-lateral copyright agreements with the United States of America. Ownership of such copyright will vest by operation of law in the authors and/or The Center for World Indigenous Studies, Fourth World Journal or DayKeeper Press. The Fourth World Documentation Project Archive and its authors grant a license to those accessing the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive to render copyright materials on their computer screens and to print out a single copy for their personal non-commercial use subject to proper attribution of the Center for World Indigenous Studies Fourth World Documentation Project Archive and/or the authors. Questions may be referred to: Director of Research Center for World Indigenous Studies PMB 214 1001 Cooper Point RD SW Suite 140 Olympia, Washington 98502-1107 USA 360-754-1990 www.cwis.org usaoffice@cwis.org OCR Software provided by Caere Corporation