NPA hit for human-rights violations in Negros

NEGROS-based groups on Monday condemned the alleged human-rights violation committed by members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NPA), who are reportedly targeting unarmed civilians.

Supported by the groups Lumaya Ka and Negros Alliance of Human-Rights Advocates (Nahra), victims of the alleged human-rights violation told reporters during a news conference in Quezon City that the CPP-NPA has been “systematically undertaking killings and grave threats to eliminate its perceived political enemies and establish its dominance and political control” in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

“While murdering the leaders of its political opponents, the CPP-NPA also continues to kill and threaten civilians who refuse to support them in pursuing their objective of violently overthrowing the present government,” a statement signed by Nahra, Lumaya Ka, Katwhan-Negros Oriental, Movement for Agrarian and Rural Advancement and Democratic Alliance of Labor Organizations (Dalo) said.

The statement was read by Veronica Tabara, widow of the leader of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas and the Revolutionary Proletariat Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), Arturo Tabara, who was gunned down by suspected CPP-NPA hit men at the parking lot of SM Fairview in Quezon City on September 26, 2004.

The alleged human-rights violations, which range from threats and intimidation to summary executions, have intensified over the past several months, and now involve land grabbing, says Arnel Ambib, Nahra spokesman.

He cited the case of Rowena Lumayno, who owns a 5-hectare agricultural land in barangay Minautok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, whose land acquired by his seaman husband was allegedly forcibly taken over by members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers.

“Mrs. Lumanyo, at gunpoint, was forced to leave her own land by NFSW with the assistance of NPA members. She is now living in the city, and would not dare to come visit his own land that was taken over by members of the NPA,” he said.

Since 2002, scores of noncombatants on Negros Island alone who allegedly chose to support the non-armed and nonviolent path to work for the improvement of their conditions have been victimized.

A total of 29, according to Nahra’s account, have been killed. This excludes Arturo Tabara, Daniel Batoy, Erlito Potestas, Eduardo Candilario and Jose Salve, all leaders of the RPMP-RPA-ABB.

“In admitting to these crimes in public statements, they have conveniently trumped-up charges and declared alleged decisions of people’s court to defend their grave violations of the right to life, due process and political belief against their political opponents and civilians who have chosen to support the pace process embarked by the RPMP-RPA-ABB,” the statement red by Tabara’s widow said.

In an interview with the BusinessMirror, Tabara’s widow said the intensified operation of the CPP-NPA has something to do with the 2010 elections.

“Of course, it has something to do with the 2010 elections,” she said, hinting that the CPP-NPA seem to be working to meet a deadline to strengthen their political clout in the province, to the effect of victimizing innocent civilians.

In the last two months, members of eight people’s organizations in more than 10 towns have been threatened with 17 of them forcibly displaced from their homes and farms, the group claimed.

Meanwhile, Tabara vowed to pursue the case she filed for the death of her husband against rebel leaders led by CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, who is in the Netherlands.

She said the removing Sison from the terrorist list in the European Union is “simply saddening.”

“While we can not blame the European Union for delisting Jose Maria Sison from the terrorist list as part of the peace process, I strongly feel that it is wrong. I will pursue the case against them [CPP-NPA leaders] not to seek justice for the death of my husband, but for all the victims of their human-rights violations,” she said.

During the press conference, the group presented victims of the alleged CPP-NPA atrocities as they cried for justice against such crimes allegedly committed with impunity by CPP-NPA.

Merlita Pandac, of barangay Avocado, Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, said she and her family were forced to leave along with 14 others after being threatened by CPP-NPA members, allegedly, for being CPP-NPA enemies.

In nearby barangay Payawpayawan, three families were also displaced; three in barangay Tara and barangay Talang and two families in barangay Buenavista.

Susan Sagmon, 27, widow of Renato Sagmon, who was abducted on the night of August 26, 2007 said CPP-NPA members are behind her husband’s death. Her husband’s remains was exhumed on May 22, 2008.

Meanwhile, Dionesio Pat, a survivor of an alleged CPP-NPA assassination attempt, said the attacks against the civilian population who refuse to support the CPP-NPA is being done with impunity, allegedly because of the failure of the police and the military to neutralize the CPP-NPA in the area.

“All they can do is investigate the incident. But that doesn’t change anything. The CPP-NPA continue to commit human-rights violations,” he said. –Jonathan Mayuga / Correspondent, Business Mirror