AFP and Karon troops hinder safe return of suffering IDPs
2010-07-25
Safe return of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to respective communities of origins in the barangays of Lagitan, Sinepak and Meti in the coastal town of Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao is unfortunately being prevented by the presence of troops of the 603rd Brigade, Philippine Army and the armed groups of Datu Randy Karon.
Contrary to statements of Col Ernesto Aradanas, Commander of the 603rd Brigade, that his troops had been protecting the welfare of the civilians in the three barangays, confirmed information said that there is no truth that the troops of Col Aradanas are protecting the civilians.
Information said that the only people in Lagitan and Sinepak these days are the army troops and the armed troops of Karon who had been the standing tall hindrance on the safe return of thousands of civilians uprooted from the areas.
These civilians are natives of the Lagitan and barangays Tran and Babato in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat province. In fact, some of them are the lawful owners of the land being illegally occupied by the troops of Randy at Lagitan.
Accordingly, Randy is building up an encampment at these private lawfully lands owned by scores of these uprooted civilians.
Accordingly, the civilians are being fired upon by the troops of Randy in their every attempt to return Lagitan. Worst, every time they informed the troops of Col Aradanas, who had been public claiming that his command is protecting the civilians, of their predicament in relation with Randy but no action is being taken.
Few days, ago information was relayed to this website that the group of Randy had been illegally harvesting the coconut farms owned by these displaced civilians. Randy’s group is committing this illegal act with impunity under the watch of troops of Col Aradanas.
Information further said that Datu Randy troops had been harvesting the produced from the coconut farms of these civilians and had destroyed or burned downed the houses of their houses since last year.
Yet, the troops of Aradanas were asking proof on the allegations of the civilians against Karon. But why asked or wait for proof when the act is being committed in area situated less than a kilometer away from their detachment? Why ask for proof from the complaining civilians who cannot go back to their residences and land they own because these army troops under the 603rd Brigade Command cannot secure their safety from the group of Randy and had never done anything to facilitate the safe return of these uprooted civilians from their own communities.
Perhaps, if the troops of Col Aradanas are not there then these civilians will do everything if only to be able to return to Lagitan and be able tend to their normal lives, livelihood and farms and lands.
According to reports from the displaced civilians, Randy Karon will dictate who can go back and cannot go back to Lagitan. Karon, who is not from Lagitan and fortified his encampment in an area owned by these displaced civilians, has no moral and legal ground to even say that. But the government, the Philippine Army, the police or the local authority cannot protect these displaced civilians from Randy.
Perhaps, there is no more government in Lagitan and what prevails is the law of the jungle despite the fact that information says that there is no distance that separates the position being occupied by the troops of Col Aradanas and the armed group of Randy Karon.
Only when the safe return of the civilians can be facilitated and that the army can stop the acts against law being blatantly committed by Randy’s group that Col Aradanas can talk of protecting civilians because as of this press time there is no civilian in Lagitan and Babato, even in Sinepak where his troops is holding positions.
These civilians who had been voicing their shortage of food for survival for their families and children have been complaining also that the humanitarian groups both locals and international had not provided them any assistance.
website:http://www.luwaran.net/index/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1475:afp-and-karon-troops-hinder-safe-return-of-suffering-idps&catid=81:moro-news&Itemid=372
Author: Luwaran
Source: Luwaran.net
Date Published : 2010-07-24
View News Archives
