• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=9/29/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PHILIPPINES / HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-267242

BYLINE=ALSIHA RYU

DATELINE=MANILA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Philippine Roman Catholic leaders are strongly criticizing the military operation against the Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebels, who are holding hostages in the southern Philippines. They say troops are committing human rights violations in their bid to flush out the rebels from their jungle hideouts. VOA's Alisha Ryu reports from Manila that the complaints have triggered a government-wide investigation.

TEXT: In a statement to the media, the president of Philippine's Catholic Bishops Conference, Orlando Quevedo, lashed out at the military. He says soldiers have failed to respect the rights, properties and lives of civilians on Jolo Island where more than four thousand troops are currently battling Abu Sayyaf rebels.

The military launched its strike on the rebel stronghold of Jolo September 16th - after a string of successful kidnappings. Negotiations and ransoms paid failed to end the crisis and only encouraged more abductions.

For two weeks, the military vowing to rescue 17 remaining hostages and crush the rebels - has been bombarding the jungles of Jolo with artillery and air strikes, while ground troops have been conducting searches and exchanging fire with Abu Sayyaf members in jungle villages.

Bishop Quevedo says the Bishop's Conference has received unconfirmed reports of soldiers summarily executing suspected rebels and looting homes of villagers. The bishops, he says, are also deeply concerned about reports of hundreds if not thousands of civilians being caught in the crossfire and killed during indiscriminate aerial bombings.

The head of the Commission for Human Rights in Manila, Aurora Recina, says three human rights monitors are currently in Jolo investigating the allegations. But she says she is not sure how much information can be gathered in an area where fear both of the military and the Abu Sayyaf dominates people's lives.

/// RECINA ACT ///

We do not know whether these atrocities were committed by the soldiers. It could also be the Abu Sayyaf group. The difficulty we are having is that the people are not very keen about testifying. That is the truth. All of the things we are dealing with right now are just hearsay. We cannot even start formulating a complaint because the witnesses do not want to testify.

/// END ACT ///

In response to the barrage of criticisms, Philippine President Joseph Estrada has ordered a thorough investigation of the military's conduct in the two week-old conflict. Armed Forces officials still insist no civilians have been killed by stray gunfire or bombings.

The military says it is also partially lifting its restrictions on journalists wishing to cover the conflict on Jolo. Most journalists have been forced to follow the events from nearby Zamboanga City in Mindanao. The news blackout had fueled speculation that the government's campaign against the Abu Sayyaf - which was supposed to last less than a week - Is in serious trouble. (Signed)

NEB/HK/AR/JO/PFH