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PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
NDF-EV commends April 8 NPA ambush in Western Samar, scores military abuses against civilians
April 18, 2005
The NDF-Eastern Visayas today lauded the Arnulfo Ortiz Command (AOC) of the New People�s Army for their successful ambush last April 8in Calbiga, Western Samar. According to the report by the AOC, 1Lt. Williamson Tan and five soldiers from the 62nd IB were killed in action when Red fighters ambushed them at around 2 p.m. in the area between Brgy. Canilungan and Brgy. Hindang. The enemy soldiers were returning to their camp after stopping at a barrio fiesta in the course of their combat military operation. The Red fighters confiscated an M60 machine gun, an M203 rifle, two M14 rifles, and two M16 rifles.
The 62nd IB used to be based in Eastern Samar before being transferred to Western Samar a few weeks ago. It is notorious for various human rights violations in Eastern Samar.
While commending the AOC, the NDF-EV also condemned the 8th Infantry Division for committing atrocities against defenseless and innocent civilians after the ambush. The AOC reported that two peasants were murdered by the military in retaliation for the ambush. The soldiers also burned a house , and illegally detained and harassed three peasants. From 30-60% of the residents in two barrios in Calbiga were forced to leave in fear for their lives. The NDF-EV said that while the NPA attacks only legitimate targets in their tactical offensives, taking care not to harm any civilians, the 8th ID starkly violates human rights and international humanitarian law by deliberately and repeatedly attacking civilians and their communities.
According to the NDF-EV, the latest human rights violations in Calbiga are not isolated incidents. In fact, a news report has stated that after the March 3 NPA ambush on 34th IB elements in Tarangnan, W. Samar, 600 residents of Barangays Sinit-an, Guadalupe, Hernandez, Bay-ang and Bungliw sought help from San Jorge town officials because of human rights violations by the battalion�s special operations team. The soldiers accuse the civilians of helping in the NPA ambush. In revenge, the military is believed to have burned down a house, killing a peasant couple. Brgy. Chairman Benito Mabini of Brgy. Sinit-an was also shot dead by ssuspected soldiers nine days after the ambush. The residents of the five barrios face continuous harassment and threats from the soldiers. In fact, the residents of Brgy. Bungliw told town officials in an April 7 dialogue that the military threatened that for every soldier killed by the NPA, the military will execute ten civilians, and that their barrio will be burned if they do not inform on the NPA. Because of the climate of fear, many residents have left their homes and livelihood in the five barrios.
The NDF-EV strongly condemned the 8th ID�s reign of terror in the countryside, as well as in the towns and cities through the continuing killings of legal activists. Only last April 15 in Mahaplag, Leyte, Bayan Muna supporter Alfredo Davis, 45, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen, the same modus operandi of the killers of Anakpawis leader Samuel Bandilla and Bayan Muna regional chair Atty. Felidito Dacut. The wife of Davis, Imelda, was also wounded in the attack.
The NDF-EV concluded that the massive and widepread human rights violations in the region under the fascist butcher and 8th ID chief Gen. Jovito Palparan only win the people over to the revolutionary side and spur more tactical offensives and democratic struggles for the downfall of the Arroyo regime.
Reference:
Roy Santos
NDF-EV Media Liaison Officer
Cellphone No. 0918-3112138
E-mail: [email protected]
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