Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

(Ed. note: The following is a press statement issued by the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP). TFDP is one of the task forces of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines established in 1974.One of its missions is to help political prisoners and other victims of human rights violations caused by militarisation and political repression.)

The Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) is quite disturbed by the rash of armed clashes between the underground rebel groups and government troops following the collapse of the peace talks. We are particularly concerned over the resumption of massive military operations, especially in the countryside, which is taking its toll on the human rights of civilians.

In Davao, TFDP units have reported that at least 386 families coming from different cities of Barangay Dominga in Davao City have fled from their farms and communities to escape the brunt of military operations. At least three combat battalions belonging to the 701st Infantry Brigade and Scout Rangers which counts to around 2,000 soldiers have been deployed in Davao, according to human rights workers.

While we have noted that National Peoples Army (NPA) fighters have recently engaged in pockets of military actions against government forces, the efforts of the armed forces to paint an all out rebel offensive is creating a phantom scenario. It tries to justify sweeping counter-insurgency operations that shake the already fragile peace and order situation in the country.

In Samar and Leyte, for instance, TFDP workers reported that the military intelligence has been spreading news of dubious arms landing for forces of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army. They also said that the military often reports of armed clashes between rebel forces and army troopers, which when verified by members of the local media, turns out to be false. This has served as a pretext for the revival of military presence in the barrios, sowing terror in the hearts of farmers.

In Palawan, officers of the Western Command has reported a 500 percent rise in the number of NPA fighters in the island. While this has been put to doubt by members of non-government organisations in the area, the military has capitalised on the "red-hysteria" to justify their atrocious operations. They have drawn up an order of battle, which describes members of legitimate organisations such as TFDP, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement and Haribon-Palawan as having links with the underground movement. This has stirred anxiety among the NGO workers in the province that has become fair targets of military surveillance and harassment.

Military deployment in the provinces and the escalation of conflict in the countryside appear to be President Estrada's calling at the moment. That he has forgotten his promise last December 1998 to release 50 political prisoners, suspended after General Obillo's kidnapping is deplorable. It is quite ironic that while he is yet to fulfil his promise for their release, his administration is shaping the same kind of design that will result and breed more political dissenters.

Are we seeing the pattern of a grand design by the Estrada administration resembling the martial law of Marcos or the Total War policy and Low Intensity Conflict of the Aquino regime. Or the Philippines 2000 of Ramos perhaps?

TFDP calls on the Estrada administration not to tread on the path of militarisation or witch hunting, which has served as a bane to previous administrations. History has shown that armed rebellion in the Philippines feeds on the social injustice, poverty and human rights violations. Neither militarisation nor keeping political prisoners in jail will douse the fire of dissent in our land. If the government is indeed interested in creating a climate of peace, it has to sow justice and strike at the roots of impoverishment.