Cotabato City- KAWAGIB Alliance for the Advancement of Moro Human Rights condemns on its highest terms beheading of school principal in Jolo, Sulu. Severed head of Gabriel Canizares, 36 yrs. old was found at a gasoline station in Jolo on Monday, Nov. 09. Armed group abducted Canizares on October 19 onboard a minibus.

“Canizares is only a teacher, a public servant, what they did to him was inhumane. The act of killing him is so brutal and a violation to human rights” said Bai Ali Indayla, Secretary General of KAWAGIB.

“We are also alarmed by new incident of kidnapping in Maluso, Basilan which took place early morning yesterday. Armed men abducted 4 employees of High Tech Woodcraft Corp. Kidnap victims were  Jerry Tan; Michael Tan, 27; Oscar Tan Lu, 51; and Mark Singson”, Indayla added.

“We demand the government to conduct thorough investigation and take necessary actions to bring justice for Canizares and immediate release of kidnap victims”.

“The perpetrators should be held liable for their acts of abducting and killing Canizares”, Indayla said.

Jolo, SULU – Two US Navy servicemen and one Filipino marine were killed when they struck a landmine at around 8:30 Tuesday morning in Sitio Laumsaing, Brgy. Kagay, Indanan town, Sulu. A still undetermined number of Marines were injured in the explosion.

KAWAGIB received reports that some 20 elements of Philippine Marines in company of some US soldiers were sighted in Kagay on their way to Bato-Bato village, when the explosion occurred.  The report further recounted that after the blast, a military convoy – a 6X6 military truck loaded with US soldiers’ and Filipino marine dead bodies and an armored car on its tail, was going to Jolo town.

Bai Ali Indayla, the KAWAGIB Secretary General, cited a witness’ account that, “at 8:09 in the morning, they saw an OV10 plane patrolling the sky. Then, they heard an explosion. After, they saw two helicopters following the OV10 plane.”

“This incident is another evidence that US troops are actually engaging in military actions contrary to government’s assertion that they are here just for humanitarian missions and military trainings,” she said.

However, Indayla was saddened that on the various reports they had received, no one is willing to relate their sightings on US troops’ actual involvement in combat operations publicly due to fear. One witness said that Sulu’s present scenario is horrible for large number of military troops were deployed in their area which caused them fear of being tagged as members or supporters of Abu Sayyaf Group.

Earlier, KAWAGIB received report that on September 20, Muslims in Sitio Talibang, Brgy. Buansa, also in Indanan, had to stop celebrating the Eidl Fitr when the military launched an aerial raid right in the area where morning Eid prayer is conducted. Innocent civilians were forced to immediately vacate the area.

“The prolonged stay of US troops in the country is already an immense violation; much is their involvement in combat operations. This is a big slap to our dignity as Filipino people, beyond mockery to our national sovereignty,” Indayla said.

She further said, “What’s funny here is regardless of numerous proofs from people in the ground, the US military untiringly denies its actual combat involvement and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo persistently defends them. With this recent blast, is there any face the US and Philippine governments to confront just to renounce once more?”

“More important is the peoples’ accounts — the scores of reports on US troops’ operations — the engagement in electronic and satellite surveillance, provision of battlefield logistical support to the military and crashes of unmanned aerial vehicles in areas where communist and Moro rebels are actively operating,” Indayla concluded.

Cotabato City- The KAWAGIB-Alliance for the Advancement of Moro Human Rights condemns AFP’s air and ground attack to Moro community in Mt. Tumantangis Marang, Indanan, Sulu early morning on the day of Eid’l Fitr. Civilians reported around 50 bombs from rocket launcher and 100 mortars were fired at the community by elements of AFP in pursuit military operation against rebel group.

Bai Ali Indayla, Secretary General of KAWAGIB said “the military had again committed human rights violations and their action was a show of disrespect on the culture of the Moro people”. Eid’l Fitr is a valuable day where Muslims gather for a communal prayer as they end the month of Ramadhan.

KAWAGIB accused Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of lambasting rights of the Moro people for the past nine years of her administration thus calling her a Martial Ruler.. “37 years after the Martial Law declaration, the Moro civilians are still under attack. Through state policies like State of Lawlessness in Basilan, Anti-terror Campaign and the continuing All-out War paved the way to cases of Illegal Arrests, Zoning of communities, Forcible Evacuations and Massacres where victims are innocent civilians, including women and children” Indayla said.

Indayla added “there is an undeclared martial law under the Arroyo regime”, citing the recent case of indiscriminate firing in Sitio Baniban, Barangay Kabuntalan, Sultan Kudarat that killed an 11-year old and Grade 5 student Halima Bansil. Her father and brother wounded and illegally arrested by the Task Force Tugis of 6th ID. They were targets of a military operation against suspected bombers. “Without investigations, soldiers just fired, arrests without warrant and acted to be the most and the only authority, this only happens when a martial law is declared”.

“We can’t tolerate the Arroyo administration and the military to continue its abuse of authority and continue violating the rights of the people. The perpetrators should be held liable and there should be indemnification of the victims. The Moro people calls to oust the number one human rights violator Gloria Macapagal Arroyo”

Cotabato City – Kawagib- Alliance for the Advancement of Moro Human Rights here urge the Arroyo government to junk Visiting Forces Agreement and pull-out US troops who are permanently stationed in Mindanao and other parts of the country in the guise of Balikatan exercises.

According to Bai Ali Indayla, spokesperson of the group, US troops have committed various human rights violations and it became legal because of this unequal agreement. VFA has also clearly violated national sovereignty and territorial integrity, it was manifested by policies of the US that Filipino soldiers even officials are not allowed to enter the structures and facilities of the US troops unless invited by them.   The government seemed to be inutile when it gave too much freedom for the foreign troops that it cannot punish an American soldier that violated rights of its people it ought to protect under the Philippine constitution.

Kawagib believes that statement of retired Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian that US troops are “embedded” with Filipino soldiers in combat situation in Mindanao and permanently stationed in the country is true. In a testimony of Sandrawina Wahid, wife of Cpl. Ibno Wahid, one of the 8 victims who died in a Massacre in Maimbung, Sulu last February 04, 2008, she saw 4 US Troops aboard a naval boat used by elements of US trained-Light Reaction Company who are responsible for the massacre. She was taken along with them and brought to a military camp. A moro peasant Buyong-buyong Isnijal was also shot  by Sgt. Reggie Lane while Filipino and US troops conduct military operation. Another victim is 52 year old Bizma Juhan who suffered wounds from shrapnel of M203 bomb which was accidentally shot out of range by a US soldier who was training Filipino troops in Indanan, Sulu.. She was made to sign a waver by the US soldiers.

“Despite US troops’ commission of human rights violations to innocent civilians and filed charges against them, not even one of them was held accountable and the truth hurts that the government cannot protect us and just let the perpetrators, foreign troops at that, enjoy freedom and we are made victims in our own land”, Indayla added.

“If we are to weigh the gain and loss from VFA, we have only gained tyranny from  a colonizer while we loss our sovereignty as a nation. Everything they gave us is nothing but debts and “sugar coated bullets” which have killed civilians. The US is only interested in the wealth of the country and plans to make Philippines its military base in colonizing the entire Asia Pacific”, Indayla said.

Even Senator and Chairperson of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFA Miriam Santiago said she is convinced that US troops are joining combat operations base on reports she received.

Lastly, Indayla said “the call of the Filipino people to junk VFA and held accountable the American soldiers for violating human rights and our constitution is legitimate. The Arroyo government should be pressured for it to take action otherwise, the moves to oust her will  continue and storm her  administration. It is the only way that justice be given to the victims of human rights violations”.

Cotabato City – Kawagib- Alliance for the Advancement of Moro Human Rights here urge the Arroyo government to junk Visiting Forces Agreement and pull-out US troops who are permanently stationed in Mindanao and other parts of the country in the guise of Balikatan exercises.

According to Bai Ali Indayla, spokesperson of the group, US troops have committed various human rights violations and it became legal because of this unequal agreement. VFA has also clearly violated national sovereignty and territorial integrity, it was manifested by policies of the US that Filipino soldiers even officials are not allowed to enter the structures and facilities of the US troops unless invited by them.   The government seemed to be inutile when it gave too much freedom for the foreign troops that it cannot punish an American soldier that violated rights of its people it ought to protect under the Philippine constitution.

Kawagib believes that statement of retired Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian that US troops are “embedded” with Filipino soldiers in combat situation in Mindanao and permanently stationed in the country is true. In a testimony of Sandrawina Wahid, wife of Cpl. Ibno Wahid, one of the 8 victims who died in a Massacre in Maimbung, Sulu last February 04, 2008, she saw 4 US Troops aboard a naval boat used by elements of US trained-Light Reaction Company who are responsible for the massacre. She was taken along with them and brought to a military camp. A moro peasant Buyong-buyong Isnijal was also shot  by Sgt. Reggie Lane while Filipino and US troops conduct military operation. Another victim is 52 year old Bizma Juhan who suffered wounds from shrapnel of M203 bomb which was accidentally shot out of range by a US soldier who was training Filipino troops in Indanan, Sulu. She was made to sign a waver by the US soldiers.

“Despite US troops’ commission of human rights violations to innocent civilians and filed charges against them, not even one of them was held accountable and the truth hurts that the government cannot protect us and just let the perpetrators, foreign troops at that, enjoy freedom and we are made victims in our own land”, Indayla added.

“If we are to weigh the gain and loss from VFA, we have only gained tyranny from  a colonizer while we loss our sovereignty as a nation. Everything they gave us is nothing but debts and “sugar coated bullets” which have killed civilians. The US is only interested in the wealth of the country and plans to make Philippines its military base in colonizing the entire Asia Pacific”, Indayla said.

Even Senator and Chairperson of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFA Miriam Santiago said she is convinced that US troops are joining combat operations base on reports she received.

Lastly, Indayla said “the call of the Filipino people to junk VFA and held accountable the American soldiers for violating human rights and our constitution is legitimate. The Arroyo government should be pressured for it to take action otherwise, the moves to oust her will  continue and storm her  administration. It is the only way that justice be given to the victims of human rights violations”.

Cotabato City – KAWAGIB, a Moro human rights organization, gives homage to the men, women and children who have fallen victims to the repressive policies of the government.

The group is commemorating the Jabiddah Massacre where a still unconfirmed number of young Moro men recruited for a covert military operation were mercilessly killed by their superiors. According to its lone survivor, Jibin Arula, 23 died on that fateful event.

The event has been pivotal in arousing Filipino Muslims to rise up in arms and assert their right to self-determination. To this day, it evokes the pang of an abusive and repressive regime.

“Forty one years after that infamous incident in Corregidor, the government still continues to engage in deceptive ploys to pacify or suppress the legitimate cry of Filipinos particularly the Bangsamoro,” KAWAGIB Spokesperson Bai Ali Indayla said.

KAWAGIB is calling for justice to the victims of extra-judicial killings and recent massacres believed to be perpetrated by government forces such as in Barangay Tee in Datu Piang, Maguindanao on September 08, 2008 and Maimbung, Sulu on February 4, 2008.

Indayla said the incidents in Barangay Tee and Maimbung that claimed the lives of 12 civilians including 2 pregnant woman and 6 children, and other documented accounts of grave human rights violations are telltales of a despotic rule and the intensity of the state terror perpetrated by the regime of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“The mounting human rights violations committed by the Arroyo regime are quite appalling. We strongly condemn these atrocities and her stay in power,” she said.

Cotabato City- A Moro human rights organization here reminds Filipinos not to easily fall for what it calls the duplicitous nature of US interventions in the country.

“The help that we are getting from the US could come at such a steep price or compromise to our people and sovereignty,” Kawagib spokesperson Bai Ali Indayla said.

The Kawagib Moro Human Rights Organization issued the statement in commemoration of the Bud Dajo Massacre.

At least a thousand Moros, several hundreds of whom women and children, were massacred by US soldiers 103 years ago at Bud Dajo in the island of Sulu.

Indayla said the incident in Bud Dajo is a grim reminder of excessive US intervention and the danger of misreading the true intent of the aid they are extending to the country.

“It should serve as a cautionary tale as the US continues its incursions to some particular parts of the world under the guise of development and advancing its brand of ‘democracy’,” Indayla said.

Kawagib believes that, to this day, the US continues to trample on the sovereignty of the Philippines. “The US maintains strong influence on the policies being imposed in the country. It exerts dominance on the exploits of our resources and economy,” Indayla said.

Further, the group strongly condemns the conduct of Balikatan military exercises and calls on the government to junk the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). “The VFA gives US soldiers the license to violate the human rights of Filipinos and renders our justice system inutile to prosecute the crimes they commit,” Indayla said. She cites the Subic rape case and the massacre in the municipality of Maimbung, Sulu in February 04, 2008, where 6 people were killed including a pregnant woman and 2 children.

Eyewitnesses have reported seeing 4 US soldiers in the company of the perpetrators as they were leaving the scene of the incident onboard a naval boat. As in the case of the Bud Dajo massacre, the pregnant woman was not spared from the atrocities. Moro women go through a great ordeal as they try to cope with years of armed conflicts and emerge out of the dictates of the norms of their society.. Kawagib also marks this day as the observance of the Moro Women’s Day – a day recognizing the struggle of Moro women for freedom and equality.

As the Filipino people relive today the 1986 EDSA revolution, the Kawagib Moro Human Rights Organization issued a strong condemnation of the regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for trampling on the spirit of the EDSA People Power.

Kawagib joins other progressive groups in calling for the ouster of GMA.
The group is appalled by a statement made earlier by Arroyo claiming that another People Power would be unacceptable in the eyes of the international community and the event which has brought her to power, EDSA II, was merely “tolerated” by the world.

“It’s quite ironic that she is discrediting the very thing that has, quite unfortunately, brought her to power. Filipinos must never hesitate to come together to bring down a corrupt and repressive regime at any point in history. It doesn’t matter how many times we have to do it if only to safeguard our basic rights and freedom,” Kawagib spokesperson Bai Ali Indayla said.

The group is convinced of an ‘undeclared martial law’ existing in the country today. “Never in recent history of the country has human rights violations and political repression been so rampant and largely left unpunished.. The current regime is reminiscent of the martial law era,” Indayla said.

She cites the growing number of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and harassments of people critical of the Arroyo administration and even of those who are thought to be so.

Just about a week ago, a nun, Sister Stella Matutina, and three other companions from the environmental group Panalipdan were harassed by elements of the army’s 67th Infantry Battalion in the Barangay Hall of Taytayan, Cateel, Davao Oriental.

“It’s very disturbing to know that the military can do this to a nun. Ordinary individuals who cannot defend their rights could suffer worse,” Indayla said.
Indayla herself has been a subject of recent government surveillance, which the group greatly condemns.

“This government is sending a message that none of its critics will be safe from harassment and human rights violations it itself perpetrates,” she said.
Indayla said they are taken aback and dismayed by the government’s lack of concern to the basic rights of ordinary civilians.

Further, Kawagib denounced the all-out war policy launched by the Arroyo regime in the face of the stalled peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The war has ravaged the lives of thousands of innocent civilians in Mindanao.

The efforts of the current regime to protect press freedom and stop the killing of journalists have also been nothing but superficial. Ernie Rollin, a radio commentator, of Ozamiz City became the latest journalist to be murdered – making him the 1st journalist in the country killed this year and the 63rd since Arroyo came to power in 2001.

“There are growing and valid indications that this government is either tolerating or perpetrating human rights violations. As freedom-loving Filipinos and in the spirit of the EDSA revolution, we cannot allow it to continue its reign of terror,” Indayla said

Cotabato City- The KAWAGIB MORO HUMAN RIGHTS joins the international community in condemning the atrocious military aggression of Israel in Gaza and urges world leaders to support measure to protect and advance the basic rights of the Palestinian people.

The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip calls for an immediate and comprehensive intervention.  The entire Gaza populations are being punished for the actions of a few militants. Israel ’s military incursion has targeted Hamas but a vast majority of the victims are innocent civilians. The deadly air strikes were aimed at civilian areas. At least one aerial assault hit a U.N. school.

Israel ’s sustained and escalating military assault in Gaza has already claimed the lives of close to 700 Palestinians – about a third of whom are women and children – and injured thousands of others.

Despite mounting international pressure, Israel , with the backing of the United States (U.S.), has kept on with its military operation, which is nothing but a large-scale massacre of innocent civilians. The U.S.’ used of its veto power to oppose a draft ceasefire resolution by the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council is a clear manifestation of its support to Israel’s aggression.

We are very dismayed by the apparent impunity with which Israel with its complicit state, the U.S. , persist in their systematic oppression of the Palestinian people. Israel , with the backing of the U.S. , has been committing immense crimes against humanity despite strong condemnation of international watchdogs.

The Bangsamoro people are, to some extent, beset with similar aggression and feel for the Palestinians in their quest for the right to self-determination. The Philippine government has consistently suppressed the rights and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people and brazenly violated international humanitarian law with its all-out war policy. It has been quick to resort to military option to contain peace and security issues and puts little consideration to the number of civilian lives lost and affected in its military campaigns.

We condemn in the strongest terms Israel ’s military aggression in Gaza ; its shameless and flagrant defiance of international humanitarian law and its arrogant and appalling disregard of the unified call of the international community.

We deplore U.S. support in the armed aggression and its imperial pursuits in the Philippines and in the rest of the world.

We support the adoption of concrete measure to end the aggression and the sufferings of the Palestinian people and call an end to Israel ’s military and humanitarian siege of Gaza.

COTABATO CITY – The KAWAGIB Moro Human Rights Organization here dares Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s government to pull-out troops still in offensives in the bailiwick areas of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as its ‘confidence building measure’ before going back to peace talks.  

Attacks against civilians intensified and human rights violations mounted after Arroyo government deployed about half of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) troops and launched military offensives against MILF commanders Kato, Bravo and Pangalian.

Innocent civilians fear to return homes for their houses were burned and communities were made as military camps like Barangay Dapiawan of Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao.

The government needs to pull-out its troops to show sincerity after it dissolved its GRP Peace Panel, abandoned the agreed and signed Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) and declared All-Out War Policy. The group also condemns the huge military budget allotted for militarization compared to amount extended for relief to civilians affected by war.

The government had extended only P130.9 million or P218 every evacuee while allotted P500 million to pursue MILF commanders. The bounty of three commanders cost P25 million alone. The amount extended for evacuees’ relief did not even reach half compared to damage cost due to aerial bombing and mortar shelling that already reached P258.3 million.

Together with Suara Bangsamoro and Liga ng Kabataang Moro, KAWAGIB launches protest action Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at the City Plaza here and formally launched the ‘8-Day Countdown to International Human Rights Day.’ The group calls for justice and indemnification to all victims of human rights violations and put a halt to the on-going war in Mindanao .

“Civilians had suffered so much and their five-month stay in evacuation centers is tough bases for the government and MILF to return to negotiating table. The Moro people hope that the government would be sincere this time, said Bai Ali Indayla, the group’s spokesperson.