Concern over hidden war in Sulu

Another war escalates in Southern Philippines, yet only this one is an undeclared military attack in predominantly Muslim southern Sulu province, which has forcibly displaced 5,256 Muslims. This was the report of the human rights groups which conducted a fact-finding, medical mission in Sulu on April 19-23.

In a media forum held yesterday at the University of the Philippines, Marie Hilao-Enriquez, National Alliance for People's Rights secretary general said the "hidden war had reached an unparalleled level of destruction, displacement, and victimisation of the civilian population in Sulu.

"Entire villages had become no-man's land with the residents forcibly evacuated due to military offensives. Rows of houses razed to the ground by troops stretched on for kilometres along the highway," Enriquez said, who also acts as convenor to the 23-member organisations of the fact-finding team.

She said the fact-finding team documented 12 cases of summary execution with 21 victims including four children.

"Unlike the much publicised all-out war and the operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, the military attacks in Sulu continue to evade public awareness and media coverage, that's why it is called hidden war," she said.

Amirah Lidasan, Moro Christian People's Alliance secretary general also confirmed Enriquez's report saying the massive military attacks on civilians in Sulu were kept from the public for a long time due to the policy of centralised information imposed by the Southern Philippines military command.

"All information must be cleared first by the Southern Command before they allow a story to be written by provincial media correspondents. This is the reason why, the war in Sulu was hidden from national awareness."

Also at the media forum, Alihadan Pajiji of the Concerned Citizens of Sulu (CCS), said the news blackout on the war in Sulu prompted some concerned individuals, including Tausug and Muslim religious leaders, intellectuals, and professionals in Sulu to organise themselves and launched public knowledge of the "undeclared" military attacks in the province.

"We sought the assistance of human rights advocates under the MCPA and the People's Rights, to initiate an extensive investigation of the attacks," said Pajiji.

The report said the situation in Jolo town proper suggests the extent of militarisation in the whole archipelago.

"Heavily armed soldiers in combat uniforms ply the town market and local stores, guarding every corner of the populated marketplace. Military jeeps and trucks, together with countless public transportation vehicles, clog the town streets.

In all the towns and villages the team visited, military operations have forced civilians to evacuate their homes. In Talipao, village alone, residents of 50 out of 52 villages there were forcibly evacuated due to intensive military operations after the Sipadan, Malaysia hostage negotiations last year.

The fact finding mission also aid the vicious attacks in the town started after the Sipadan hostage-taking crisis on April 29, 2000. But this worsened during the supposed armed forces pursuits against the "Misuari Renegade Group."

According to Enriquez, it is part of military strategy to attack civilian communities which the military sees the strongholds of either the Abu Sayyaf or Nur Misuari's loyalists.

"No distinctions have been made between armed elements and non-combatants." But victims told a horrifyingly different story.

Ustadz Yusuf Latip-Al Jajj, 55 years old, village leader of Talipao narrated that on April 2000, Talipao Mayor Tambrin Tulawie warned him and other residents to evacuate their community because soldiers would be conducting an operation there. At least 50 households took whatever they could and hurriedly evacuated to different villages. They heard explosions coming from their community and were told of the massive destruction brought about by the military operation.

According to Al Jajj air power and artillery bombardment have been excessively used during the military operations resulting in the unnecessary destruction of private property and causing widespread casualties and injuries among civilian populations.

Even the the fact-finding mission team were subjected to attacks by forces. Lidasan said suddenly and without provocation, two helicopters fired at them and the surrounding population in one of their fact finding missions to a remote village. "We learned later that such indiscriminate strafing of civilians was regularly done in the area."

The team called for justice and indemnification for all victims of human rights violations in Sulu.