RP - US War Exercises Displace Aeta Families
Published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
(March 01, 2000)
CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE --The Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement on Monday admitted that "additional measures" were needed to ensure that the ongoing Balikatan military exercises "do not adversely affect the lives of indigenous people."
It was the first time that the commission made such admission since the joint military exercises of Filipino and American troops began in late January, but it denied any displacement among Aetas.
Tribal leaders of 120 Aeta families at Sitio Tarukan in Barangay Sta. Juliana in Capas, Tarlac, have alerted the INQUIRER about their dislocation.
The displacement of Aetas in Botolan, Zambales, was also reported by leaders of the Nagkakaisang Biktima ng Kalamidad sa Zambales (Nabigkis).
The Aetas of Mt. Pinatubo are among the biggest groups of Negritoes in the country. After Mt. Pinatubo's eruption in 1991, they reclaimed their indigenous domains within military reservations, one of which is the Crow Valley bombing and gunnery range in Tarlac, north of the volcano.
Live-fire exercises began in Crow Valley last Thursday.
Elmer Cato, commission spokesperson, called the reports of displacement as "exaggerated" but said the "commission feels that the government may have to put extra measures in place to ensure that indigenous people in areas surrounding the exercise sites are not Adversely affected."
The measures include the active involvement of the Presidential Commission on Indigenous People in the commission work and the activation of local monitoring councils in, those areas.
Among the commission's recommendations are enhancing the coordination between the Armed Forces and local governments in the affected areas and improving information dissemination.
The commission did not say if it committed neglect for the plight of the Aetas. However, these measures indicate that the potential social and economic impact of the exercises on the Aetas has not been fully considered in the almost two month war games.
The commission made the recommendations after sending teams to the affected areas.
Nabigkis reported that Aetas at Sitios Palis, Baytan and Maquisquis in the Loob Bunga resettlement in Botolan faced starvation as result of a blockade set up by Army troops operating in support of the Balikatan exercises.
The VFA Task Force Subic said "villagers could have mistaken pursuit
operations that were
conducted against communist guerillas last week as, part of the Balikatan
exercises."
Task Force Subic added that while Aeta elders and local officials disclaimed Nabigkis' report, they "did, raise concern over low-level flights by aircraft taking part in the exercises."
Cato said the commission would raise this matter with exercise officials.
In Capas, Cato confirmed an INQUIRER report that the Aetas voluntarily transferred to a designated safe area.
The commission did not comment on the reported stoppage of livelihood activities or on the measles outbreak among the Aetas near Crow Valley.
The Aetas returned to the farms Friday, Cato said.
He also said the commission was coordinating with Department of Tourism and Air Force officials to lift the travel ban on treks to Pinatubo.
The DOT and the PAF last week suspended hikes to the volcano's crater-lake until March 3. The ban threw some 50 Aeta guides and porters out of work.
BY TONETTE OREJAS
PDI Central Luzon Desk
