Indigenous People Harassed, Tortured by Military
On June 26, the world will celebrate the International Day in Support of
Victims of Torture amidst numerous reports of human rights violations.
The Philippines has ratified the Convention Against Torture in 1984 and
yet it is continued to be practiced in almost all places against persons
who are unable to protect and defend their rights.
In Zambales, PREDA has received reports of torture and military
harassment inflicted against indigenous peoples. In one incident, 30
uniformed men abducted three Aetas while hunting. The men took their
flashlight, three air guns and an improvised grenade as they interrogate
and forced the three to confess that they are members of the rebel group
New People's Army. The
uniformed men separated them from each other and placed them into
different areas where they were individually tortured to confess.
Their hands were tied on their backs while the lay down while
their feet were raised from the ground. One man poked a gun to their
chests, another held their heads, and a third poured water directly into
their faces. Two others held their arms to contain them as they
struggled to free themselves.
In another incident, 160 Aetas comprising 37 families were displaced
from their community and deprived of their means of living in Sitio
Itanglew in Barangay San Rafael, San Marcelino when more than 100
members of the military conducted a raid in their houses because of mere
suspicions that they are members of or are aiding the New People's Army.
PREDA is working with these indigenous peoples to assist them in
documenting human rights violations to be able to bring to trial those
responsible. It is also lobbying to government agencies for the
implementation of the Indigenous People's Rights Act. As regards
torture, PREDA is working with other non-government organizations in
lobbying for the enactment of the anti-torture bill, an obligation of
the Philippine government under the Convention on Torture and the Bill
of Rights contained in the 1987 Constitution.
