Militarization Related to Mining Displaces Thousands in Surigao

Classes were often disrupted because of the military’s presence. Military personnel stationed at Simowao, Emerald and Han-ayan frequently went to the Tribal Filipino Community Schools and Lumad high school and interrogated the teachers and students.

Zafra also said that armed soldiers roamed around the classrooms cocking their guns, making the children jump in their seats in fear. Checkpoints were also set up and belongings of the residents checked. Canons have been stationed in Simowao facing the school grounds.

Moreover, he said, soldiers made a list of community members, jotted down their IDs and cedulas (residence certificates) and cellular phone numbers, including those of the children and teachers.

Because of the operations, Zafra said, the residents were forced to evacuate their homes because of fear. At present, almost 2,000 evacuees are scattered in Diatagon Gym, Hanipaan Elementary School and Barangay Hall, Buhisan Barangay Hall.

The children now had to learn to read A-B-C and count 1-2-3 at the congested evacuation centers, without chairs, benches and tables. While some classes have resumed, schoolchildren remained disturbed because of their traumatic experiences in their communities, said Zafra.

Rights violations

Karapatan-Surigao del Sur also documented numerous violations of human rights. Ritchie Enot, 19 years of age from Upper Oregon, San Isidro, Lianga was reportedly arrested by the military while he was harvesting rattan at Venus forest area. The group said Enot was then forced to guide the military in their operations before he was freed on Nov. 15 after his relatives demanded his release from the battalion headquarters at St. Christine, Lianga.

The same fate fell on a mute abaca farmer. Data from Karapatan said that the farmer was taken by soldiers in Purok 12, Bogbog, Bolhoon on Nov. 16 and was allegedly made to go with the military in their operations.

Not once

This experience reminded Zafra of a previous massive evacuation also caused by military operations.

In 2005, he said a massive military operation was launched allegedly aimed at clearing their area for mining operations. The lawyer said human rights violations including torture, a killing, and four cases of enforced disappearances, among others were committed. Classes were also suspended for almost a month.

When community members returned to their homes and communities, they had to rebuild their livelihood, their homes and schools.

The same things that happened in 2005 are happening now, Zafra said. What the communities worked so hard for ― farm animals, farmlands, cooperative stores and properties― are once again being destroyed, he lamented.

“With natural calamities we can only prepare for the worst, but man-made calamities brought about by military operations that threaten and endanger lives, affect the livelihood of the people, and victimize thousands can be avoided,” said the Karapatan-Surigao del Sur in a statement. It added that tropical depression Mina will leave the country naturally but calamity “GMA-Mina (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo -mining operations) preceded by military operations… will be stamped in the lives of the people of Caraga, especially the lumads for years to come.”