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Activist group
leaders here counter a testimony of a former top rebel commander
linking them to the New Peoples Army (NPA).
NPA
leader Epitacio Ramirez, known in the 80s as Commander Vargas,
accused the CPP-NPA-NDF of "deceptive activities and
atrocities" which included the so-called legal fronts
such as human rights group Karapatan.
In
a press statement, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Bohol
chair John Ruiz III countered that Ramirez is a "recycled
long inactive member of the NPA… used by the military
to drumbeat their propaganda in linking progressive organizations
such as party list
Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis and people's organization
Bayan."
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According
to Ruiz, "the military is desperate in linking
the legal progressive organizations to the NPA to justify
political killings against leaders of activist groups."
Ruiz
accused the 302nd Infantry Brigade, under Col. Cesar
Yano, for "using people and fake rebel surrenderees"
to misinform the public.
"Mr.
Epitacio Ramirez, a long surrendered NPA commander [was]
used to link Karapatan to the NPA just recently after
Karapatan secretary general Liza Serenio and Col. Yano
had confrontations with regards to the conduct of the
military in recruiting members of the Barangay Defense
system and their Special Operations team in the towns
of Batuan and Bilar," Ruiz said.
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He
added that during the 302nd Brigade's so-called Security Assessment
Symposiums in schools and the municipalities, a power point
presentation is shown which named activist organizations while
showing pictures of their leaders.
"Why
[do this] in a forum where we are not given a chance to defend
ourselves?" Ruiz asked.
Activist
leaders William Boybanting (Anakpawis), Martina Visaya (Gabriela),
Ruiz and Serenio were named and shown in the powerpoint presentation,
Ruiz alleged.
"Does
this mean that the existence of our groups in the province
is considered a security threat, and makes us a military target?"
He added.
According
to Ruiz, the military insisted that the killing of peasant
leaders Victor Olayvar and Mario Auxilio were perpetrated
by the NPA as part of their purging activity.
He
said the two leaders were the subject of an organized surveillance
before they were gunned-down
"Even
the UN rapporteur had already dismissed this military theory
because the military themselves could not present a decent
proof for this allegation," Ruiz concluded.
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