Displaced tribals demand land back

[GLT]

http://www.ucanews.com/2012/04/02/check-displaced-tribals-demand-land-back/

Displaced tribals demand land back
Say they will not retun home untill troops, rebels vacate ancestral
areas
Ben Serrano, Butuan City
Philippines
April 2, 2012
Catholic Church News Image of Displaced tribals demand land back
Displaced villagers preparing food in a village where they sought
shelter

Families displaced by fighting between government troops and communist
rebels in Agusan and Surigao provinces have called for the immediate
withdrawal of armed groups from their ancestral lands.

Mamanwan tribal leader Datu Maribojoc on Friday said heavy fighting in
the hinterlands has brought “misery and misfortune” to his people.

He said they will not return to their homes until the troops and
rebels leave their land.

Tribal leaders met with government officials last week in an attempt
to solve the continuing evacuation of people due to the
“militarization” of their communities.

At least 455 tribal people, 194 of them women and 183 children under
six years old, have sought shelter in a nearby village.

“We will investigate and see for ourselves if there really is heavy
militarization in the hinterlands and look into the reasons why [the
tribal people were] evacuated,” said Marilyn Pintor, a lawyer from the
government’s commission on human rights.

The army denies reports of heavy fighting in the area.

Major Eugene Osias of the 4th Infantry Division said troops are only
conducting small-scale combat patrol operations against communist
rebels.

He urged the evacuees to return to their villages.