PRESS STATEMENT
21 May 2009
BDS recruitment on minors, a gross violation of children’s rights; disband BDS now!
Child Rights Groups expressed today their utmost concern on the recruitment of minors for Barangay Defense System (BDS) in the rural areas of Southern Mindanao Region. This concern was raised by child-focused groups based on the findings of the recently concluded International Solidarity Mission (ISM) which was simultaneously conducted in six (6) different areas namely; Compostela, New Bataan, and Monkayo in Compostela Valley Province; Paquibato District in Davao City; Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur; and Tampakan in South Cotabato held on 15-16 May 2009 to know the impact of intense militarization among conflict-affected communities.
Military troop’s encampment in schools and other public places has instilled a culture of violence and has disrupted the socio-civic activities in the communities. The creation of BDS which the AFP is constantly denying as what they rationalized as for the purpose of social and economic development in the area showed the irony of deception among the populace. It has become a common pattern since the intensified implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 by the 10th Infantry Division of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) that civilians are coerced to organize into BDS to augment the AFP’s counter-insurgency operations and demonize legal progressive people’s organizations different rural communities which undermines the constitutionally-mandated civilian supremacy over the military.
In New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province, not only the men in 15 barangays are compelled to be a member of BDS but also women and children were recruited. Children residents are required to report to the BDS outpost. Most of the time they are being used as spies and couriers by the military as what happened in Brgy. Kahayag, the place where Grecil Buya’s family used to live. The ISM team found out a 14 year old boy, “Ramon” (not his real name) who was on-duty at the BDS post fronting the barangay hall with a squad of 66th Infantry Batallion. He denied any involvement with BDS but he is regularly reporting twice-a-week for 12 hours.
Using children for BDS against the rebels is indeed a clear violation to children’s right to protection and safety as stipulated in Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection to Filipino Children), United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and the UN’s Paris Principles on the recruitment of children as child soldiers.
This scenario brings uncertainty, distress and unfriendly environment among children where their basic rights to survival, protection, development, and participation are at risk.
KABIBA Alliance for Children’s Concerns and other child-focused groups that joined the ISM strongly recommend the immediate disbandment of BDS, the removal of AFP troops and their armaments inside and near the school campuses and public places with reinforced declaration from the Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Department of Education (DepEd), and the stoppage of recruiting children for paramilitary groups like the BDS.
We strongly appeal to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) through its Child Rights Center to conduct an immediate, impartial and independent investigation among this concern and other documented human rights violations.
We also strongly recommend the reorganization and further revitalization of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) down to the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPCs) to ensure monitoring of cases on violations of children’s rights and to enhance capacity to protect and defend the children in situations of armed conflict by delivering psycho-social services.#
For Reference:
HONEY MAY I. SUAZO
Executive Secretary
KABIBA Alliance for Children’s Concerns
Contact Nos. 222-5191/09284917899 |
