Covering up what happened in Marawi

We, the League of Filipino Students-Northern Mindanao, vehemently condemn the lies of US Defense Chief James Mattis regarding Marawi. Clearly, the statement comes from an eagle-like predator preying on its victims from afar. Numerous human rights violations are accounted all throughout the war in Marawi and even more undeclared abuses are being perpetrated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the direct orders of the United States.

Mattis stated in the two-day Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting: “Here’s an army that had to go in a fight like that, and they had not one human rights allegation against them with any credibility.”

Either he is blind and deaf to the real situation of the Maranao in Marawi or this is a deliberate act of disregard for human rights. The report of the National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission last July 26-28 stated: “Karapatan was able to record at least three extrajudicial killings, five cases of torture and two enforced disappearances. These are heavy cases on top of massive documentations of threat, harassment, intimidation, and previously recorded destruction of properties and aerial bombardment.”

One case highlighted is the illegal arrest and detention of mechanic Lala Arafat on July 23, 2017. Arafat was a known leader in an evacuation center in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur. A man approached him feigning to have his motorcycle fixed and a few minutes later, he was arrested by the police. Days later, the media reported that he is a member of the Islamic State (IS). As of today, the location of Arafat is still unknown to his wife and family.

Another case of arrest, detention, and torture is of a 36-year-old and his two sons. They were picked up by the military inside the evacuation center and were forced to admit that they are members of IS—all while handcuffed and with candle wax dripped on them. These are just few of the real cases and stories of human rights violations during the war in Marawi.

Mattis made pure, grave lies to cover up what really happened during the war in Marawi. Clearly, he was trying to paint a glossy picture over the atrocious reality.

They have bombed the only Islamic city in the Philippines and slaughtered our people. All for the entry of big corporations and foreign companies eyeing to expand their business, as well as paving the way for a military reservation. The only Islamic city left in the country is being stripped off the hands of its rightful owners—the Maranao and the people of Mindanao.

Up to this day, more or less 600,000 displaced people continually struggle to survive daily in the midst of uncertainty, lack of sufficient socioeconomic assistance from the government, ethnic discrimination, and a threat of extinction of their cultural and religious practices.

We vow to stand by the Moro people and the Maranao. We vow to support their demand for rehabilitation and justice for the widespread death and destruction caused by the US-Duterte regime. We call an end to martial law!

KRISTINE CABARDO,chair, League of Filipino Students-Northern Mindanao, lfsnmr@gmail.com