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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on June 24, 2009

Sixty families in Lianga, Surigao del Sur flee homes
due to military operations
By Ellen Red

Sixty families from Purok 5, San Isidro, Lianga, Surigao del Sur fleed their homes and sought safety at the Lianga town gym, a new report says.

Macario Angelia, parish information officer of Sto. Niño Parish in Lianga town, reported that the 60 evacuee families left their homes as the military, specifically from the 58 Infantry Battalion, together with the group called Task Force Gantaugan (TFG), violated their commitment not to settle or live with the civilians during military operations.

Mr. Angelia reported that early February 2009, the farmers and indigenous people from Purok 5, San Isidro, Lianga evacuated their homes due to earlier military operations. He said during the February evacuation, the evacuees, during a dialogue, said they would only return home if the soldiers would not settle or live near their homes during military operations as this endangers their lives. Mr. Angelia added that the military acceded to the requests of the civilians in an agreement made in mid–February 2009.

Mr. Angelia reported that since June 10, this year, about 70 regular soldiers and 30 from TFG once again held military operations, settled and lived near the homes of the locals in Purok 5, San Isidro, Lianga putting the locals' lives in danger once again. Because of this, the locals evacuated their homes and sought the safety of the town gym.

"Walay lain nga among kadangpan o kapoy-an mao lamang ang daku nga gym sa lungsod sa Lianga (We have no other place to turn to except for the big gym of the town of Lianga)," evacuees said.

Once again, the evacuees are calling for the military and TFG not to settle or live near the civilians as this endangers the locals' lives. The evacuees also called on the military to respect earlier agreement.

END

Click here for complete report of Mr. Macario Angelia,
Parish Information Officer of Sto. Niño Parish, Lianga