'Lukewarm action' on missing activist’s case hit

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - International human rights and indigenous peoples' rights advocates expressed disappointment on what they claimed was lukewarm action of concerned agencies in resolving the case of missing activist James Balao. Participants to the International Solidarity Mission to surface Balao were one in saying government was not keen on looking into the resolution of Balao's disappearance, adding this is an attack not only to his basic human rights, but also to the rights of the indigenous peoples. "It is (disappointing) government seems not to be taking the case seriously. From what we have observed, there is an intention (by the state) to ignore the case," Nicole Smith from the United Church of Canada said in a press conference Friday. Smith was one of the 19 participants to the two-day international mission who joined their national and local counterparts in the campaign for the surface of the activist. Joe Hendren from the National Distribution Union from Auckland, New Zealand, expressed concern that Balao's case could also happen to any other Filipino citizen given the history of the country on forced disappearances. Marcus Briggs-Cloud from the Cultural Survival from Harvard University said that Balao's case should be exposed to the global arena to gain the support of other international indigenous people rights advocates. The group was barred entry to the military headquarters at the Camp Henry Allen in Baguio City Friday. The participants also observed the hearing of the amparo writ filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 63. Balao was allegedly abducted by uniformed men at Tomay, La Trinidad on September 17. The international solidarity mission to surface Balao called on government to cease the implementation of the Oplan Bantay Laya, a counter-insurgency program of government, which is being pointed to as culprit in the enforced disappearances nationwide. The group also urged the conduct of an independent investigation of all the groups of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other paramilitary forces. - Sun.Star Baguio