The family members of 53 civilians who were victims of assassination activities by the New People's Army in Negros island, yesterday marked the celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, by reiterating their call for justice.

2Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, 11 th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations officer, yesterday said more than 400 residents in upland barangays of Isabela, Negros Occidental, Canlaon City and Guihulngan, participated in a forum denouncing the atrocities perpetrated by the rebels against their respective family members.

Of the 53 civilians killed by rebels in Negros Island from 2002 to the present, Posadas said 32 were residents of central Negros where the 11 th Infantry Battalion is operating.

Military records also showed that majority of the civilians killed were suspected military informants.

Posadas said the holding of the forum, which was also attended by representatives of Karapatan-Negros and Gabriela Women's Party, was aimed at resolving misconceptions against the military by the different sectoral organizations, especially those aligned with the CPP-NPA-NDF.

He, however, said representatives of the militant groups staged a walk-out even before the program started.

In a strong show of support from the participants, Posadas said the activity continued with testimonials from family members of the victims of New People's Army atrocities.

Posadas said the activity culminated with a caravan around the poblacion of Guihulngan, whose upland barangays are considered as the “center of activity” of Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros.

On the other hand, the New People's Army Coronacion “Waling-Waling” Chiva Command Regional Operational Command indicted through what it calls “People's Court” Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise, 3 rd Infantry Division commander, for the abduction of activists Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado and Nilo Arado on April this year.

In a statement, Julian Paisano of the Coronacion Chiva Command said Narcise and several other military officers are targets of NPA tactical offensives.

Narcise commands more than 5,000 soldiers assigned in Negros, Panay, Cebu , Siquijor and Bohol.*GPB

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