Urgent Action Against Possible Enforced Disappearance!
by Amnesty International Philippines,January 20, 2012

URGENT ACTION
FEAR OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE OF THREE MEN

Three men have been missing since 3 January 2012, when they were last seen being taken, reportedly by military intelligence agents, at Manila airport.

After flying in to the Manila domestic airport terminal from Zamboanga City on 3 January, Najir Ahung, Rasbi Kasaran andYusoph Mohammad were apprehended by military intelligence agents, according to a credible local source.  The three men, residents of Al-Barka municipality in the conflict-affected island of Basilan, have not been seen or heard from since. Amnesty International fears that they are being detained incommunicado by the military, and are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

According to their families, the three men, all farmers, were also teachers at a madrasah (Islamic school).  They were in transit in Manila on their way to Qatar, where they were going to pursue further studies.

Rasbi Kasaran and Yusoph Mohammad, both 18, live in Cambug village in Al-Barka municipality, where there is known to be an MILF camp. On 19 October 2011, their village was the site of a clash between the army special forces and the armed opposition group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which left 19 soldiers dead and 11 wounded.

While the Philippine military routinely denies involvement in any case of enforced disappearance, in previous years Amnesty International has documented the military’s use of enforced disappearance against activists, suspected fighters and supporters of insurgent groups.

According to a reliable source, the arrest of the three men comes weeks after the Armed Forces of the Philippines filed 300 “John Doe” complaint affidavits against 300 unspecified residents of Cambug village. In a “John Doe” complaint affidavit or warrant, the authorities do not specify the name of the subject of the complaint or arrest.  Because such documents can be used against anyone, they have resulted in arbitrary arrest and detention.

Please write immediately in English or your own language:

expressing concern for the safety and wellbeing of Nahir Ahung, Rasbi Kasaran and Yusoph Mohammad, who were apprehended in Manila Airport on 3 January;

urging the authorities to immediately establish where the three men are being held;

calling on them to release Nahir Ahung, Rasbi Kasaran and Yusoph Mohammad immediately and unconditionally, or else charge them with a recognizably criminal offence.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 29 FEBRUARY 2012 TO:

Armed Forces of the Philippines
Chief of Staff
Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa
Office of the Chief of Staff
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo
Quezon City, Philippines

Salutation: Dear General

Head, Army Human Rights Office
Col. Domingo Tutaan, Jr.
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo
Quezon City, Philippines
Fax: +63 2911 7754
Email:  afphro@yahoo.com
Salutation: Dear Colonel

And copies to:
Head of Mission, International Monitoring Team in the Philippines
Maj. Gen. Dato Mahdi bin Yusof

IMT Headquarters
Cotabato City, Philippines
Email: imtphilippines@gmail.com

URGENT ACTION

FEAR OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE OF THREE MEN
Additional Information

Al-Barka municipality, in the remote island province of Basilan, southern Philippines, has seen intermittent fighting between the Philippine military and the insurgent group Moro Islamic Liberation Front., who both have bases in the area. Other armed groups including Abu Sayyaf, are also known to be present in the province, adding to general instability there.

Two of the deadliest clashes between the military and the MILF in recent years occurred in Al-Barka.  On 10 July 2007, 23 marines were killed in an encounter there, 14 of them beheaded.  On 19 October 2011, another armed encounter resulted in over 45 casualties on both sides and 10,000 civilians displaced.  This latest clash has led to a crackdown on residents in Al-Barka, including a complaint-affidavit being filed by the military against 300 unnamed residents.

Names:  Najir Ahung, Rasbi Kasaran and Yusoph Mohammad Gender m/f:  all are male

UA: 13/12 Index: ASA 35/001/2012 Issue Date: 18 January 2012

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