Provided By Witness In The Camp
(Originally in English & Au Lac Language)
After the fall of Southern Au Lac, the Philippines established an open door policy. Tens of thousands of refugees seeking freedom repaid the protection and accommodation offered by the compassionate Philippines, which they are heartily grateful for, with a spirit of peace, freedom and reciprocal love. However, would the government please look into the present situation at the Palawan camp.
December 8, 1993
The Au Lac refugee Tran Anh Dung during an asthma attack was not given emergency aid and timely medical treatment by the medical staff of the UNHCR. They required permission from the UNHCR in Palawan, Manila or Geneva before taking further action. This apathetic attitude towards human life caused the patient's death before his arrival at the hospital.
During the recent years, the UNHCR adapted a policy which gradually reduces the camp's international human rights workers in an attempt to control the activities of the refugees and sever the refugees' communication with the outside world. Education, medical care and the daily living necessities were reduced, (the improper medical attention has already cost two lives) intentionally creating more pressure in many aspects, thus imposing greater distress on the refugees so as to expedite their plan of repatriation.
During this one and a half months, only those who volunteered to be repatriated were given medical care. Others were hindered in many ways. For instance, a report has to be submitted to the hospital within a certain time beforehand, no matter how serious is the patient's condition. This kind of unfair and inhuman treatment led to the refugees sensing a greater tragedy may be imminent. Therefore, they organized the peaceful sit-in to fight for humane treatment and their deserved refugee status.
A woman, named Pham Kim Lien, stabbed herself in the abdomen, in the presence of an UNHCR official. This attempt to commit suicide was her way of fighting for liberty and justice and to protest against the economic refugee status - unjustly bestowed upon them by this civilized world. Nonetheless, people remained unmoved by this tragedy. Fortunately she was saved in time by the first-aid workers.
The CID denied her refugee status twice. After the first unfair denial, she used a razor to cut her vein in front of the delegation but at the last moment was saved. To expect a fairer decision by the Task Force, she then lived on with the hope that they would make the correct decision with respect to her case; but her last wish did not come true due to the unfair decision made by the High Commissioners in Manila. This time she had no choice except to try to take her own life again as a means of prove - representing those who had the same treatment of being denied their refugee status, as well as to awaken the consciences of the people in the world.
According to what happened, it is obvious that the High Commissioners are not concerned about the refugees at all.
For the time being she still looks forward to the compassion and the reconsideration of the world; she has assertively made up her mind not to return to her home country. If her refugee status is not accepted, her only choice would be to try to commit suicide again in order to prove her hunger for freedom.
The peaceful sit-in had been going on for fifty-four days. The refugees started a hunger strike protesting against the irresponsible attitude of the UNHCR. On February 3 at 4:20 am, no matter man or woman, old or young, all were brutally beaten by the Philippine army with clubs.
A woman carrying her child was hit on the face with a gun. After she and her child fell to the ground, they rolled to the cafeteria wall. Many fled after being injured. Their heads were wounded and bleeding.
At this critical moment, many women carrying their children thrust themselves between the male Au Lac refugees and the soldiers who were beating them. The soldiers stopped their brutal actions, waiting further orders, but the commanding officer had already left from the camp. Those who were unconscious casualties were taken away in ambulances.
The Christians among the sit-in demonstrators were singing Ava Maria with tears rolling down their cheeks. They were surrounded by the soldiers who would beat anyone, regardless of whether they were women or children, trying to bring food or water to them. Even though it was wasted beneath the soldiers' feet, the people outside still tried to throw food and water bottles across, but they failed. The soldiers used the lemons to clean their boots, and the water to wash their hands and faces, teasing the demonstrators hungry and thirsty under the scorching sun.
The military authorities were ordered to surround the demonstrators with a barbed wire fence, not allowing them any food or drink, and even not allowing them to go to the bathroom.
Those who tried to get out were struck with truncheons and rifle butts. The men who fainted were taken away like they were just mere animals. There were women holding babies who tried to come in to supply water to the fainted but the Filipino soldiers hit them with rifle butts and kicked them in their chests and bellies. They were holding plastic bags with ice inside, which they tried to throw inside to the demonstrators. Some women inside of the sit-in crawled out trying to get the bags of ice but were struck with rifle butts until they began to bleed ...
Upon seeing so many unarmed, innocent people fall and the soldiers' brutal and inhuman actions, hundreds of young people outside marched hand in hand towards the heavily armed Philippine soldiers. Despite being hit by the clubs, someone falling each step of the way, every inch of soil smeared with their blood, heads injured, shoulders swollen, they still marched forward pushing the soldiers towards the church.
Engulfed in tears and with trembling hands, Father Crawford tried to break off the lock, on the church door with an axe, to allow these innocent lambs to escape the violence. They finally entered the church and gathered beneath the holy statue of Mother Mary.
... A Philippine soldier threw away his weapon and sat abruptly on the ground. Not able to control himself, he covered his face and cried bitterly... Hundreds of soldiers threw away their weapons and returned to the warehouse awaiting further instructions. With unified spirit and courage, and the blood and tears of many people, the refugees overcame the brutal actions of the camp authorities.
... People are signing up for self-immolation and mass suicide by taking poison. They will put it into action if the Philippine army continues to suppress them.
... Fellow disciples helped the weak and sick by bringing milk and medicine during the sit-in ...
... Our association also provides food and medicine for the needy.
... Fellow disciples and I tried to meet with the refugee representatives and the people who decided to commit mass suicide. We were praying to Master to change these drastic plans for mass suicide. Thanks to Master's loving power they agreed not to commit suicide, but they were not quite sure what they would do if the Filipino soldiers continued the oppression whether they would take action to protest the barbaric suppression used by them or not ...
After the second unfair and inconsiderate decision of the UNHCR and Task Force, a refugee saw no solution except to commit suicide to protest the illegality of his refugee status. He plunged a knife into himself in front of the head of the UNHCR and the Administrative Director, but they totally disregarded him. Only then did the help of the people come and he was brought to the hospital. Fortunately he survived the suicide attempt. This was the second time he was denied his refugee status.
When I came to visit I told him that if he had wanted to sacrifice his life, he should dedicate it in service to Master because the body of a human being is priceless. From those consoling words, and especially due to Master's blessing, he continued to live, waiting for the help of the merciful.
After some time he suddenly disappeared without any trace. Later, it was discovered that the UNHCR had used such gross measures as to apply more pressure to those who committed suicide like him.
So far, no one knows of his whereabouts and or his condition.
During the sit-in protest, there were 48 persons who decided to voluntarily sacrifice their lives on behalf of the refugees' concerns. Three of them were severely wounded and the rest continued to pursue their plan of action. While they began killing themselves, the UNHCR just ignored the horror and prohibited the taking of pictures, trying to conceal all the evidence.
After the end of the sit-in and up to now, they have been able to live on due to the assistance from other people. Some refugees got help from our Meditation Association to be able to be vegetarian.
When I came to visit and asked them for some information about the incidents, they could not reveal much. It seemed that their struggling spirit had been severely damaged. Then I discovered that it was from the camp authority's pressure and trickery that all the facts had been nullified and they were not in a position to speak the truth. They live in misery and some of them have been transferred to a hidden place. All this has been done secretly by the authority in order to cover all the injustices and violations of human rights.
... The situation in the camp is very tense. Thanks to Master's care people have faith in our meditation center. They heard Master would feed them, so they are patiently waiting.
... We supplied food, milk and medicine to the old, the weak and the children day and night. Those who became vegetarians increased from l00 to 700 and they have complete faith in Master. Therefore, the means of protest have become more peacefully ...
After the sit-in all the organizations and representatives came to the center to thank Master for servicing them day and night and saving a lot of lives.
Since the day Master came to the gate to talk to the refugees, they have become very calm and have faith in You. I tried to counsel the people who wanted to commit suicide. Thanks to Master's power they now have faith and live more calmly.