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WORLD NEWS Thursday 27 July 2017

Rights groups ask Duterte to retract threat to bomb schools

By JIM GOMEZ on schools, “is directing
Associated Press the military to commit war
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — crimes.”
Human rights groups asked Conde urged Duterte to
the Philippine president on sign a 2015 international
Wednesday to retract a political statement, the
threat of airstrikes against Safe Schools Declaration,
tribal schools he accused that commits governments
of teaching students to to supporting the protec-
become communist reb- tion of students, teach-
els, warning that such at- ers and schools in times of
tacks would constitute war armed conflict.
crimes. Duterte became president
U.S.-based Human Rights last year after campaign-
Watch said international ing on his extra-tough ap-
humanitarian law “prohib- proach on crime as a pros-
its attacks on schools and ecutor and later as mayor
other civilian structures un- of southern Davao city. He
less they are being used for has remained popular de-
military purposes,” adding spite thousands of deaths
that deliberate attacks on in his nationwide anti-drug
civilians, including students crackdown.
and teachers, “is also a war In this Monday, July 24, 2017, photo, young Indigenous People known as Lumads display a Duterte also called for the
crime.” banner as they protest in Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Human rights groups asked abolishment of the Com-
Left-wing Rep. Emmi de Je- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Wednesday, July 26, 2017, to retract a threat to order airstrikes mission on Human Rights,
sus of the Gabriela Wom- against tribal schools he accused of teaching students to become communist rebels. an independent agency
en’s Party asked Duterte to (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) created under the consti-
retract the threat, saying ing a gunbattle last week demned the insurgents for your structures,” Duterte tution to investigate rights
government troops may that wounded five mem- destroying bridges and said. “I will use the armed violations.
use it as a pretext to at- bers of his elite presiden- torching schools in the forces, the Philippine air He demanded that the
tack indigenous, or Lumad, tial guards, Duterte has countryside. But he said force. I’ll really have those commission and the om-
schools and communities in called off peace talks with the rebels were sparing Lu- bombed ... because you budsman — an anti-graft
the country’s south which the Maoist guerrillas and mad schools, which he al- are operating illegally and prosecutor — route re-
have come under threat threatened their perceived leged were operating un- you are teaching the chil- quests to investigate po-
from pro-military militias in sympathizers. der guerrilla control without dren to rebel against gov- lice and military person-
recent years. In a news conference late government permits. ernment.” nel through him and laid
Angered by recent com- Monday after delivering “Get out of there, I’m telling Carlos Conde of Human down conditions under
munist rebel attacks on his annual state of the na- the Lumads now. I’ll have Rights Watch said Duterte, which he would allow those
government forces, includ- tion address, Duterte con- those bombed, including by calling for an attack investigations.q

Boko Haram ambushes oil convoy in Nigeria, killing 10

By ISMAIL ABDULRAHIM ration’s management an- saw the bodies of govern- Usman said the team sent cluded four self-defense
HARUNA UMAR nounced it was resuming ment soldiers after the am- to search for those kid- fighters, two oil company
Associated Press oil exploration around Lake bush Tuesday. napped killed some ex- employees and a staffer
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Chad following assurances “What I can confidently tremists and also recovered with the University of Mai-
Boko Haram extremists am- by Nigeria’s military that se- confirm to you is that the four vehicles, large quanti- duguri.
bushed an oil exploration curity had improved in the insurgents came in new ties of ammunition, assort- A large number of Boko
convoy in northern Nigeria, area, which was once un- vehicles and fully dressed ed drugs and materials for Haram fighters were killed
killing at least 10 people der Boko Haram’s control. in military uniforms,” Bukar making explosive devices. in the shootout, Modu said.
and abducting several oth- Nigeria’s military and a self- said. National Petroleum spokes- Boko Haram’s eight-year
ers who were later rescued, defense group in Borno Army spokesman Sani Us- man Ndu Ughamadu ear- insurgency has killed more
officials said Wednesday. State were providing secu- man said later Wednesday lier had said 10 geological than 20,000 people and
They said insurgents also rity for the oil exploration that all oil company staff surveyors were abducted. continues to carry out
had been killed, but gave workers. had been rescued. Those But Zanna Modu, council deadly attacks despite
no numbers. Bunu Bukar, secretary of killed in the convoy includ- chairman of the Magumeri the government’s decla-
The ambush came several the self-defense group, ed an army officer, eight local government area, put ration late last year that
weeks after the Nigeria known as the Hunters As- soldiers and a civilian, he the number of kidnapped the extremists had been
National Petroleum Corpo- sociation, said its members said. at seven, saying they in- “crushed.”q