AGAIN… U-S FORCES SCREW UP IN SULU
SAYS DIRECTOR
US soldiers prevent Sulu hospital from opening at night
JOLO,
Sulu — American soldiers in Panamao town have been preventing health
workers from operating the district hospital there during night time,
the hospital’s chief told the Inquirer on Thursday.
Dr. Silak Lakkian, Panamao District Hospital chief, said the
American soldiers — led by a Master Sergeant Ronburg — allegedly
started implementing the order on November 30 without offering any
reason.
She said a team of soldiers barged into the hospital, which is some
45 kilometers from here, on November 30 and told the chief nurse to
close it not later than 6 p.m.
Lakkian said the American soldiers had threatened to shoot anybody seen inside the hospital’s premises after that time.
The Inquirer sought comment from Lieutenant Commander Melissa
Schuermann, public affairs officer of the Joint Special Operations Task
Force Philippines (JSOTFP), through a text message.
But instead of responding, American officials based in Zamboanga
City phoned Hadja Jainab Abdulmajid, Sulu provincial disaster
coordinator, who said US officials, whom she did not identify, were
asking about the validity of information from the Inquirer.
"We also heard several disturbing reports from Panamao but I cannot
easily issue any statement until I see it for myself," Abdulmajid
recounted telling the Americans.
She said she urged them check on the reports because it was unlikely for Lakkian to invent stories.
"Lakkian is one of the respected health officials in the province," Abdulmajid said.
Rebecca Thompson, spokesperson of the US embassy in Manila, said
that "the US government has had no role in any discussions or decision
about the opening hours of the Panamao District Hospital."
"US soldiers have not been involved in keeping the hospital closed or open," Thompson said in a text message to the Inquirer.
Lakkian said she was really surprised by the order.
"I thought these Americans are here for humanitarian purposes. Our
hospital caters to all the indigents in the town who cannot afford the
transportation expense to the Sulu Provincial Hospital," she said.
Lakkian said they found that the American soldiers were serious when
hospital staff tried to turn on the generator set on the evening of
December 2.
She said she immediately got a call from Ronburg asking her to turn off the generator.
"My two staffers were instructed by phone to get through the kitchen
door to the genset with their left hands on their heads. After they
were able to put off the genset, they were instructed to get back
immediately," said Lakkian, who was at the hospital at that time.
Lakkian said in the morning, she immediately went to Panamao Mayor Abdugafur Abdurajak "because I could not bear it anymore."
"It is useless to stay here because we cannot do anything," she said.
As of Friday evening, the hospital remained closed during night time
as staffers were afraid to go against the order, according to Lakkian.
In Zamboanga City, Jose Manuel Mamauag, human rights director for Western Mindanao, questioned the order.
"What is in the night for the US forces?" he asked.
Mamauag said if the US soldiers were trying to deny lawless groups
access to medical facilities during night time, it would be a violation
of "armed conflict laws."
"Blockade of medical supplies and medical staff including aid group
is a violation. It is inhuman, similar to starvation and denial of
medical assistance," Mamauag said.
Manar Saliddin, chair of the Jaga (Watch) Basilan Human Rights,
said, "Medical personnel should be allowed to serve anytime of the day."
Saliddin, a dentist by profession, said there must be something deeper in the order to shut down the hospital during night time.
