Gov’t urged to stop soldiers from using schools as barracks

MANILA, Philippines–An international human rights watchdog has asked the Philippine government to put a stop to the practice of using schools in some far-flung areas as military barracks because it could put children at risk.

Human Rights Watch, during a recent eight-day investigation in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), noted five instances since 2009 when government troops used elementary schools as barracks for detachments, staying there from three months to over a year.

“Establishing Army camps at schools puts both children’s security and their education at risk,” said Bede Sheppard, senior children’s rights researcher of Human Rights Watch. “Schools should be places for learning and play, free from fear.”

The group said many of the more than 20 principals, teachers and government officials they talked to had expressed “grave concern” about a potential attack on the schools by armed rebel groups in view of military presence, and the possibility of inappropriate conduct by soldiers toward the students.

CAR has been torn by clashes between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and communist New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents, both sides of which have been accused of violations of the laws on war.

“The community was worried that something might happen between the two groups (AFP and NPA),” the rights watchdog quoted a teacher as saying in an interview.

The laws on war prohibit attacks on schools unless they are being used for military purposes, and limit such use by parties to the conflict. The extended military use of schools may also violate students’ right to education under international human rights law, the watchdog group said.