Zero HR violations key in getting people support-Army

DAVAO CITY, September 28 (PIA)-Zero human rights violation has helped the soldiers in easily winning the confidence of residents in the countryside to work together in the peace and development outreach program of government, according to Lt. Colonel Lyndon Paniza, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the 10th Infantry Division.

Speaking in the “Arena Forum,”a public affairs program of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies aired at radio station DXRA, he cited the zero human rights record of the 10TH ID from September 2010 up to the present as one factor that gets residents to be friendly and helpful to the soldiers, especially in ventilating the issues and finding solutions to problems affecting the community.

Paniza said the reorientation of the soldiers from warriors to diplomats helps them interact effectively with the people.

“We maintain zero human rights violation record which is affirmed by the Commission on Human Rights 11, as moral ground to push the peace and development outreach program,” he said.

Paniza said that every unit of the 10th ID has a human rights desk ready to receive complaints of HR violations among soldiers just to ensure that due process rules in addressing redress of grievances among civilians as soldiers rub elbows with them.

He urged residents to report immediately any human rights violation incident to military authorities for prompt action.

“Every unit has a human rights desk that receives complaints against our soldiers.  You have to report to us so that military authorities can act accordingly,” Paniza said.

He said members of the peace and development teams are trained to wave, shake hands, smile and greet before being deployed to the field.

Paniza  said that on field, soldiers relay with the people avoiding  to be interfering  in their day to day affairs but close enough to listen to their concerns.

He lauded the soldiers for the show of discipline and the residents for their cooperation side by side with the local government units and other line government agencies.

Even then, Paniza underscored the need to spruce up the image of the soldiers tarnished especially during the martial law years.(PIA11/ Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)