3 Muslims Die, 7 Hurt in Baclaran Mosque Demolition Attempt

3 Die, 7 Hurt in BAclaran Demolition
By ALI G. MACABALANG and EDD USMAN, EDD USMAN

November 18, 2009, 5:49pm

MOSQUE ATTACK. A Muslim faithful holds his ground as members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team fire at him when he refused to leave their mosque as a wrecking crew from the Pasay City Hall approaches.

Three persons, including a seven-year-old boy, were killed while seven others were injured when Pasay City policemen enforcing an order to demolish shanties on a Muslim community in Baclaran district opened fire at resisting residents Wednesday morning, sources from the community
said.

Anak Mindanao Party List Rep. Mujiv Hataman said the demolition drive, though covered by a court order, was brutal and bereft of respect for the human rights of the hapless residents. “We don’t question the legal aspect of the operations, but why did the police troops used their guns against the stones pelted by resisting residents?” said Hataman, who rushed to the scene and left a few hours later in profuse dismay.

Hataman vowed to take the issue to the House of Representatives and press for a congressional inquiry. “Dahil ba mga Muslim ang involved kaya madaling pinaputukan ng mga pulis sa demolisyon?” Hataman asked. Under normal demolition drives affecting non-Muslim areas, police observed maximum restraint, according to Joly Lais, secretary general of the Assalaam party list who also rushed to the scene along Roxas Boulevard.

The demolition, enforced by the Pasay City government and covered by a regional trial court order, started at about 6:30 Wednesday morning and later turned violent when the demolition workers escorted by police tried to tear down a mosque in the community, Lais said.

More than 170 shanties of Muslim street vendors in Baclaran had already been demolished without incident when young and old residents shielded their mosque and started hurling stones at the workers and the police, Lais said. Lais, quoting the residents, said the policemen responded with automatic rifle fire that killed three persons, wounded seven others and destroyed glass windows in the mosque.

Lais named the three fatalities, who all died of bullet wounds, as Hakim Usman, 30, Yacob Macacua, 37, and seven-year-old Rajib Batalo. He identified the seven wounded as Imam Mus-ab Baniaga, 40, Hadji Malik Musib, 51, Damron Datu Imam, 37, Master Dimas Sultan, 37, Macacuna Baraocor, 35, Macaaras Dalama, 55, and another 7-year old child.

Residents have earlier warned of bloodshed should the government carry out the planned demolition of the Baclaran mosque to give way to the construction of luxury housing and commercial establishments in the area, including casinos. The government wants the mosque demolished and relocated to Paranaque City.

Lais said about 300 residents are holding out inside the mosque, apprehensive the police might carry out the Muslim sacred house's demolition.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/230106/3-die-7-hurt-baclaran-demolition