Believing that "the situation in Mindanao is now ripe for the direct interventions of the UN peace keeping force to stall the continuing carnage in this Island," the United Youth for Peace and Development, Inc. (UNYPAD) is now seeking the intervention and support of the UN. We are publishing here the letter of the UNYPAD to His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General. Here is the text of the letter:
October 28, 2008
HIS EXCELLENCY BAN KI-MOON
UN Secretary General
The United Nations
Dear His Excellency:
The aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on August 5, 2008 at Putrajaya, Malaysia, which a paradigm and framework for the negotiation of the GRP-MILF Comprehensive Agreement Compact, represents a collective people’s failure to seize an opportunity for a just, lasting and comprehensive political solution to the four decades old armed conflict and the Bangsamoro problem in the South of the Philippines. The MOA-AD could have been a breakthrough towards the attainment of the long-held aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for freedom and self-determination, which have longed eluded them as a free and sovereign people at the times of conquest and colonization.
Moreover, the MOA-AD suffered great setback when the Supreme Court, through the prodding of oligarchs and warlords particularly the local politicians representing various vested interests in Mindanao who opposed the MOA-AD based mainly on prejudice, hatred and bigotry against the Bangsamoro people issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and consequently declared it unconstitutional, which contravened the commitment of the Parties (GRP-MILF) to open up “new formulas” in the search for a negotiated political solution to the armed conflict and the Bangsamoro problem. This aborted signing of the MOA-AD triggered a volatile tension in Mindanao that saw the escalation of a renewed armed conflict that very much threatened the peace process, security and stability since last August of this year
The high hopes on the peace process, of freeing Mindanao from the bondage of fratricidal war are virtually snatched away, as the aborted signing of the document has caused deep frustration among the MILF commanders who have waited for long for a positive result in the peace negotiations including the civilian populations who are embroidered in the conflict areas which have ever since yearned for peace in their communities. Sadly, the conflict in Mindanao has resulted to horizontal violence, killing and maiming of innocent civilians, the destruction of their properties, which include burning of their houses and the heavy displacement it has caused to them. The armed conflict has now displaced more than 500,000 civilians who are presently languishing in makeshift shelters, mostly made up of unfortified tents and burrows, in various evacuation centers. Mindanao is now suffering from a very serious humanitarian crisis and carrying the heaviest costs of the armed conflict.
At present, the military campaign being launched by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP continued without let up with heavy use of air and ground firepower not only targeting the MILF Forces but it has pounded heavily on the Moro civilian communities in Lanao Norte, Lanao Sur, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan and Sarangani provinces in Central Mindanao. Hence, it seriously destroyed the foundation of the peace and development, not to speak of foregone investments in the Mindanao, South of the Philippines. Thus, we, the members of United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), a broad coalition of peace and development advocates in the Philippines, are exerting all our efforts to call on the government to set aside its vested interests, resist any political pressures and continue to find a viable formula in order to come up with a negotiated political settlement that will finally address the centuries-old Mindanao armed conflict and the Bangsamoro problem.
UNYPAD believes that, through your influential and direct intervention in the Mindanao peace process, you could help us propel the peace process forward. It behooves upon you to listen to the plaints of widows and orphans and the cries of people longing for peace that they may fully celebrate their human security which is free from fears and dangers. It is on this note that we respectfully request your intervention and support as chief of the most coveted position of the United Nations. The situation in Mindanao is now ripe for the direct interventions of the UN peace keeping force to stall the continuing carnage in this Island. Knowing your uncompromising adherence to the universality of human rights, we are very confident that you will help us in our efforts to put an end to this seemingly genocidal war in Mindanao.
Thank you and more power to you and your peers.
Sincerely,
(Sgd.) RAHIB L. KUDTO
National President
(Sgd.) ANWAR A. UPAHM
Nat’l Vice President for External Affairs
(Sgd.) BADRUDIN T. ABAS
Nat’l Vice President for Internal Affairs
(Sgd.) MAHDIE C. AMELLA
Secretary General
(Sgd.) ANWAR Z. SALUWANG
Deputy Secretary General for Finance
(Sgd.) TAHER G. SOLAIMAN
Deputy Secretary General for Administration
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