By: Mike G. Kulat
A short recollection of events will tell us of a man’s unleashed fury in Maguindanao province and its peripheries started in August 7, 2008 when now presidential aspirant and National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno issued the “Ultimatum” for the surrender of alleged three “rogue” MILF commanders.
A day after the ultimatum, the two Secretaries ordered full military operations which they called “surgical operations” in around eleven municipalities of Maguindanao. The operation utilizing full might of the military such as artillery weapons, war tanks, war planes, Helicopter gunships and ground forces went on relentlessly for about a year-long period without distinction to combatants and non-combatants.
In a nutshell, the last accumulated report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) showed that more than 703, 000 individuals of the mostly Moro populace were displaced or internally displaced persons (IDPs) and experienced a year-long untold miseries. The armed conflict too inflicted lost of lives from either sickness, caught in cross-fires and for various causes to more than 500 civilian lives. It also left more than 3,000 houses razed to the ground and damages to billions of crops, properties and infrastructures in war-torn areas. In brief, this was once hastily described by Under-Secretary and now GRP Panel Chair Rafael Seguis as “deplorable” condition of IDPs in Datu Piang, Maguindanao. Or “the biggest new displacement in the world” said the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) in its April 2009 report launched May 1 in New York.
In all this undignified condition of civilians, we can only obviously recollect the leading role of the World Food Program (WFP), International Committee of the Red-Cross (ICRC) and the Community and Family Service International (CFSI) who are among the humanitarian bodies that able to sustain in assisting the IDPs from the war start until this days. Of course there are some government agencies and local humanitarian groups who also maximized their resources and efforts in helping appease the awful condition of the IDPs but then they did only as much, maybe due to limited resources too.
In contrast or resemblance, we saw nature unleashed its own rage and fury spearheaded by typhoons Secretary “Ondoy” and Secretary “Peping”. We similarly saw fears and devastation to the lives of the people of Metro Manila and surrounding areas. The latest figure released by media is that the affected individuals by the two typhoons are more than 3,000,000. It also inflicts a roughly estimated more than 300 individual lives and undetermined number of sick, missing and many sufferings from various causes. We believed this will still increase when validations of casualties and damages to lives and properties will come to a closure.
We witness heartbreaking cases of people being carried by raging flood-currents on top of their houses by water hyacinths as well as sudden destruction of billions of properties and crops in many provinces and cities of Luzon. We may never end in telling stories of nature’s rage and its effect to the lives of mankind. All of the above have been done in a matter of week.
In retrospect, although there are some resemblances in the two catastrophes, it can be proven that man’s wrath cannot equal the nature’s wrath. Man was able to sustain evacuation of a little less than a million for a year-long (August 7 -9, 2008 – July 2009) military ‘surgical operation’ in Maguindanao areas. On the other hand, nature’s fury (Ondoy and Peping) able to displaced more than 3,000,000 at the span of one week (September 27 – October 4, 2009).
In contrast, we appreciate and envy the Filipino people for their humanitarian efforts, volunteerism, and patriotic deeds and solidarity in an endeavor to help their fellow humans who are sufferings. A glaring sample of this heroic act, is one TV station foundation was able to generate around 47 - 50 Million pesos donations in a matter of less than 24 hour period. And from then on we witnessed and hear the outpouring of donations both from individual, groups or companies aside from the full force of the government in appeasing the condition of the victims.
These are scenarios never been seen or heard during the year-long sufferings of Moro IDPs in Maguindanao province. In humanitarian perspectives, is there any distinction or disparity between Filipino as human being or a Moro as human being, too? If then why there is discrimination in treatment in a comparable situation?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Ranking military officials face destructive arson, misconduct raps
By PRIMO HONTIVEROS
QUEZON CITY—The Office of the Ombudsman for the Military and other Law Enforcement Offices has filed cases of destructive arson and misconduct against top ranking officers of the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Tacurong City last September.
The respondents included Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, commanding general of the 6th ID, Col. Medardo Geslani, Col. Bonifacio Sembrian of the 46th Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. Aderito Navata of the 54th IB, and a certain Lt. Col. Libutan of the 75th IB—all based in Maguindanao Province.
The cases were filed by alleged victims of destructive arson in the villages of Nunangan, Makir, and other villages with heavy presence of internally displaced persons in Maguindanao.
The destructive arson case was lodged as case OMB-P-C-09-0570-0 while the misconduct case was lodged as case OMB-P-A-09-0610-0.
Emilio Gonzalez, deputy ombudsman for the military, ordered the filing of the cases. The complainants were assisted by Sr. Arnold Maria Noel of Quezon City.
The respondents were given ten (10) days to file their counter-affidavits. Gonzalez also ordered the respondents to indicate their first names, middle names, last names, including their addresses and salary grades.
The resolution of the case, according to Gonzalez, which is now under preliminary investigation, shall be based on the evidence submitted by the parties whose presence may be dispensed with, unless otherwise required for clarificatory questioning.
QUEZON CITY—The Office of the Ombudsman for the Military and other Law Enforcement Offices has filed cases of destructive arson and misconduct against top ranking officers of the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Tacurong City last September.
The respondents included Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, commanding general of the 6th ID, Col. Medardo Geslani, Col. Bonifacio Sembrian of the 46th Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. Aderito Navata of the 54th IB, and a certain Lt. Col. Libutan of the 75th IB—all based in Maguindanao Province.
The cases were filed by alleged victims of destructive arson in the villages of Nunangan, Makir, and other villages with heavy presence of internally displaced persons in Maguindanao.
The destructive arson case was lodged as case OMB-P-C-09-0570-0 while the misconduct case was lodged as case OMB-P-A-09-0610-0.
Emilio Gonzalez, deputy ombudsman for the military, ordered the filing of the cases. The complainants were assisted by Sr. Arnold Maria Noel of Quezon City.
The respondents were given ten (10) days to file their counter-affidavits. Gonzalez also ordered the respondents to indicate their first names, middle names, last names, including their addresses and salary grades.
The resolution of the case, according to Gonzalez, which is now under preliminary investigation, shall be based on the evidence submitted by the parties whose presence may be dispensed with, unless otherwise required for clarificatory questioning.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Stay the Course, Keep the Peace, Don’t Bite the Bullet!
By PASTOR REU MONTECILLO
Chairperson, Mindanao Peoples Caucus
(A position paper presented during the Public Hearing of the Committee on the National Defense and Security joint with the Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation of the Philippine Senate regarding the Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1281, "Expressing the Sense of the Senate for the Suspension of the Resumption of the Peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front", authored by Sen. Rodolfo G. Biazon, August 28, 2009, Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City)
PEACEFUL greetings to all of us and buenas dias!
Exactly during this time of the year in 2008, I, together with the council members of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus, was at the Philippine Senate talking to our honorable Senators in a hearing that tackled the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). It was a rare opportunity for me and rest of the MPC to be able to share our insights and views with our country’s top brass policymakers as we discussed the merits of the MOA-AD, a piece of paper, which, had it been given the chance, could have opened a peace formula to the historical Bangsamoro problem.
My trip to Manila was cut short-- because I received a text message from my wife, children and volunteers of the Bantay Ceasefire that my hometown in Kauswagan is going to be attacked. I boarded a plane bound to Cagayan de Oro City as I feared for the lives of my family—my wife, my children, and their children. As the plane landed, I prayed for a moment that nothing bad would happen to my loved ones. As the bus cruised towards Iligan City, I overheard a passenger talking to someone in his cellphone: panghawa na mo diha ‘Day kay daghan na kaayo ang mga rebelde" (“you should leave at once because there are so many rebels.) I personally witnessed the incident. I was in Kauswagan on August 18, the very day that the MILF launched their offensive, and it brought back the images of the past. News reports accounted blow by blow what had happened during that day but I will rather delve on my conviction to peace. Despite the gory accounts of fear, of hatred, and of violence, I still subscribe and firmly believe on peaceful non-violent means in addressing the Mindanao problem.
I was born and raised in Kauswagan—the very place where the all out wars in Mindanao began. Being a religious leader did not spare me from being displaced – young and old, Muslims and Christians, men, women and children were not spared by the harshness of war. My family is a generation of bakwits like all the bakwits in Lanao del Norte, Lanao Sur, North Cotabatato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat, Sulu and Basilan. As I grew to witness the Christian-Muslim animosity in the ‘70s or the infamous Ilaga-Baracuda conflict, I made a personal commitment to sow peace on my land.
This is the reason why I am here today—to share with you my insights on Senate Resolution No. 1281, introduced by the honorable Senator Rodolfo Biazon, that seeks to suspend the peace talks between the government and the MILF as a result of the incident in Basilan.
My organization, the Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus shares the grief of the families and relatives of the slain soldiers in the Tipo-tipo, Basilan encounter last August 12, 2009. We empathize with the families of the 23 fallen soldiers who again had to pay such a high price for this intractable conflict. We also grieve over the death of the MILF rebels during that fateful incident – and with this we are reminded by the SONA Speech of President Arroyo which says that:
"There is nothing more that I would wish for than peace in Mindanao" “Ang tanong ay hindi sino ang mananalo kundi bakit pa ba kailangang maglaban ang kapwa Pilipino tungkol sa mga isyu na alam naman nating lahat na hindi malulutas sa dahas at mareresolba lang sa paraang demokratiko.” This statement could have been a question for Mrs. Arroyo herself as it is for the members of this August body”.
The SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1281 only bolsters the fact that this government clearly lacks a national peace policy as far as the armed conflict in Mindanao is concerned. That is why, for every provocation, every skirmish and for each bomb explosion, this government can easily revert from peace to war mode. It flip-flops from its policy of war and peace – sending mixed and confusing signals at the ground level. And defining this peace policy is incumbent upon the Senate who should set clear guidelines and parameters on the national direction and goals of the peace process itself.
As national policy makers – you can’t afford to be “pikon” for any act of provocation and thereby lose sight of the country’s strategic direction to pursue the peace process.The Basilan incident also reminded us that, indeed, we need to furiously seek the ways of peace in the midst of confusing policies in resolving the Mindanao problem. The relative calm that occurred after the declaration of the suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) by President Gloria Arroyo last July 23, 2009, hours after the successful State of the Bakwit Address (SOBA) in Cotabato City and Maguindanao, and the reciprocal suspension of military action (SOMA) by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, was spoiled by this recent round of hostilities.
Right after this hearing, I will be leading the Bantay Ceasefire investigative mission in Basilan to conduct a thorough investigation on what had actually happened. The incident reminds us of the July 18, 2007 beheading of 14 marine soldiers which is like history repeating itself all too very soon.
I myself, was an Ilaga. In the ‘70s, we all joined the Ilaga in order to protect our community. We fought the Blackshirts like we fought an adversary, a mortal enemy. Our political leaders told us that the only way to claim our rightful stakes in this promised land is to kill the enemies. And the enemies were the Moros. But as my children grew, the horrors of the killings haunted me. And later I realized that we were just used by political interests which eventually sealed their alliance through marriage thereby becoming the most formidable and unbeatable political bloc in Lanao.
It is not by chance that I became a peace advocate; it is because of these incidents, the seemingly unstoppable carnage that opened my eyes to the real cause of the Mindanao problem. My 48 years on this earth have told me one lesson to live by. This conflict cannot be solved by violence. As aptly described by MPC’s co-chair Fr. Bert Layson, "In war, the real enemy is war itself".
The government policy of strong military intervention in Mindanao has been proven—time and again—to be ineffective. No less than Maj. General Benjamin Muhammad Dolorfino, now chief of the Western Mindanao Command, admitted during the International Solidarity Conference on Mindanao last March 17, 2009 that the use of excessive military force in Mindanao will not help in stopping the rebellion in southern Philippines.
“Military forces in even the most advanced democracies are themselves in a process of change. We are witnessing the emergence of a postmodern military that is characterized by six challenges. First, the traditional values of honour and fatherland are increasingly challenged by universal values such as freedom, democracy, and justice. Second, although fighting capacities remain important, other tasks – so-called missions other than war – are gaining relevance. The postmodern soldier is not only a fighter but also a peacekeeper, policeman, diplomat, and social worker.
Third, the example of the 2003 Iraq war and the wider war on terrorism notwithstanding, there is growing pressure for international legitimization of any kind of external intervention. Fourth, the military is increasingly becoming internationalized. Fifth, an ongoing ‘‘revolution in military affairs’’ is changing the way of war fighting and of intervention. Sixth, post- modern soldiers are confronted with a growing privatization of violence and the looming security dilemma this produces.”
The latest incident puts to the test the ‘resiliency measures’ of the SOMO and SOMA. It has been obvious that without a proper ceasefire mechanism in place and the presence of an international monitoring team (IMT) the fragile situation in conflict affected areas remains vulnerable to the uncontrolled and uncoordinated military actions. As a grassroots based, tri-people focused peace organization, and a recognized observer in the GRP-MILF peace talks, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus urge both the Philippine government and the MILF to immediately re-establish the ceasefire mechanisms and reconstitute the International Monitoring Team (IMT) that shall have a guaranteed mandate to investigate and the authority to sanction both parties in cases of proven ceasefire violations.
We call on the government to stay firm in its peace agenda. The primacy of the peace process must be strictly observed and implemented at all times no matter the hindrances. The skirmishes and the war against the Abu Sayyaf must not imperil the momentum of the resumption of the GRP-MILF peace negotiation, which as of this time, is working to enflesh the four talking points agreed during their meeting in Malaysia last July 28-29, 2009. As we support an impartial and independent investigation on the encounter in Basilan last August 12, 2009, we also call on both parties to finally put into details the framework agreement on the establishment of the protection of non-combatants and to elevate the SOMO and SOMA into a fully operational bilateral ceasefire.
The idea of suspending the GRP-MILF peace negotiations because of the Basilan incident—at this very crucial time—is uncalled for. As we have said, a reactionary military intervention and an upsurge in military adventurism in Mindanao will not help in de-escalating the conflict but would rather jeopardize the interim agreements so far reached both by the government and the MILF. It is high time for the government to show its sincerity in finding a politically- negotiated peace agreement with the Muslim rebel group.
Recent reports showed that the continuing armed clashes had already displaced about 600,000 persons in central Mindanao. The Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Center said the Philippines posted the world’s highest number of displaced persons (IDP) due to the armed conflict last year, even surpassing troubled countries in Africa.
In Datu Piang, Maguindanao alone, a total of 6,228 families or 31,000 individuals are yet to return to their places of original -- suffering the indignity and dependency of relief aid; almost half of the documented 94 civilian deaths there were children.
The official statement of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division through its spokesman Col. Jonathan Ponce describing the internally displaced persons or bakwits as “reserve enemy force” endangers the lives of the innocent civilians. The “reserve enemy force” labelling, the human rights violations as cited in the latest Amnesty International Report, the humanitarian crisis of half a million displaced Filipinos, the indiscriminate mortar shellings and bombings in the Moro communities, the burning of civilian communities – should they not also merit the benefit of a public hearing by the Honorable members of this Committee?
I believe the Senate should also investigate all these attacks against civilians in order stop the impunity. It is also important for the government to assert that it is still the civilian government that is calling the shots and not the military in the conflict areas.
Therefore, I would like to pose these questions:
To begin with, do we have in mind a coherent peace policy?
Does the Senate as an institution already have a policy on how best to address the root cause of the armed conflict in Mindanao?
To paraphrase the question of the BUC in the Konsult Mindanao consultations – How much can we sacrifice, what are willing to give up for the cause of peace?
If we are indeed committed to maintain the integrity of this republic – how much concession can we give in order to accommodate the legitimate grievance of the Bangsamoro people over their ancestral domain?
These are strategic questions that any right thinking national policymaker should by now have ready answers and formula.
I therefore call on the government to allow the peace process to go on and for the MILF to participate in an impartial, independent investigation on the alleged involvement of their troops in the Basilan encounter. We must preserve the gains of the peace process and vigorously work together to find the peace that we have been longing for so long.
Let us not bite the bullet. Let us not allow ourselves to be dragged to the extremists ways that groups life the Abu Sayyaf wants us to take.
The Senate needs to demonstrate its very strong unwavering commitment to peaceful non-violent action and that policy must be loud and unequivocal despite provocation and sporadic skirmishes between and among trigger happy people. As leaders of the country, the Senate must define what should be our national policy as far as the armed conflict in Mindanao is concerned. It cannot be tentative and dependent on the exigency of the times or what can be a good media sound bite.
As retired general and a veteran of the war in Mindanao, Senator Biazon should know better than anyone of you here in the Senate -- that the military approach can never resolve the armed conflict in Mindanao. The colonizers, superpowers at that--have tried it and failed. Marcos tried it but failed. Erap has tried it but failed.
We simply cannot allow the suspension of the peace talks with the MILF. What we need is a suspension of provocative statements, actions and biases that spoil Mindanao peace process. What we need is a consistent national peace agenda that will not waver and can withstand the pressures of some politicians who are now contemplating of filing contempt charges against the GRP peace panel. And definitely, we need a Philippine Senate that mirrors the aspirations of our people, especially us Mindanawons who have suffered and are suffering the effects of war. We don’t need another war, we don’t deserve another all-out war. Enough is enough! Nunca mas!
I pray to God that He will guide us in these trying times as we seek His Spirit in touching the hearts of the modern, well-placed and well-paid huramentados.
In ending, let me quote this message from Archbishop Orlando Quevedo in his open letter to the government and the MILF read during the State of the Bakwit Address (SOBA) at the Notre Dame University gymnasium in Cotabato City:“For the sake of our evacuees and in the name of our one God of Peace, end your war! Go back to the negotiating table. Let the thousands of evacuees return safely to their home. Collaborate with one another towards this objective. Together, rehabilitate their destroyed properties. Give them another chance for a truly human life.”
Para conaton taqui ara na hearing, prigunta lang yo este mga simple priguntada:
Hasta quando ba kita sera el diaton mga ojos na deberasan problema del Mindanao?
Hasta quando ba kita vive na un mundo que el diaton mga visinos ta trata kita como diaton tambien?
Amor con amor sin paga ba el diaton prinsipyo? Pabor abla conmigo.
Muchas gracias y era el paz—el deberasan paz-- taqui contodo na diaton corazon.
Chairperson, Mindanao Peoples Caucus
(A position paper presented during the Public Hearing of the Committee on the National Defense and Security joint with the Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation of the Philippine Senate regarding the Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1281, "Expressing the Sense of the Senate for the Suspension of the Resumption of the Peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front", authored by Sen. Rodolfo G. Biazon, August 28, 2009, Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City)
PEACEFUL greetings to all of us and buenas dias!
Exactly during this time of the year in 2008, I, together with the council members of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus, was at the Philippine Senate talking to our honorable Senators in a hearing that tackled the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). It was a rare opportunity for me and rest of the MPC to be able to share our insights and views with our country’s top brass policymakers as we discussed the merits of the MOA-AD, a piece of paper, which, had it been given the chance, could have opened a peace formula to the historical Bangsamoro problem.
My trip to Manila was cut short-- because I received a text message from my wife, children and volunteers of the Bantay Ceasefire that my hometown in Kauswagan is going to be attacked. I boarded a plane bound to Cagayan de Oro City as I feared for the lives of my family—my wife, my children, and their children. As the plane landed, I prayed for a moment that nothing bad would happen to my loved ones. As the bus cruised towards Iligan City, I overheard a passenger talking to someone in his cellphone: panghawa na mo diha ‘Day kay daghan na kaayo ang mga rebelde" (“you should leave at once because there are so many rebels.) I personally witnessed the incident. I was in Kauswagan on August 18, the very day that the MILF launched their offensive, and it brought back the images of the past. News reports accounted blow by blow what had happened during that day but I will rather delve on my conviction to peace. Despite the gory accounts of fear, of hatred, and of violence, I still subscribe and firmly believe on peaceful non-violent means in addressing the Mindanao problem.
I was born and raised in Kauswagan—the very place where the all out wars in Mindanao began. Being a religious leader did not spare me from being displaced – young and old, Muslims and Christians, men, women and children were not spared by the harshness of war. My family is a generation of bakwits like all the bakwits in Lanao del Norte, Lanao Sur, North Cotabatato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat, Sulu and Basilan. As I grew to witness the Christian-Muslim animosity in the ‘70s or the infamous Ilaga-Baracuda conflict, I made a personal commitment to sow peace on my land.
This is the reason why I am here today—to share with you my insights on Senate Resolution No. 1281, introduced by the honorable Senator Rodolfo Biazon, that seeks to suspend the peace talks between the government and the MILF as a result of the incident in Basilan.
My organization, the Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus shares the grief of the families and relatives of the slain soldiers in the Tipo-tipo, Basilan encounter last August 12, 2009. We empathize with the families of the 23 fallen soldiers who again had to pay such a high price for this intractable conflict. We also grieve over the death of the MILF rebels during that fateful incident – and with this we are reminded by the SONA Speech of President Arroyo which says that:
"There is nothing more that I would wish for than peace in Mindanao" “Ang tanong ay hindi sino ang mananalo kundi bakit pa ba kailangang maglaban ang kapwa Pilipino tungkol sa mga isyu na alam naman nating lahat na hindi malulutas sa dahas at mareresolba lang sa paraang demokratiko.” This statement could have been a question for Mrs. Arroyo herself as it is for the members of this August body”.
The SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1281 only bolsters the fact that this government clearly lacks a national peace policy as far as the armed conflict in Mindanao is concerned. That is why, for every provocation, every skirmish and for each bomb explosion, this government can easily revert from peace to war mode. It flip-flops from its policy of war and peace – sending mixed and confusing signals at the ground level. And defining this peace policy is incumbent upon the Senate who should set clear guidelines and parameters on the national direction and goals of the peace process itself.
As national policy makers – you can’t afford to be “pikon” for any act of provocation and thereby lose sight of the country’s strategic direction to pursue the peace process.The Basilan incident also reminded us that, indeed, we need to furiously seek the ways of peace in the midst of confusing policies in resolving the Mindanao problem. The relative calm that occurred after the declaration of the suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) by President Gloria Arroyo last July 23, 2009, hours after the successful State of the Bakwit Address (SOBA) in Cotabato City and Maguindanao, and the reciprocal suspension of military action (SOMA) by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, was spoiled by this recent round of hostilities.
Right after this hearing, I will be leading the Bantay Ceasefire investigative mission in Basilan to conduct a thorough investigation on what had actually happened. The incident reminds us of the July 18, 2007 beheading of 14 marine soldiers which is like history repeating itself all too very soon.
I myself, was an Ilaga. In the ‘70s, we all joined the Ilaga in order to protect our community. We fought the Blackshirts like we fought an adversary, a mortal enemy. Our political leaders told us that the only way to claim our rightful stakes in this promised land is to kill the enemies. And the enemies were the Moros. But as my children grew, the horrors of the killings haunted me. And later I realized that we were just used by political interests which eventually sealed their alliance through marriage thereby becoming the most formidable and unbeatable political bloc in Lanao.
It is not by chance that I became a peace advocate; it is because of these incidents, the seemingly unstoppable carnage that opened my eyes to the real cause of the Mindanao problem. My 48 years on this earth have told me one lesson to live by. This conflict cannot be solved by violence. As aptly described by MPC’s co-chair Fr. Bert Layson, "In war, the real enemy is war itself".
The government policy of strong military intervention in Mindanao has been proven—time and again—to be ineffective. No less than Maj. General Benjamin Muhammad Dolorfino, now chief of the Western Mindanao Command, admitted during the International Solidarity Conference on Mindanao last March 17, 2009 that the use of excessive military force in Mindanao will not help in stopping the rebellion in southern Philippines.
“Military forces in even the most advanced democracies are themselves in a process of change. We are witnessing the emergence of a postmodern military that is characterized by six challenges. First, the traditional values of honour and fatherland are increasingly challenged by universal values such as freedom, democracy, and justice. Second, although fighting capacities remain important, other tasks – so-called missions other than war – are gaining relevance. The postmodern soldier is not only a fighter but also a peacekeeper, policeman, diplomat, and social worker.
Third, the example of the 2003 Iraq war and the wider war on terrorism notwithstanding, there is growing pressure for international legitimization of any kind of external intervention. Fourth, the military is increasingly becoming internationalized. Fifth, an ongoing ‘‘revolution in military affairs’’ is changing the way of war fighting and of intervention. Sixth, post- modern soldiers are confronted with a growing privatization of violence and the looming security dilemma this produces.”
The latest incident puts to the test the ‘resiliency measures’ of the SOMO and SOMA. It has been obvious that without a proper ceasefire mechanism in place and the presence of an international monitoring team (IMT) the fragile situation in conflict affected areas remains vulnerable to the uncontrolled and uncoordinated military actions. As a grassroots based, tri-people focused peace organization, and a recognized observer in the GRP-MILF peace talks, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus urge both the Philippine government and the MILF to immediately re-establish the ceasefire mechanisms and reconstitute the International Monitoring Team (IMT) that shall have a guaranteed mandate to investigate and the authority to sanction both parties in cases of proven ceasefire violations.
We call on the government to stay firm in its peace agenda. The primacy of the peace process must be strictly observed and implemented at all times no matter the hindrances. The skirmishes and the war against the Abu Sayyaf must not imperil the momentum of the resumption of the GRP-MILF peace negotiation, which as of this time, is working to enflesh the four talking points agreed during their meeting in Malaysia last July 28-29, 2009. As we support an impartial and independent investigation on the encounter in Basilan last August 12, 2009, we also call on both parties to finally put into details the framework agreement on the establishment of the protection of non-combatants and to elevate the SOMO and SOMA into a fully operational bilateral ceasefire.
The idea of suspending the GRP-MILF peace negotiations because of the Basilan incident—at this very crucial time—is uncalled for. As we have said, a reactionary military intervention and an upsurge in military adventurism in Mindanao will not help in de-escalating the conflict but would rather jeopardize the interim agreements so far reached both by the government and the MILF. It is high time for the government to show its sincerity in finding a politically- negotiated peace agreement with the Muslim rebel group.
Recent reports showed that the continuing armed clashes had already displaced about 600,000 persons in central Mindanao. The Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Center said the Philippines posted the world’s highest number of displaced persons (IDP) due to the armed conflict last year, even surpassing troubled countries in Africa.
In Datu Piang, Maguindanao alone, a total of 6,228 families or 31,000 individuals are yet to return to their places of original -- suffering the indignity and dependency of relief aid; almost half of the documented 94 civilian deaths there were children.
The official statement of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division through its spokesman Col. Jonathan Ponce describing the internally displaced persons or bakwits as “reserve enemy force” endangers the lives of the innocent civilians. The “reserve enemy force” labelling, the human rights violations as cited in the latest Amnesty International Report, the humanitarian crisis of half a million displaced Filipinos, the indiscriminate mortar shellings and bombings in the Moro communities, the burning of civilian communities – should they not also merit the benefit of a public hearing by the Honorable members of this Committee?
I believe the Senate should also investigate all these attacks against civilians in order stop the impunity. It is also important for the government to assert that it is still the civilian government that is calling the shots and not the military in the conflict areas.
Therefore, I would like to pose these questions:
To begin with, do we have in mind a coherent peace policy?
Does the Senate as an institution already have a policy on how best to address the root cause of the armed conflict in Mindanao?
To paraphrase the question of the BUC in the Konsult Mindanao consultations – How much can we sacrifice, what are willing to give up for the cause of peace?
If we are indeed committed to maintain the integrity of this republic – how much concession can we give in order to accommodate the legitimate grievance of the Bangsamoro people over their ancestral domain?
These are strategic questions that any right thinking national policymaker should by now have ready answers and formula.
I therefore call on the government to allow the peace process to go on and for the MILF to participate in an impartial, independent investigation on the alleged involvement of their troops in the Basilan encounter. We must preserve the gains of the peace process and vigorously work together to find the peace that we have been longing for so long.
Let us not bite the bullet. Let us not allow ourselves to be dragged to the extremists ways that groups life the Abu Sayyaf wants us to take.
The Senate needs to demonstrate its very strong unwavering commitment to peaceful non-violent action and that policy must be loud and unequivocal despite provocation and sporadic skirmishes between and among trigger happy people. As leaders of the country, the Senate must define what should be our national policy as far as the armed conflict in Mindanao is concerned. It cannot be tentative and dependent on the exigency of the times or what can be a good media sound bite.
As retired general and a veteran of the war in Mindanao, Senator Biazon should know better than anyone of you here in the Senate -- that the military approach can never resolve the armed conflict in Mindanao. The colonizers, superpowers at that--have tried it and failed. Marcos tried it but failed. Erap has tried it but failed.
We simply cannot allow the suspension of the peace talks with the MILF. What we need is a suspension of provocative statements, actions and biases that spoil Mindanao peace process. What we need is a consistent national peace agenda that will not waver and can withstand the pressures of some politicians who are now contemplating of filing contempt charges against the GRP peace panel. And definitely, we need a Philippine Senate that mirrors the aspirations of our people, especially us Mindanawons who have suffered and are suffering the effects of war. We don’t need another war, we don’t deserve another all-out war. Enough is enough! Nunca mas!
I pray to God that He will guide us in these trying times as we seek His Spirit in touching the hearts of the modern, well-placed and well-paid huramentados.
In ending, let me quote this message from Archbishop Orlando Quevedo in his open letter to the government and the MILF read during the State of the Bakwit Address (SOBA) at the Notre Dame University gymnasium in Cotabato City:“For the sake of our evacuees and in the name of our one God of Peace, end your war! Go back to the negotiating table. Let the thousands of evacuees return safely to their home. Collaborate with one another towards this objective. Together, rehabilitate their destroyed properties. Give them another chance for a truly human life.”
Para conaton taqui ara na hearing, prigunta lang yo este mga simple priguntada:
Hasta quando ba kita sera el diaton mga ojos na deberasan problema del Mindanao?
Hasta quando ba kita vive na un mundo que el diaton mga visinos ta trata kita como diaton tambien?
Amor con amor sin paga ba el diaton prinsipyo? Pabor abla conmigo.
Muchas gracias y era el paz—el deberasan paz-- taqui contodo na diaton corazon.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Grenade blast kills 3, hurts 26
COTABATO PROVINCE - Three persons were killed and 26 others were injured when a hand grenade exploded amidst a crowd watching the performance of a Moro band in a wedding ceremony in Sitio Lanitap, Barangay General Luna, Carmen town, this province on August 20, 2009 at about 2:15 a. m.
The fatalities were Sahid Minanga, who died on the spot; Mama Lumagan and another victim, who died later in an unnamed hospital.
Minanga, 30 years old, was a resident of Sitio Tabulon in Barangay General Luna while Lumagan, 28 years old, was a resident of Barangay Tinutulan in Pikit town, also of this province.
The injured victims Samsudin Pandian, Kubai Pandian, Noria Talidtig, Rakma Katog, Zairia Katog, Taya Bao, Macacua Bao, Norhana Pandita, Nasser Kebpag, Mama Kebpag, Sittie Faira Demna, Siano Alimodin, Mohamina Alimodin, Mohalidin Ela, Norhaina Alimodin, Zorac Manangaan, Mamatanto Kabugatan, Mangelen Kabugatan, Al Hussin Kusa, Nora Guilmo, Sailon Ela, Abdul Rased Mua, Johari Malaguianon, Askie Kanakan, Aisa Abdulrasid and Ibra Singkag.
Witnesses, who requested not to be named, said that they saw two unidentified persons leave what turned out later on as the hand grenade immediately before it exploded.
Residents in the area claimed that the incident was a spillover of the conflict in the adjacent Barangay Ugalingan that already claimed a number of lives just recently.
The fatalities were Sahid Minanga, who died on the spot; Mama Lumagan and another victim, who died later in an unnamed hospital.
Minanga, 30 years old, was a resident of Sitio Tabulon in Barangay General Luna while Lumagan, 28 years old, was a resident of Barangay Tinutulan in Pikit town, also of this province.
The injured victims Samsudin Pandian, Kubai Pandian, Noria Talidtig, Rakma Katog, Zairia Katog, Taya Bao, Macacua Bao, Norhana Pandita, Nasser Kebpag, Mama Kebpag, Sittie Faira Demna, Siano Alimodin, Mohamina Alimodin, Mohalidin Ela, Norhaina Alimodin, Zorac Manangaan, Mamatanto Kabugatan, Mangelen Kabugatan, Al Hussin Kusa, Nora Guilmo, Sailon Ela, Abdul Rased Mua, Johari Malaguianon, Askie Kanakan, Aisa Abdulrasid and Ibra Singkag.
Witnesses, who requested not to be named, said that they saw two unidentified persons leave what turned out later on as the hand grenade immediately before it exploded.
Residents in the area claimed that the incident was a spillover of the conflict in the adjacent Barangay Ugalingan that already claimed a number of lives just recently.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
MILITARY DID THE FIRST SHOT IN VIOLATION OF SOMO-SOMA
By Mike G. Kulat
Ten civilian evacuees mostly children were wounded in an explosion believably from a mortar shell at an evacuation center in Dulangan Abid Primary School of Barangay Makasendeg, Pikt, North Cotabato at around 4:30 p. m. last Thursday.
A member of the Tiyakap Kalilintad in the area revealed that the explosion happened while most of the children were playing at the school playground that resulted to wounding of the following: Sittie Ansa Sumiling, 35 years old; Datumama Sumiling, 13; Muslimen Gendeng, 8; Mahdi Abdul, 8, Nasrudin Iskak, 5; Alamin Iskak, 3; Rehana Iskak, 4; Bibay Salapudin, 11; Nuraida Ibrahim, 13, and Datu Ali Dagandang, 13.
Yul Olaya, Bantay Ceasefire Coordinator as quoted in GMA News last Thursday said that: “the mortar shell, which dropped and exploded near Makasendig Elementary School in Pikit town at about 5:30 p.m., was fired from the Army’s 54th Infantry Battalion and was intended for Moro rebels.” A statement which was corroborated by civilians in the vicinity of Makasendeg, adding that this was not the first time the same military outfit conducted indiscriminate mortar shelling in different directions exploding around twelve mortar shells a day before the tragic incident.
In a related development, Rexall Kaalim a senior official of Bantay Ceasefire, was quoted as saying: “This is the first case of violation to the SOMO. We have to investigate this to aid us in drafting and recommending guidelines in ensuring the safety of civilians.”
The military, in an interview with local radio reporters admitted conducting mortar shelling in order to pacify warring armed groups led by certain Commander Tata, allegedly belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and a certain Commander Quiapo, leader of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU) in Datu Piang, Maguindanao Province.
The following day, an interview by local radio station in Cotabato City stated that the military accused the MILF of being responsible for the mortar shelling. An accusation quickly denied by the MILF through Ghazali Jaafar, Vice Chairman for Political Affairs saying ”It’s not the work of the MILF to attack civilian populace. How can they attack civilians when most of them are either their relatives or close friends? And what can we gain from bombing the civilians?”
Ten civilian evacuees mostly children were wounded in an explosion believably from a mortar shell at an evacuation center in Dulangan Abid Primary School of Barangay Makasendeg, Pikt, North Cotabato at around 4:30 p. m. last Thursday.
A member of the Tiyakap Kalilintad in the area revealed that the explosion happened while most of the children were playing at the school playground that resulted to wounding of the following: Sittie Ansa Sumiling, 35 years old; Datumama Sumiling, 13; Muslimen Gendeng, 8; Mahdi Abdul, 8, Nasrudin Iskak, 5; Alamin Iskak, 3; Rehana Iskak, 4; Bibay Salapudin, 11; Nuraida Ibrahim, 13, and Datu Ali Dagandang, 13.
Yul Olaya, Bantay Ceasefire Coordinator as quoted in GMA News last Thursday said that: “the mortar shell, which dropped and exploded near Makasendig Elementary School in Pikit town at about 5:30 p.m., was fired from the Army’s 54th Infantry Battalion and was intended for Moro rebels.” A statement which was corroborated by civilians in the vicinity of Makasendeg, adding that this was not the first time the same military outfit conducted indiscriminate mortar shelling in different directions exploding around twelve mortar shells a day before the tragic incident.
In a related development, Rexall Kaalim a senior official of Bantay Ceasefire, was quoted as saying: “This is the first case of violation to the SOMO. We have to investigate this to aid us in drafting and recommending guidelines in ensuring the safety of civilians.”
The military, in an interview with local radio reporters admitted conducting mortar shelling in order to pacify warring armed groups led by certain Commander Tata, allegedly belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and a certain Commander Quiapo, leader of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU) in Datu Piang, Maguindanao Province.
The following day, an interview by local radio station in Cotabato City stated that the military accused the MILF of being responsible for the mortar shelling. An accusation quickly denied by the MILF through Ghazali Jaafar, Vice Chairman for Political Affairs saying ”It’s not the work of the MILF to attack civilian populace. How can they attack civilians when most of them are either their relatives or close friends? And what can we gain from bombing the civilians?”
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Temporary Restraining Order (TRO): Never Again!
MEDIA STATEMENT
August 5, 2009
WE, the undersigned representatives of civil society organizations and peace advocates in Mindanao, hereby express our grave concern over the recent remarks of Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol who threatens to cite the Government Peace Panel in contempt of the Supreme Court for its July 29 Joint Statement which mentioned in part the “acknowledgment of MOA-AD as an unsigned and yet initialed document, and commitment by both parties to reframe the consensus points with the end in view of moving towards the comprehensive compact to bring about a negotiated political settlement".
Pinol’s threat only reveals his own incorrigible stand to oppose whatever efforts to resume the talks and resolve the armed conflict in Mindanao through peaceful means. And to claim that the people of Cotabato are behind him in this stance is a clear misrepresentation of the real sentiments of the people. We can only say that the real sentiments of the people of Cotabato will come out quite clearly and strongly when they cast their votes in 2010. And we call on all peace-loving people of Cotabato and Mindanao to never ever allow this type of leader to continue to stay in public office.
No less than the Supreme Court said in its October 14, 2008 decision that the "MOA-AD is a significant part of a series of agreements necessary to carry out the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on Peace signed by the government and the MILF back in June 2001. Hence, the present MOA-AD can be renegotiated or another one drawn up that could contain similar or significantly dissimilar provisions compared to the original". Said decision has never suggested that the peace panels could not talk about Ancestral Domain anymore. How can one ever restrain the peace panels from talking about the root causes of the armed conflict -- the displacement and marginalization of the Moro and Indigenous Peoples from their own ancestral domain due to colonization and resettlement program that favored the settlers from Visayas and Luzon.
This is aggravated by the insatiable greed of the elite who up to now continues to encroach upon whatever is left of the traditional territories of the indigenous and bangsamoro peoples. One need only look at the vast tracts of banana and oil palm plantations in Central Mindanao to question how did this few big families manage to acquire thousands upon thousands hectares.
No less than Governor Jesus Sacdalan stressed during the State of the Bakwit Address (SOBA) last July 23, 2009 in Cotabato City that 99 percent of his constituents are supportive of the peace process. Would that mean the remaining one percent represents Pinol?
At the core the Mindanao problem is the highly skewed distribution of ownership and control over land – brought about since the early 1900s by a series of state-directed land development policies that effectively “minoritized” and impoverished the original indigenous communities, including the Bangsamoro. Landgrabbing and illegal encroachment are the primary drivers of the conflict in Mindanao that resulted to deprivation, disenfranchisement, injustice, and poverty.
We therefore pose these questions to Vice Governor Piñol: if you truly desire true and lasting peace, why question then the lawful demands of the Bangsamoro to legally claim what is theirs through the MOA-AD? Does Vice Governor Piñol even concern himself with the fears, the rift, the divisions and the violence that his Temporary Restraining Order against the MOA-AD are bringing upon the people of the country, especially among us living in the Southern Philippines?
Political maneuvers over land control in the guise of beliefs in national patrimony work against the fundamental solution to the Mindanao conflict. Let us prevent any attempt to destroy the gains of the peace process especially now that the doors to peace of the GRP and MILF are reopened. The peace panels are on their way to rebuilding a new and credible peace and don’t deserve being sabotaged by the brazen and irresponsible remarks of politicians who mean to economically and politically gain from conflicts and violence.
SIGNED:
1. Mindanao Peoples Caucus
2. United Youth for Peace and Development
3. Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions
4. Mindanao ComStrat and Policy Alternatives
5. Bangsamoro Youth Assembly
6. Bangsamoro Youth Leaders Forum
7. AnakTribu
8. Bukidnon Indigenous Youth of the Seven Tribes
9. Mindanao Peace Partners
10. Sir Patricio P. Diaz, Mindanews Columnist, Journalist
11. Al-Ihsan Foundation
12. Bangsamoro Center for Justpeace
13. Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc.
14. Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society
15. Moro Women Cultural and Development Center
16. Cotabato Center for Peace and Development Initiatives, Inc.
17. Moro Law Center
18. Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society --Kutawato Regional Management Committee
19. IQRAA
20. The Nation of Freedom
21. Young Ranao
22. Youth for Knowledge-based Society
23. Free the Bangsamoro Movement
24. Southpil Agr-Industrial Corporation
25. Learned Kagad Muslim Foundation, Inc.
26. Organization of Teduray and Lambangian Conference
27. MNLF Arakan Cooperative
28. Mahad Cooperative, Pikit
29. Suara Kalilintad
30. Alliance of Progressive Labor
31. BARRIOS, Incorporated
32. Federation of Matigsalug and Manobo Council of Tribal Leaders
33. Mindanao Farmers Development Center
34. Bill Martin, Akbayan-Davao
35. Daguiwaas Clan
36. Apo Agbibilin Community, Incorporated
37. Panicupan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative
38. Children and Youth Communication Task Force
39. Panicupan Multi-Purpose Cooperative
40. Sheilfa Alojamiento, Writer
41. Bangsamoro Successor's Generation Network
42. MARADECA
43. Organization of Teduray and Lambangian Conference
44. Assembly of Moro Entrepreneurs
45. Jan Frances Lozano
46. Mindanao Integrated for Social Enterprise and Development
47. Alyansa ng Makabagong Kababaihan para sa Kaunlaran
48. Mindanao Council of Lumad Women
49. Filipino-Muslim Association
50. Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum
51. Mindanao Homeland Development Incorporated
52. Kutawato Council for Justice and Peace
53. Isulanen for Peace and Development
54. United Youth of the Philippines - Women, Inc.
55. PUSAKA
56. Muslim Youth Religious Organization
57. Muslim Youth Movement
58. Ittihadun-Nisa Foundation, Inc.
59. Supreme Student Government-CCSPC
60. Mindanao Tulong Bakwet
61. Assalam Bangsamoro Peoples' Association
62. Al Fatihah Center for Cooperation and Community Development
63. Kamapiyaan Sa Ranao Center
64. Aksyon ng Mamamayang Nagkakaisa
65. Bangsamoro Unity for Social Action
66. Mindanao Center for Women Welfare and Development
67. Generation Peace Network (GenPeace)
68. Young Moro Professionals Network
69. Bangsamoro Youth Leaders Forum on Justice and Peace
70. Youth Greeners Club
71. Anak Moro Organization
72. Suara Bangsa
73. Bangsamoro Successor Generation Network
74. Asian Resource Foundation-Asian Muslim Action Network
75. Muslim Upliftment Foundation
August 5, 2009
WE, the undersigned representatives of civil society organizations and peace advocates in Mindanao, hereby express our grave concern over the recent remarks of Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol who threatens to cite the Government Peace Panel in contempt of the Supreme Court for its July 29 Joint Statement which mentioned in part the “acknowledgment of MOA-AD as an unsigned and yet initialed document, and commitment by both parties to reframe the consensus points with the end in view of moving towards the comprehensive compact to bring about a negotiated political settlement".
Pinol’s threat only reveals his own incorrigible stand to oppose whatever efforts to resume the talks and resolve the armed conflict in Mindanao through peaceful means. And to claim that the people of Cotabato are behind him in this stance is a clear misrepresentation of the real sentiments of the people. We can only say that the real sentiments of the people of Cotabato will come out quite clearly and strongly when they cast their votes in 2010. And we call on all peace-loving people of Cotabato and Mindanao to never ever allow this type of leader to continue to stay in public office.
No less than the Supreme Court said in its October 14, 2008 decision that the "MOA-AD is a significant part of a series of agreements necessary to carry out the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on Peace signed by the government and the MILF back in June 2001. Hence, the present MOA-AD can be renegotiated or another one drawn up that could contain similar or significantly dissimilar provisions compared to the original". Said decision has never suggested that the peace panels could not talk about Ancestral Domain anymore. How can one ever restrain the peace panels from talking about the root causes of the armed conflict -- the displacement and marginalization of the Moro and Indigenous Peoples from their own ancestral domain due to colonization and resettlement program that favored the settlers from Visayas and Luzon.
This is aggravated by the insatiable greed of the elite who up to now continues to encroach upon whatever is left of the traditional territories of the indigenous and bangsamoro peoples. One need only look at the vast tracts of banana and oil palm plantations in Central Mindanao to question how did this few big families manage to acquire thousands upon thousands hectares.
No less than Governor Jesus Sacdalan stressed during the State of the Bakwit Address (SOBA) last July 23, 2009 in Cotabato City that 99 percent of his constituents are supportive of the peace process. Would that mean the remaining one percent represents Pinol?
At the core the Mindanao problem is the highly skewed distribution of ownership and control over land – brought about since the early 1900s by a series of state-directed land development policies that effectively “minoritized” and impoverished the original indigenous communities, including the Bangsamoro. Landgrabbing and illegal encroachment are the primary drivers of the conflict in Mindanao that resulted to deprivation, disenfranchisement, injustice, and poverty.
We therefore pose these questions to Vice Governor Piñol: if you truly desire true and lasting peace, why question then the lawful demands of the Bangsamoro to legally claim what is theirs through the MOA-AD? Does Vice Governor Piñol even concern himself with the fears, the rift, the divisions and the violence that his Temporary Restraining Order against the MOA-AD are bringing upon the people of the country, especially among us living in the Southern Philippines?
Political maneuvers over land control in the guise of beliefs in national patrimony work against the fundamental solution to the Mindanao conflict. Let us prevent any attempt to destroy the gains of the peace process especially now that the doors to peace of the GRP and MILF are reopened. The peace panels are on their way to rebuilding a new and credible peace and don’t deserve being sabotaged by the brazen and irresponsible remarks of politicians who mean to economically and politically gain from conflicts and violence.
SIGNED:
1. Mindanao Peoples Caucus
2. United Youth for Peace and Development
3. Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions
4. Mindanao ComStrat and Policy Alternatives
5. Bangsamoro Youth Assembly
6. Bangsamoro Youth Leaders Forum
7. AnakTribu
8. Bukidnon Indigenous Youth of the Seven Tribes
9. Mindanao Peace Partners
10. Sir Patricio P. Diaz, Mindanews Columnist, Journalist
11. Al-Ihsan Foundation
12. Bangsamoro Center for Justpeace
13. Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc.
14. Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society
15. Moro Women Cultural and Development Center
16. Cotabato Center for Peace and Development Initiatives, Inc.
17. Moro Law Center
18. Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society --Kutawato Regional Management Committee
19. IQRAA
20. The Nation of Freedom
21. Young Ranao
22. Youth for Knowledge-based Society
23. Free the Bangsamoro Movement
24. Southpil Agr-Industrial Corporation
25. Learned Kagad Muslim Foundation, Inc.
26. Organization of Teduray and Lambangian Conference
27. MNLF Arakan Cooperative
28. Mahad Cooperative, Pikit
29. Suara Kalilintad
30. Alliance of Progressive Labor
31. BARRIOS, Incorporated
32. Federation of Matigsalug and Manobo Council of Tribal Leaders
33. Mindanao Farmers Development Center
34. Bill Martin, Akbayan-Davao
35. Daguiwaas Clan
36. Apo Agbibilin Community, Incorporated
37. Panicupan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative
38. Children and Youth Communication Task Force
39. Panicupan Multi-Purpose Cooperative
40. Sheilfa Alojamiento, Writer
41. Bangsamoro Successor's Generation Network
42. MARADECA
43. Organization of Teduray and Lambangian Conference
44. Assembly of Moro Entrepreneurs
45. Jan Frances Lozano
46. Mindanao Integrated for Social Enterprise and Development
47. Alyansa ng Makabagong Kababaihan para sa Kaunlaran
48. Mindanao Council of Lumad Women
49. Filipino-Muslim Association
50. Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum
51. Mindanao Homeland Development Incorporated
52. Kutawato Council for Justice and Peace
53. Isulanen for Peace and Development
54. United Youth of the Philippines - Women, Inc.
55. PUSAKA
56. Muslim Youth Religious Organization
57. Muslim Youth Movement
58. Ittihadun-Nisa Foundation, Inc.
59. Supreme Student Government-CCSPC
60. Mindanao Tulong Bakwet
61. Assalam Bangsamoro Peoples' Association
62. Al Fatihah Center for Cooperation and Community Development
63. Kamapiyaan Sa Ranao Center
64. Aksyon ng Mamamayang Nagkakaisa
65. Bangsamoro Unity for Social Action
66. Mindanao Center for Women Welfare and Development
67. Generation Peace Network (GenPeace)
68. Young Moro Professionals Network
69. Bangsamoro Youth Leaders Forum on Justice and Peace
70. Youth Greeners Club
71. Anak Moro Organization
72. Suara Bangsa
73. Bangsamoro Successor Generation Network
74. Asian Resource Foundation-Asian Muslim Action Network
75. Muslim Upliftment Foundation
Saturday, August 1, 2009
NIA worker slain in Carmen, North Cot.
By Taher G. Solaiman/MindaNews Contributor
CARMEN, North Cotabato (MindaNews/31 July) - At least two unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed a worker of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) at around 7 p. m. yesterday in Barangay (village) Ugalingan, Carmen, this province. Samson Mantawil, 44 years old and a resident of Barangay Ugalingan sustained gunshot wounds on his left breast, abdomen and the right side of his neck that caused his instant death.
Mantawil, who worked at the Water Resource Facilities Tender B, was on his way home aboard a green Kawasaki KE 100 motorcycle issued to him by the NIA when waylaid by his killers along the irrigation drainage canal about 200 meters east of the Sayre national highway in the said village.
Responding policemen recovered empty shells of M-1 Garand rifle on the scene of the crime as they claimed that there were at least two pertpetrators.
Taha Laguiab, Senior Water Resource Facilities Technician and a coworker of the victim, said Mantawil came from Cotabato City to follow up his loan with a government lending institution when he was killed.
Police authorities are still conducting investigations to determine the possible motives of the killing and to identify the perpetrators. (www.mindanews.com)
CARMEN, North Cotabato (MindaNews/31 July) - At least two unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed a worker of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) at around 7 p. m. yesterday in Barangay (village) Ugalingan, Carmen, this province. Samson Mantawil, 44 years old and a resident of Barangay Ugalingan sustained gunshot wounds on his left breast, abdomen and the right side of his neck that caused his instant death.
Mantawil, who worked at the Water Resource Facilities Tender B, was on his way home aboard a green Kawasaki KE 100 motorcycle issued to him by the NIA when waylaid by his killers along the irrigation drainage canal about 200 meters east of the Sayre national highway in the said village.
Responding policemen recovered empty shells of M-1 Garand rifle on the scene of the crime as they claimed that there were at least two pertpetrators.
Taha Laguiab, Senior Water Resource Facilities Technician and a coworker of the victim, said Mantawil came from Cotabato City to follow up his loan with a government lending institution when he was killed.
Police authorities are still conducting investigations to determine the possible motives of the killing and to identify the perpetrators. (www.mindanews.com)
Monday, July 27, 2009
LOOKING FROM A DISTANCE ON SOMO AND SOMA WITH THE IDPs
By: Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)
The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), a network and conferential body of some 168 Moro civil society organizations in mainland Mindanao and island provinces, has been actively sharing its part in advocating the rights and welfare of the more than a half million persons displaced by the ongoing war launched by the Philippine government in Mindanao.
The CBCS has also been consistent in unity and solidarity with the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in calls to stop the war and to pull out the military so that they can return to their respective places of origin and start to rebuild their lives ruined by the war, as well as in urging both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to resume their peace talks and sign a meaningful peace agreement.
The government’s unilateral declaration of suspension of military operations (SOMO) on July 23 and the MILF’s issuance of order on suspension of military action (SOMA) on July 25 - barely a week after the “Bakwit Power 2” - are laudable as both give great relief to the IDPs whose lives have been razed by war even before the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) on August 5, 2008 and may pave the way for the realization of their great yearning to be back home to start a good life anew.
While the government’s SOMO appears to be rhetorical and full of flaws and the MILF’s SOMA seems to be sketchy, both deserve appreciation and commendation. We call on the two parties to explore all venues for the immediate resumption of the peace talks and to effect the reactivation of the Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), the Local Monitoring Team (LMT) and the re-firming up of the fielding of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to ensure smooth implementation of the SOMO and SOMA for only then the circumstances would be meaningful in the lives of the Bangsamoro, in general, and the IDPs, in particular.
As this developed, we call on concerned government agencies, international non-government organizations, humanitarian groups, civil society organizations and religious groups to continue in providing relief assistance and in sharing their parts to the IDPs for their humane rehabilitation.
We are calling all the peace-loving people of Mindanao to vehemently condemn in the highest possible terms the deceptive acts of the detractors and spoilers of peace. They are not yet contented in blocking the signing of the MOA-AD. They are all-out yet again to discredit the SOMO and the SOMA to mislead again the people in order to conceal their personal motives. They are selfishly unmindful of whatever costs the ordinary people will pay just to attain their personal interest in the Bangsamoro Ancestral homeland.
As said, “You can fool some people sometimes, but you can't fool all the people all the time.”
The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), a network and conferential body of some 168 Moro civil society organizations in mainland Mindanao and island provinces, has been actively sharing its part in advocating the rights and welfare of the more than a half million persons displaced by the ongoing war launched by the Philippine government in Mindanao.
The CBCS has also been consistent in unity and solidarity with the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in calls to stop the war and to pull out the military so that they can return to their respective places of origin and start to rebuild their lives ruined by the war, as well as in urging both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to resume their peace talks and sign a meaningful peace agreement.
The government’s unilateral declaration of suspension of military operations (SOMO) on July 23 and the MILF’s issuance of order on suspension of military action (SOMA) on July 25 - barely a week after the “Bakwit Power 2” - are laudable as both give great relief to the IDPs whose lives have been razed by war even before the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) on August 5, 2008 and may pave the way for the realization of their great yearning to be back home to start a good life anew.
While the government’s SOMO appears to be rhetorical and full of flaws and the MILF’s SOMA seems to be sketchy, both deserve appreciation and commendation. We call on the two parties to explore all venues for the immediate resumption of the peace talks and to effect the reactivation of the Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), the Local Monitoring Team (LMT) and the re-firming up of the fielding of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to ensure smooth implementation of the SOMO and SOMA for only then the circumstances would be meaningful in the lives of the Bangsamoro, in general, and the IDPs, in particular.
As this developed, we call on concerned government agencies, international non-government organizations, humanitarian groups, civil society organizations and religious groups to continue in providing relief assistance and in sharing their parts to the IDPs for their humane rehabilitation.
We are calling all the peace-loving people of Mindanao to vehemently condemn in the highest possible terms the deceptive acts of the detractors and spoilers of peace. They are not yet contented in blocking the signing of the MOA-AD. They are all-out yet again to discredit the SOMO and the SOMA to mislead again the people in order to conceal their personal motives. They are selfishly unmindful of whatever costs the ordinary people will pay just to attain their personal interest in the Bangsamoro Ancestral homeland.
As said, “You can fool some people sometimes, but you can't fool all the people all the time.”
Sunday, July 26, 2009
MPC welcomes SOMA, SOMO; appeals to politicians to support timely truce
By: Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC)
MALACANANG’s order of Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) last July 23, 2009 and the reciprocal declaration by the MILF of Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) last July 25, 2009 signify both parties’ compassion and due consideration to the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had been yearning to safely return home. Both SOMO and SOMA are the IDP’s tickets to return home, rebuild their communities, reopen their schools and resume normal lives.
We thank the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for taking this very crucial and important step towards ending the hostilities in Central Mindanao. As aptly said by Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, “Enough is enough. For the sake of our evacuees and in the name of our one God of Peace, end your war! Go back to the negotiating table. Let the thousands of evacuees return safely to their home. Collaborate with one another towards this objective. Together, rehabilitate their destroyed properties. Give them another chance for a truly human life”.
We also appeal to our national and local politicians who are incidentally gearing up towards the 2010 election to heed the cry of the poorest of the poor in our society. In the context of Central Mindanao, these are the IDPs who badly need our support and cooperation. Let their situation put into real test our sincerity to help uplift the poor, defend the weak and fight for the oppressed. Contrary to the pronouncement of a self-serving politician that the SOMO will trigger more hostilities, the MPC strongly believes that with rebels and soldiers alike silencing their guns, there can be no better condition to end the hostilities and isolate the so called saboteurs, spoilers and war profiteers.
We call on all leaders to support the SOMO and SOMA and let this truce fully ripen into a ceasefire and formal resumption of talks. We also appeal to politicians to avoid any threatening statement that will only weaken this fledgling truce. We appeal for restraint on the part of those who would rather sustain the armed hostilities in Central Mindanao. For the sake of peace, in the name of God and for sake of precious innocent lives of our children, we beg you to give the SOMO and SOMA a real chance to take off and develop into a full-blown operational and functional ceasefire.
No less than Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, acknowledged the government’s SOMO as “the government’s way of showing sincerity on the resumption of peace negotiations with the MILF”. Indeed this “will bring about an environment that is suitable for mutual understanding.” Such faith in the SOMO was expressed by a top ranking officer who personally witnessed the horrors of war and is personally convinced that the military solution will not be able to resolve the root causes of the armed conflict. Even the soldiers in Datu Piang are also happy over the SOMO. At last, they too could go home.
Let us not stop, let us not give up on whatever opening and opportunity to reclaim peace. It is possible. The SOMA and SOMO, came after 11 months and 2 days of untold suffering, loss of loved ones, deaths of the innocents, starvation and violence. Yet, the IDPs did not give up. They did not stop until their cries are heard – after 11 months and 2 days of running, scampering and mourning for every death of a loved one.
The Bakwit Power is a testament to the limitless possibilities that Muslims, Christians and Indigenous Peoples can achieve when we all work together for peace and justice. The power is within us, our strength lies in our unity. More power to the Bakwits!
MALACANANG’s order of Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) last July 23, 2009 and the reciprocal declaration by the MILF of Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) last July 25, 2009 signify both parties’ compassion and due consideration to the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had been yearning to safely return home. Both SOMO and SOMA are the IDP’s tickets to return home, rebuild their communities, reopen their schools and resume normal lives.
We thank the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for taking this very crucial and important step towards ending the hostilities in Central Mindanao. As aptly said by Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, “Enough is enough. For the sake of our evacuees and in the name of our one God of Peace, end your war! Go back to the negotiating table. Let the thousands of evacuees return safely to their home. Collaborate with one another towards this objective. Together, rehabilitate their destroyed properties. Give them another chance for a truly human life”.
We also appeal to our national and local politicians who are incidentally gearing up towards the 2010 election to heed the cry of the poorest of the poor in our society. In the context of Central Mindanao, these are the IDPs who badly need our support and cooperation. Let their situation put into real test our sincerity to help uplift the poor, defend the weak and fight for the oppressed. Contrary to the pronouncement of a self-serving politician that the SOMO will trigger more hostilities, the MPC strongly believes that with rebels and soldiers alike silencing their guns, there can be no better condition to end the hostilities and isolate the so called saboteurs, spoilers and war profiteers.
We call on all leaders to support the SOMO and SOMA and let this truce fully ripen into a ceasefire and formal resumption of talks. We also appeal to politicians to avoid any threatening statement that will only weaken this fledgling truce. We appeal for restraint on the part of those who would rather sustain the armed hostilities in Central Mindanao. For the sake of peace, in the name of God and for sake of precious innocent lives of our children, we beg you to give the SOMO and SOMA a real chance to take off and develop into a full-blown operational and functional ceasefire.
No less than Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, acknowledged the government’s SOMO as “the government’s way of showing sincerity on the resumption of peace negotiations with the MILF”. Indeed this “will bring about an environment that is suitable for mutual understanding.” Such faith in the SOMO was expressed by a top ranking officer who personally witnessed the horrors of war and is personally convinced that the military solution will not be able to resolve the root causes of the armed conflict. Even the soldiers in Datu Piang are also happy over the SOMO. At last, they too could go home.
Let us not stop, let us not give up on whatever opening and opportunity to reclaim peace. It is possible. The SOMA and SOMO, came after 11 months and 2 days of untold suffering, loss of loved ones, deaths of the innocents, starvation and violence. Yet, the IDPs did not give up. They did not stop until their cries are heard – after 11 months and 2 days of running, scampering and mourning for every death of a loved one.
The Bakwit Power is a testament to the limitless possibilities that Muslims, Christians and Indigenous Peoples can achieve when we all work together for peace and justice. The power is within us, our strength lies in our unity. More power to the Bakwits!
STATE OF THE BAKWITS ADDRESS (SOBA)
By: The Bakwits (Internally Displaced Persons)
23 July 2009
Eleven months ago, we fled our homes, our villages because we were afraid to get caught in the midst of renewed hostilities between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government.
We do not understand why the war has again erupted when the parties in the last five years had been pursuing peace talks and were in fact about to conclude the peace negotiations. It was shocking and frustrating for us to flee our homes and communities to save our families and ourselves.
This war has left wounds so deep and wide and has made our lives so miserable. Some of our houses have been burned; our meager belongings and farmlands destroyed. Even as many are helping us, many are still awaiting help.
Baby Boy Kureg was two months old when he died on June 20. He died because he had nothing to eat but “simbug” – a mixture of water and sugar. His mother, herself lacking in food, could not feed him and could not afford to buy him a can or bottle of milk. Baby Boy Kureg is just one of many children who died from illness, lack of nourishment and difficulties brought by war.
The Mandi family – six of whom did not survive that bombing on September 8, 2008 – is just one of many who lost their lives. Many bakwits have been orphaned or widowed. Several pregnant women have suffered miscarriages. Children and the elderly have died of shock from mortar explosion.
Many of us now fear staying in the evacuation centers because of sudden enforced disappearances, like the case of our fellow bakwits Lao, Kaharudin and Harudin, who have not been heard from since May 7, 2009.
We fear we will be the next victims of bullets or mortars, like what happened on June 15, 2009 when the evacuation center in Libutan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao was hit by three mortars. Even evacuation centers are not safe anymore.
We are afraid for our children. Most of the bakwits are children. Many of them are no longer in school. We fear the children will learn nothing but evacuation, war and hopelessness.
We pray to God/Allah, to help us resume our interrupted lives.
We ask the government and the MILF
1. to immediately declare a ceasefire and to return to the negotiating table to talk peace so that we can return home. We want to go home now!
2. to ensure our safe, organized and permanent return to our respective homes before Ramadan (Ramadan begins on August 21 or 22).
3. We ask that the ceasefire mechanisms be reactivated immediately.
We appeal to the Malaysian government to redeploy the International Monitoring Team to help us once again in enforcing the ceasefire agreement.
We ask all armed groups to keep away from the evacuation centers and civilian-inhabited areas.
We ask government
1. to provide food and other support and livelihood assistance to the returning IDPs and those still in the evacuation centers
2. to ensure that houses that were destroyed totally or partially, be repaired or reconstructed immediately
3. to indemnify relatives of the slain or injured IDPs
4. We recommend for the Commission on Human Rights to operate in Maguindanao and Cotabato and mobilize its fullest power, mandate and resources in order to protect the human rights of the IDPs.
To all service providers and international humanitarian agencies, we urge you to step up and coordinate humanitarian efforts and work together to fulfill the rights of the IDPs under the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (UNGPID).
Please do not allow us to spend another Ramadan in the evacuation center. We want to go home now.
We extend our thanks and gratitude to the persons and groups who understand our plight and are helping us ease our suffering. We also thank God and Allah because despite everything, we continue to be alive.
May God bless us all! Inshallah.
23 July 2009
Eleven months ago, we fled our homes, our villages because we were afraid to get caught in the midst of renewed hostilities between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government.
We do not understand why the war has again erupted when the parties in the last five years had been pursuing peace talks and were in fact about to conclude the peace negotiations. It was shocking and frustrating for us to flee our homes and communities to save our families and ourselves.
This war has left wounds so deep and wide and has made our lives so miserable. Some of our houses have been burned; our meager belongings and farmlands destroyed. Even as many are helping us, many are still awaiting help.
Baby Boy Kureg was two months old when he died on June 20. He died because he had nothing to eat but “simbug” – a mixture of water and sugar. His mother, herself lacking in food, could not feed him and could not afford to buy him a can or bottle of milk. Baby Boy Kureg is just one of many children who died from illness, lack of nourishment and difficulties brought by war.
The Mandi family – six of whom did not survive that bombing on September 8, 2008 – is just one of many who lost their lives. Many bakwits have been orphaned or widowed. Several pregnant women have suffered miscarriages. Children and the elderly have died of shock from mortar explosion.
Many of us now fear staying in the evacuation centers because of sudden enforced disappearances, like the case of our fellow bakwits Lao, Kaharudin and Harudin, who have not been heard from since May 7, 2009.
We fear we will be the next victims of bullets or mortars, like what happened on June 15, 2009 when the evacuation center in Libutan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao was hit by three mortars. Even evacuation centers are not safe anymore.
We are afraid for our children. Most of the bakwits are children. Many of them are no longer in school. We fear the children will learn nothing but evacuation, war and hopelessness.
We pray to God/Allah, to help us resume our interrupted lives.
We ask the government and the MILF
1. to immediately declare a ceasefire and to return to the negotiating table to talk peace so that we can return home. We want to go home now!
2. to ensure our safe, organized and permanent return to our respective homes before Ramadan (Ramadan begins on August 21 or 22).
3. We ask that the ceasefire mechanisms be reactivated immediately.
We appeal to the Malaysian government to redeploy the International Monitoring Team to help us once again in enforcing the ceasefire agreement.
We ask all armed groups to keep away from the evacuation centers and civilian-inhabited areas.
We ask government
1. to provide food and other support and livelihood assistance to the returning IDPs and those still in the evacuation centers
2. to ensure that houses that were destroyed totally or partially, be repaired or reconstructed immediately
3. to indemnify relatives of the slain or injured IDPs
4. We recommend for the Commission on Human Rights to operate in Maguindanao and Cotabato and mobilize its fullest power, mandate and resources in order to protect the human rights of the IDPs.
To all service providers and international humanitarian agencies, we urge you to step up and coordinate humanitarian efforts and work together to fulfill the rights of the IDPs under the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (UNGPID).
Please do not allow us to spend another Ramadan in the evacuation center. We want to go home now.
We extend our thanks and gratitude to the persons and groups who understand our plight and are helping us ease our suffering. We also thank God and Allah because despite everything, we continue to be alive.
May God bless us all! Inshallah.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
AI urges President Arroyo to leave a positive legacy of human rights
By: Amnesty International
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must leave a positive legacy of human rights for the peoples of the Philippines during her last ten months in office, Amnesty International said today. On 27 July, she will give her final State of the Nation Address after nine years as president. At the same time a pervasive culture of impunity for human rights violations throughout the country persists, and hundreds of thousands of people continue to be displaced in Mindanao.
In the last eight years, hundreds of unlawful and often politically-motivated killings have taken place as well as enforced disappearances, often involving torture.
The displacement of people due to the resumption of the armed conflict between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in August 2008 has been reported by international organizations as the highest number of newly displaced people in the world and the most neglected internal displacement situation in 2008. Over 700,000 people have been displaced in total and more than 250,000 are still displaced almost a year after the renewed hostilities.
On 23 July 2009, civil society organizations in Mindanao gave a voice to displaced families through the State of the Bakwit Address: “This war has left wounds so deep and wide and has made our lives so miserable. Some of our houses have been burned; our meagre belongings and farmlands destroyed…. We are afraid for our children. Most of the bakwits [internally displaced] are children. Many of them are no longer in school. We fear the children will learn nothing but evacuation, war and hopelessness.”
Amnesty International urges President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to place human rights protection at the heart of her administration by ensuring the protection of civilians affected by the armed conflict and providing adequate food, water, medical treatment and support for rehabilitation of displaced families. Further, she should, as a matter of priority, demonstrate her administration’s genuine commitment to human rights by addressing the lack of thorough investigations into human rights violations, particularly those committed by the government’s security forces.
The next 10 months of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s presidency is a historic opportunity to leave a positive legacy of human rights.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must leave a positive legacy of human rights for the peoples of the Philippines during her last ten months in office, Amnesty International said today. On 27 July, she will give her final State of the Nation Address after nine years as president. At the same time a pervasive culture of impunity for human rights violations throughout the country persists, and hundreds of thousands of people continue to be displaced in Mindanao.
In the last eight years, hundreds of unlawful and often politically-motivated killings have taken place as well as enforced disappearances, often involving torture.
The displacement of people due to the resumption of the armed conflict between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in August 2008 has been reported by international organizations as the highest number of newly displaced people in the world and the most neglected internal displacement situation in 2008. Over 700,000 people have been displaced in total and more than 250,000 are still displaced almost a year after the renewed hostilities.
On 23 July 2009, civil society organizations in Mindanao gave a voice to displaced families through the State of the Bakwit Address: “This war has left wounds so deep and wide and has made our lives so miserable. Some of our houses have been burned; our meagre belongings and farmlands destroyed…. We are afraid for our children. Most of the bakwits [internally displaced] are children. Many of them are no longer in school. We fear the children will learn nothing but evacuation, war and hopelessness.”
Amnesty International urges President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to place human rights protection at the heart of her administration by ensuring the protection of civilians affected by the armed conflict and providing adequate food, water, medical treatment and support for rehabilitation of displaced families. Further, she should, as a matter of priority, demonstrate her administration’s genuine commitment to human rights by addressing the lack of thorough investigations into human rights violations, particularly those committed by the government’s security forces.
The next 10 months of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s presidency is a historic opportunity to leave a positive legacy of human rights.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
ASEAN: Guarantee rights throughout the region
By: Amnesty International
Amnesty International welcomes the steps ASEAN is taking, however hesitant, towards regional protection and promotion of human rights.
However, the final Terms of Reference for the ASEAN human rights body leave much room for improvement.
The establishment of an ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) is a positive development. We now urge ASEAN governments to make this a truly independent and robust body with full powers to monitor, investigate and report on the human rights records of all 10 member states.
Key concerns are a lack of a clear protection mandate for the AICHR; lack of binding requirements for independence and expertise of AICHR members; and an emphasis on “regional particularities” and “non-interference in the internal affairs” which could undermine respect for universal human rights standards.
The Terms of Reference also allow for decisions by consensus only, which means that each state would be able to reject any criticism of its own human rights record by veto. This which could lead either to paralysis or to the adoption of weak positions based on the lowest common denominator.
In particular Amnesty International is calling for a clear mandate for the ASEAN human rights body to protect as well as promote human rights.
The ASEAN human rights body must be empowered to investigate human rights abuses and be able to receive complaints of abuses. Without such powers the body will not be able to address serious human rights situations in the region, for example in Myanmar.
Amnesty International also urges ASEAN to ensure a transparent mechanism to select independent expert members to the human rights body. It is essential that the membership of the body is reflective of wider civil society.
Amnesty International calls on the ASEAN human rights body to uphold all human rights in accordance with universal principles and internationally agreed treaties and standards.
Amnesty International welcomes the steps ASEAN is taking, however hesitant, towards regional protection and promotion of human rights.
However, the final Terms of Reference for the ASEAN human rights body leave much room for improvement.
The establishment of an ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) is a positive development. We now urge ASEAN governments to make this a truly independent and robust body with full powers to monitor, investigate and report on the human rights records of all 10 member states.
Key concerns are a lack of a clear protection mandate for the AICHR; lack of binding requirements for independence and expertise of AICHR members; and an emphasis on “regional particularities” and “non-interference in the internal affairs” which could undermine respect for universal human rights standards.
The Terms of Reference also allow for decisions by consensus only, which means that each state would be able to reject any criticism of its own human rights record by veto. This which could lead either to paralysis or to the adoption of weak positions based on the lowest common denominator.
In particular Amnesty International is calling for a clear mandate for the ASEAN human rights body to protect as well as promote human rights.
The ASEAN human rights body must be empowered to investigate human rights abuses and be able to receive complaints of abuses. Without such powers the body will not be able to address serious human rights situations in the region, for example in Myanmar.
Amnesty International also urges ASEAN to ensure a transparent mechanism to select independent expert members to the human rights body. It is essential that the membership of the body is reflective of wider civil society.
Amnesty International calls on the ASEAN human rights body to uphold all human rights in accordance with universal principles and internationally agreed treaties and standards.
PRESIDENTIABLES AND SENATORIABLES: WALK YOUR TALK
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Sunday, July 19, 2009
JUSTICE FOR ANOTHER BOMBER THAT NEVER WAS
By: TAHER G. SOLAIMAN
COTABATO PROVINCE – For the second time, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested a fall guy in their desperate efforts to capture Kule Mamagong, a bombing suspect, who is currently facing charges of multiple murder with multiple frustrated murder.
Operatives of the PNP Regional Intelligence Office 12 (PNPRIO-12) based in General Santos City arrested Nasrodin Cua in the Carmen Transport Terminal in Poblacion (downtown) Carmen, Cotabato last July 10, 2009 at about 5 p. m.
Cua, 22 years old and a resident of Barangay (village) Manarapan, Carmen, Cotabato, earns his humble but decent living by driving a passenger motorcycle locally known as “skylab.” It rained that afternoon. So, he decided to catch some rest in the terminal. Suddenly, the poor guy found himself handcuffed and dragged into a waiting car by the PNP operatives led by P/Senior Insp. Ryan Paloma, deputy chief of the PNP Regional Intelligence Office 12.
Immediately, Cua was brought to the Carmen municipal police station for interrogation. Then and there, he was asked whether, indeed, he was Kule Mamagong. He vehemently denied, and rightly so, that he was Kule Mamagong. The arresting officers asked him several questions as they tried to pin him down.
The police officers, afterward, brought Cua to the PNP provincial headquarters in Amas, Kidapawan City where he was again bombarded with questions. But he consistently denied the accusation that he was Mamagong.
At about 9 p. m. that same day, the arresting officers acceded to the request of PO3 German Cua, a PNP member assigned with the Kabacan municipal police station in Kabacan, Cotabato, that his nephew be placed under his custody for the meantime. PO3 Cua is an uncle of Nasrodin Cua.
Then, the “accused” was locked up in the Kabacan municipal police station at about 10 p. m. It was there where we visited him early morning the next day. He related to us how the arresting officers bombarded him with questions that he might, perchance, admit the crimes he was accused of.
We were fortunate to have chanced upon P/Senior Insp. Paloma, the leader of the arresting team, at about 4 p. m. last July 11. He explained to us that the bases for the arrest of Cua were a cartographic sketch of and a warrant of arrest against Mamagong.
Paloma admitted that the name of Cua was nowhere be found in the warrant of arrest. He, however, claimed that “somebody” pointed to Cua to be the same person as Mamagong.
We find the excuse flimsy at best.
Cua was transferred to the lock up cell of the Kidapawan City police station last July 12 until he was finally committed to the BJMP-Kidapawan City jail in the afternoon the next day where he is now languishing for a crime he never committed.
Meanwhile, we learned from P/Supt. Chino Mamburam, Kidapawan City chief of police, that there is P600.000 reward that is at stake for anyone who can capture Mamagong.
Mamagong, according to police authorities, is one of the alleged masterminds of the bombing in Makilala, Cotabato on October 10, 2006 that killed six persons and seriously injured 32 others. He is facing charges of multiple murder with multiple frustrated murder “with no bail fixed” filed against him by the police in the Cotabato Province .
This is not the first time, nonetheless, that the police authorities arrested the wrong person on the pretext of running after Mamagong.
On January 13, 2007, policemen assigned with the PNP regional office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) arrested Oting Mariano in Poblacion (downtown) Carmen, Cotabato.
Mariano, a resident of Barangay (village) Cadiis, Carmen, Cotabato, was brutally tortured by his abductors before he was brought to the Cotabato Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in Amas, Kidapawan City by a senior police officer identified only as Sanchez on January 19, 2007.
Together with staffs of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearances (FIND), we visited Mariano in the CPDRC on January 29, 2009. We noticed that signs of torture were still visible on his back, head and arms, then. He told us that his abductors forced him into admitting that he was Mamagong whom the police tagged as a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“They blindfolded, handcuffed and gagged me by wrapping my mouth with adhesive tape,” Mariano told us in a Maguindanaon vernacular.
“They even electrocuted me with wires attached to my head and arms,” he further said.
It was only on September 20, 2007 that Mariano was released from detention for lack of sufficient evidence against him.
Immediately after he was released from detention, we visited Mariano in his home in Barangay (village) Cadiis, Carmen, Cotabato and we found out that his left eye could barely see as a result of his having been electrocuted by his abductors.
Going back to Cua’s case, the Barangay Council of Manarapan passed a resolution last July 15 asserting, among other things, “that Nasrodin O. Cua is different from – and not the same person as – the one known as Kule Mamagong.”
Guinaid Dalid, the Barangay chairman of Manarapan, said he is more than willing and always ready to testify before any court to prove that Cua is not Mamagong.
“I will not put my name at stake (in defending Cua) if I am not certain that he is innocent of the crime he is being accused of,” Dalid told us.
Now, we humbly submit that the PNP – and any government authority for that matter – should rein its operatives and stop them from arresting and detaining anybody without the benefit of strong evidence as doing so inevitably tarnishes the image and irreparably damages the credibility of the institutions that are traditionally looked upon as protectors of the people.
Letting Cua pay the price for Mamagong’s crimes, if indeed the charges against the latter were true, is unfair by any standard or excuse.
We were able to talk to some members of the intelligence community and they vouched for the innocence of Cua.
It is for this reason that the relatives and friends of Cua plea that he be released from detention and be afforded due compensation for having been wrongly imprisoned as soon as possible in the interest of fairness and justice.
COTABATO PROVINCE – For the second time, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested a fall guy in their desperate efforts to capture Kule Mamagong, a bombing suspect, who is currently facing charges of multiple murder with multiple frustrated murder.
Operatives of the PNP Regional Intelligence Office 12 (PNPRIO-12) based in General Santos City arrested Nasrodin Cua in the Carmen Transport Terminal in Poblacion (downtown) Carmen, Cotabato last July 10, 2009 at about 5 p. m.
Cua, 22 years old and a resident of Barangay (village) Manarapan, Carmen, Cotabato, earns his humble but decent living by driving a passenger motorcycle locally known as “skylab.” It rained that afternoon. So, he decided to catch some rest in the terminal. Suddenly, the poor guy found himself handcuffed and dragged into a waiting car by the PNP operatives led by P/Senior Insp. Ryan Paloma, deputy chief of the PNP Regional Intelligence Office 12.
Immediately, Cua was brought to the Carmen municipal police station for interrogation. Then and there, he was asked whether, indeed, he was Kule Mamagong. He vehemently denied, and rightly so, that he was Kule Mamagong. The arresting officers asked him several questions as they tried to pin him down.
The police officers, afterward, brought Cua to the PNP provincial headquarters in Amas, Kidapawan City where he was again bombarded with questions. But he consistently denied the accusation that he was Mamagong.
At about 9 p. m. that same day, the arresting officers acceded to the request of PO3 German Cua, a PNP member assigned with the Kabacan municipal police station in Kabacan, Cotabato, that his nephew be placed under his custody for the meantime. PO3 Cua is an uncle of Nasrodin Cua.
Then, the “accused” was locked up in the Kabacan municipal police station at about 10 p. m. It was there where we visited him early morning the next day. He related to us how the arresting officers bombarded him with questions that he might, perchance, admit the crimes he was accused of.
We were fortunate to have chanced upon P/Senior Insp. Paloma, the leader of the arresting team, at about 4 p. m. last July 11. He explained to us that the bases for the arrest of Cua were a cartographic sketch of and a warrant of arrest against Mamagong.
Paloma admitted that the name of Cua was nowhere be found in the warrant of arrest. He, however, claimed that “somebody” pointed to Cua to be the same person as Mamagong.
We find the excuse flimsy at best.
Cua was transferred to the lock up cell of the Kidapawan City police station last July 12 until he was finally committed to the BJMP-Kidapawan City jail in the afternoon the next day where he is now languishing for a crime he never committed.
Meanwhile, we learned from P/Supt. Chino Mamburam, Kidapawan City chief of police, that there is P600.000 reward that is at stake for anyone who can capture Mamagong.
Mamagong, according to police authorities, is one of the alleged masterminds of the bombing in Makilala, Cotabato on October 10, 2006 that killed six persons and seriously injured 32 others. He is facing charges of multiple murder with multiple frustrated murder “with no bail fixed” filed against him by the police in the Cotabato Province .
This is not the first time, nonetheless, that the police authorities arrested the wrong person on the pretext of running after Mamagong.
On January 13, 2007, policemen assigned with the PNP regional office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) arrested Oting Mariano in Poblacion (downtown) Carmen, Cotabato.
Mariano, a resident of Barangay (village) Cadiis, Carmen, Cotabato, was brutally tortured by his abductors before he was brought to the Cotabato Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in Amas, Kidapawan City by a senior police officer identified only as Sanchez on January 19, 2007.
Together with staffs of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearances (FIND), we visited Mariano in the CPDRC on January 29, 2009. We noticed that signs of torture were still visible on his back, head and arms, then. He told us that his abductors forced him into admitting that he was Mamagong whom the police tagged as a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“They blindfolded, handcuffed and gagged me by wrapping my mouth with adhesive tape,” Mariano told us in a Maguindanaon vernacular.
“They even electrocuted me with wires attached to my head and arms,” he further said.
It was only on September 20, 2007 that Mariano was released from detention for lack of sufficient evidence against him.
Immediately after he was released from detention, we visited Mariano in his home in Barangay (village) Cadiis, Carmen, Cotabato and we found out that his left eye could barely see as a result of his having been electrocuted by his abductors.
Going back to Cua’s case, the Barangay Council of Manarapan passed a resolution last July 15 asserting, among other things, “that Nasrodin O. Cua is different from – and not the same person as – the one known as Kule Mamagong.”
Guinaid Dalid, the Barangay chairman of Manarapan, said he is more than willing and always ready to testify before any court to prove that Cua is not Mamagong.
“I will not put my name at stake (in defending Cua) if I am not certain that he is innocent of the crime he is being accused of,” Dalid told us.
Now, we humbly submit that the PNP – and any government authority for that matter – should rein its operatives and stop them from arresting and detaining anybody without the benefit of strong evidence as doing so inevitably tarnishes the image and irreparably damages the credibility of the institutions that are traditionally looked upon as protectors of the people.
Letting Cua pay the price for Mamagong’s crimes, if indeed the charges against the latter were true, is unfair by any standard or excuse.
We were able to talk to some members of the intelligence community and they vouched for the innocence of Cua.
It is for this reason that the relatives and friends of Cua plea that he be released from detention and be afforded due compensation for having been wrongly imprisoned as soon as possible in the interest of fairness and justice.
Friday, July 10, 2009
STOP THE BOMBINGS AND OTHER ATROCITIES AGAINST CIVILIANS
By Bangsamoro Youth Leaders Forum (BMYLF)
Cotabato City
July 10, 2009
The Bangsamoro Youth Leaders Forum (BMYLF), the broadest coalition of Moro youth organizations in Mindanao strongly condemns the recent series of bombings in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, Cotabato City, Iligan City and Jolo, Sulu that killed 12 persons and injured almost hundred of innocent civilians.
The BMYLF expresses its sympathy and condolence to the families of the victims of these atrocities even as we pray for the immediate recovery of the injured civilians. These incidents can only be a handiwork of individuals or groups with evil motives to create chaos that foment further animosities between Muslim and Christians to serve their own selfish agenda.
Indeed, the BMYLF is aghast and abhors these forms of carnage as it is alarmed by the escalation of violence in Mindanao and the growing number of civilian casualties and displaced persons. The BMYLF wonders if these incidents are not part and parcel of the recently disclosed document “Operation August Moon”. The results of these hostilities are more than enough to prove that resorting to violence will never be the solution of the aged-old problem of Mindanao.
It is with these premises that the BMYLF make the following urgent calls to all concerned particularly the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to wit:
1. Stop the war;
2. Immediately resume the peace talks between the MILF and the GRP;
3. Re-activate the Joint Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, Ceasefire Mechanism and Ad Hoc joint Action Group;
4. For the AFP and MILF-BIAF to respect and adhere to the principles of International Humanitarian Law, Geneva Conventions 1-1V and Protocols 1-ll;
5. Immediately form Independent Fact Finding Committee to conduct an in-depth investigation of the recent bombings and hostilities in Mindanao, and
6. Appeal to the international community particularly the European Union (EU) and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to help push through the peace process in Mindanao in order to arrive at a final political settlement.
Finally, the BMYLF further reiterates that the conflict in Mindanao can only be resolved through dialogue and calls upon all parties to act with utmost restraint and jointly work for a lasting solution to the Bangsamoro problem.
SAVE THE INNOCENT CIVILIANS!
Reference:
RAHIB PAYAPAT
Spokesperson
Contact Number: 09161273835
Cotabato City
July 10, 2009
The Bangsamoro Youth Leaders Forum (BMYLF), the broadest coalition of Moro youth organizations in Mindanao strongly condemns the recent series of bombings in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, Cotabato City, Iligan City and Jolo, Sulu that killed 12 persons and injured almost hundred of innocent civilians.
The BMYLF expresses its sympathy and condolence to the families of the victims of these atrocities even as we pray for the immediate recovery of the injured civilians. These incidents can only be a handiwork of individuals or groups with evil motives to create chaos that foment further animosities between Muslim and Christians to serve their own selfish agenda.
Indeed, the BMYLF is aghast and abhors these forms of carnage as it is alarmed by the escalation of violence in Mindanao and the growing number of civilian casualties and displaced persons. The BMYLF wonders if these incidents are not part and parcel of the recently disclosed document “Operation August Moon”. The results of these hostilities are more than enough to prove that resorting to violence will never be the solution of the aged-old problem of Mindanao.
It is with these premises that the BMYLF make the following urgent calls to all concerned particularly the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to wit:
1. Stop the war;
2. Immediately resume the peace talks between the MILF and the GRP;
3. Re-activate the Joint Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, Ceasefire Mechanism and Ad Hoc joint Action Group;
4. For the AFP and MILF-BIAF to respect and adhere to the principles of International Humanitarian Law, Geneva Conventions 1-1V and Protocols 1-ll;
5. Immediately form Independent Fact Finding Committee to conduct an in-depth investigation of the recent bombings and hostilities in Mindanao, and
6. Appeal to the international community particularly the European Union (EU) and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to help push through the peace process in Mindanao in order to arrive at a final political settlement.
Finally, the BMYLF further reiterates that the conflict in Mindanao can only be resolved through dialogue and calls upon all parties to act with utmost restraint and jointly work for a lasting solution to the Bangsamoro problem.
SAVE THE INNOCENT CIVILIANS!
Reference:
RAHIB PAYAPAT
Spokesperson
Contact Number: 09161273835
Protect the Civilians, Respect the IDPs
Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC)
July 10, 2009
The Mindanao Peoples Caucus calls the attention of the international humanitarian agencies and the United Nations to step up their efforts to protect the civilians and internally displaced persons in Maguindanao and Cotabato in the light of the recent pronouncement by the Spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, that these IDPs are the “enemy reserve force.”
This statement is extremely dangerous as it only shows a military mindset which could not fairly distinguish the difference between a combatant and a civilian. That probably explains why despite the calls to stop the indiscriminate bombings and the torching of civilians’ homes, these atrocities remain unabated for the simple reason that to the mind of the military these people are enemies anyway, albeit reserved momentarily.
A curious mind need only go to the evacuation centers to find out who these IDPs are. They could be teachers, barangay officials, students, women, mothers, young children, babies, elderly. These are civilians whose rights are protected under International Humanitarian Law and the UN Guiding Principle on Internal Displacement. These are human beings whose only aspiration is to be able to return home and live in peace. These are the people whom the AFP is bound to protect. For almost 12 months now, these IDPs have been running back and forth, caught in an armed conflict that doesn’t see any resolution in sight.
What is worrisome here is that these civilians have one thing in common, they are Muslims. And as suggested by the AFP statement, they are viewed as “enemy reserve force” by reason of their ethnicity and religion. This kind of statement smacks of bias and prejudice against a particular class of people – which makes it all the more dangerous.
MPC therefore calls on the Secretary of National Defense and the Chief of Staff to correct this perception and categorization of the IDPs as “enemy reserve force” and direct its officers and men on the ground to strictly observe the International Humanitarian Law and the UN Guiding Principle on International Displacement (UNGPID) as part and parcel of their duty to protect the people and to observe civilian supremacy at all times.
MPC calls on the United Nations to immediately intervene into this situation and proactively take on protective measures that will ensure safety and well-being of the IDPs and the larger civilian population. For the Commission on Human Rights to conduct investigation on the reported cases of food blockade, indiscriminate bombings, looting and torching of civilian homes, desecration of mosques and house of worship and other forms of human rights violations.
Finally, we call on all Mindanaoans to unite, preserve the gains of the peace process and show our solidarity as Muslims and Christians in the spirit of genuine dialogue, freedom and justice.
--
RICK R. FLORES
Communications Specialist
Mindanao Peoples Caucus
www.mindanaopeoplescaucus.org
florrick@gmail.com
0910-310-9178
July 10, 2009
The Mindanao Peoples Caucus calls the attention of the international humanitarian agencies and the United Nations to step up their efforts to protect the civilians and internally displaced persons in Maguindanao and Cotabato in the light of the recent pronouncement by the Spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, that these IDPs are the “enemy reserve force.”
This statement is extremely dangerous as it only shows a military mindset which could not fairly distinguish the difference between a combatant and a civilian. That probably explains why despite the calls to stop the indiscriminate bombings and the torching of civilians’ homes, these atrocities remain unabated for the simple reason that to the mind of the military these people are enemies anyway, albeit reserved momentarily.
A curious mind need only go to the evacuation centers to find out who these IDPs are. They could be teachers, barangay officials, students, women, mothers, young children, babies, elderly. These are civilians whose rights are protected under International Humanitarian Law and the UN Guiding Principle on Internal Displacement. These are human beings whose only aspiration is to be able to return home and live in peace. These are the people whom the AFP is bound to protect. For almost 12 months now, these IDPs have been running back and forth, caught in an armed conflict that doesn’t see any resolution in sight.
What is worrisome here is that these civilians have one thing in common, they are Muslims. And as suggested by the AFP statement, they are viewed as “enemy reserve force” by reason of their ethnicity and religion. This kind of statement smacks of bias and prejudice against a particular class of people – which makes it all the more dangerous.
MPC therefore calls on the Secretary of National Defense and the Chief of Staff to correct this perception and categorization of the IDPs as “enemy reserve force” and direct its officers and men on the ground to strictly observe the International Humanitarian Law and the UN Guiding Principle on International Displacement (UNGPID) as part and parcel of their duty to protect the people and to observe civilian supremacy at all times.
MPC calls on the United Nations to immediately intervene into this situation and proactively take on protective measures that will ensure safety and well-being of the IDPs and the larger civilian population. For the Commission on Human Rights to conduct investigation on the reported cases of food blockade, indiscriminate bombings, looting and torching of civilian homes, desecration of mosques and house of worship and other forms of human rights violations.
Finally, we call on all Mindanaoans to unite, preserve the gains of the peace process and show our solidarity as Muslims and Christians in the spirit of genuine dialogue, freedom and justice.
--
RICK R. FLORES
Communications Specialist
Mindanao Peoples Caucus
www.mindanaopeoplescaucus.org
florrick@gmail.com
0910-310-9178
CBCS condemns spate of bombings in Mindanao
The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent spate of bombings in Mindanao and makes the following calls and clarifications:
• That a thorough investigation by a credible independent body be conducted on all incidents of bombing (July 4 in Datu Piang, Maguindanao; July 5 in Cotabato City; July 6 in Lanao del Norte; and July 7 in Jolo and Iligan City) to unmask the truth behind them (who perpetrated/masterminded them, for what motives/reasons, are they related to one another) and bring the culprits to justice;
• That responsible reporting be observed always by the media. The people of Mindanao cannot afford the Christian-Muslim killings of the 1970’s to resurface. After the Cotabato City blast, news reports have spread that gave the impression that it was the cathedral that was bombed. To make it clear, the blast took place in a stall selling lechon across the cathedral compound. It totally wrecked the stall and also damaged a portion of a certain beerhouse. Nevertheless, this makes no excuse to bomb the place;
• That places of worship be spared from any form of violence and/or desecration. The blast in Jolo also happened near a church. We denounce the bombings in the same manner that we condemn acts by men in uniform who occupied mosques, urinated in them and/or desecrated them;
• That the immediate acts of finger-pointing be stopped to prevent further escalation of the conflict and to contain any possible public panic to pave the way for sobriety, as well as thoughts and actions that are reasonable and not solely driven by biases, emotions and preconceived notions that may be wrong;
• That all people should be accorded their human rights, including both victims and suspects. The incremental number of victims of human rights violations has long been alarming. No one should be another victim of human rights violation in pursuit of justice. Due process should always be observed in dealing with suspects to the bombing: one is innocent until proven guilty, not one is guilty until proven innocent;
• That groups of all faiths here in Mindanao be more vigilant and strengthen their unity and solidarity in the face of these bleak incidents. This is NOT a Muslim-Christian conflict. Let us clear our minds and fortify our greatest resolve not to allow these dastardly acts to successfully sow suspicion and animosity that could lead to conflict; and,
• That the peace panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front return to the negotiating table to solve the age-old Mindanao conflict. The problem of the Bangsamoro as an indigenous people is highly political that it can only be resolved through genuine political means and not through military operations. Quelling rebellion and bringing peace are two different things. The peace talks are the highest form of dialogue between the two parties. A final agreement between them could spell sustainable peace and development in the Bangsamoro homeland.
We join in consoling and comforting the families of the victims of the blasts, the more than half a million internally displaced persons who have also been further agonized by indiscriminate bombings in the very sites of evacuation, and other people who are victims of injustices.
Our prayers for the attainment of genuine peace and development.
Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)
KFI Compound, Doña Pilar Street, Poblacion IV
9600 Cotabato City, Philippines
Telefax No.: +63 (064) 421-5420
E-mail: cbcs_04@yahoo.com, secretariat@cbcsi.org
• That a thorough investigation by a credible independent body be conducted on all incidents of bombing (July 4 in Datu Piang, Maguindanao; July 5 in Cotabato City; July 6 in Lanao del Norte; and July 7 in Jolo and Iligan City) to unmask the truth behind them (who perpetrated/masterminded them, for what motives/reasons, are they related to one another) and bring the culprits to justice;
• That responsible reporting be observed always by the media. The people of Mindanao cannot afford the Christian-Muslim killings of the 1970’s to resurface. After the Cotabato City blast, news reports have spread that gave the impression that it was the cathedral that was bombed. To make it clear, the blast took place in a stall selling lechon across the cathedral compound. It totally wrecked the stall and also damaged a portion of a certain beerhouse. Nevertheless, this makes no excuse to bomb the place;
• That places of worship be spared from any form of violence and/or desecration. The blast in Jolo also happened near a church. We denounce the bombings in the same manner that we condemn acts by men in uniform who occupied mosques, urinated in them and/or desecrated them;
• That the immediate acts of finger-pointing be stopped to prevent further escalation of the conflict and to contain any possible public panic to pave the way for sobriety, as well as thoughts and actions that are reasonable and not solely driven by biases, emotions and preconceived notions that may be wrong;
• That all people should be accorded their human rights, including both victims and suspects. The incremental number of victims of human rights violations has long been alarming. No one should be another victim of human rights violation in pursuit of justice. Due process should always be observed in dealing with suspects to the bombing: one is innocent until proven guilty, not one is guilty until proven innocent;
• That groups of all faiths here in Mindanao be more vigilant and strengthen their unity and solidarity in the face of these bleak incidents. This is NOT a Muslim-Christian conflict. Let us clear our minds and fortify our greatest resolve not to allow these dastardly acts to successfully sow suspicion and animosity that could lead to conflict; and,
• That the peace panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front return to the negotiating table to solve the age-old Mindanao conflict. The problem of the Bangsamoro as an indigenous people is highly political that it can only be resolved through genuine political means and not through military operations. Quelling rebellion and bringing peace are two different things. The peace talks are the highest form of dialogue between the two parties. A final agreement between them could spell sustainable peace and development in the Bangsamoro homeland.
We join in consoling and comforting the families of the victims of the blasts, the more than half a million internally displaced persons who have also been further agonized by indiscriminate bombings in the very sites of evacuation, and other people who are victims of injustices.
Our prayers for the attainment of genuine peace and development.
Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)
KFI Compound, Doña Pilar Street, Poblacion IV
9600 Cotabato City, Philippines
Telefax No.: +63 (064) 421-5420
E-mail: cbcs_04@yahoo.com, secretariat@cbcsi.org
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
STOP THE BOMBINGS, CEASEFIRE NOW!
By Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC)
July 7, 2009
The Mindanao Peoples Caucus strongly condemns the recent bombing in Cotabato City last Sunday which again claimed the lives of innocent people, young and old. We grieved with the family of the victims who are still shocked over the death of their loved ones. We sympathize with those who had been injured and pray for their immediate recovery. We are outraged by the spate of violence happening in Cotabato and Maguindanao which only shows our collective failure to resolve this lingering armed conflict.
In a similar fashion, we also condemn the bombings in Datu Piang and its neighboring towns in Maguindanao which displaced thousands upon thousands of civilians and burned hundreds of homes.
Just this morning, another bomb exploded in the town of Jolo which killed 6 people and wounded 40 others. This was succeeded by another bomb explosion a few hours after, this time, in Iligan City, which wounded 7 people including 2 soldiers.
Given this situation, MPC poses these questions, “Who is doing this and what are their motives? Is there a grand design that is spinning a desired political scenario? Are we already witnessing before our eyes and at the expense of our people a build up scenario for 2010?”
This is enough. The bloodshed must stop. We cannot continue to be drawn into this quagmire of war and violence. We cannot continue to watch our children die one by one. We cannot allow the civilians to pay such a high cost for this war which is not going anywhere. We are concerned with the civilians as much as we also mourn the loss of lives of combatants, soldiers and rebels alike.
While we call for justice against those responsible for the bombings, we also appeal to the authorities not to use this tragic event to commit further acts of human right violations.
Since 2003, Mindanao has relatively enjoyed the dividends of peace as a result of a functional ceasefire agreement under the auspices of the Joint Ceasefire Committee of both government and the MILF. From a record of around 700 ceasefire violations in 2002, it has dramatically dropped to less than 10 violations in 2007, due to the cooperation of the government, MILF and the International Monitoring Team. The ceasefire agreement has effectively silenced the guns in Mindanao. We saw it working for five years! We experienced that it was possible.
In the aftermath of the MOA-AD controversy, we have witnessed how the gains of the peace process had been thrown into the dust bin. The ceasefire had collapsed, the IMT had packed up and left for good and the ceasefire committee had been demobilized as the hawks took over the war front. Mindanao has again returned to the theatre of war with hundreds of thousands of people currently displaced in Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao.
We, as a people, must put an end to this carnage now. It is time to unite, Muslims and Christians alike. We have to take bolder steps to create a safer and more secure environment for our children and family. A step into that direction is to work out for a ceasefire in the conflict affected areas and allow the internally displaced persons to return home.
Let us act now.
RICK R. FLORES
Communications Specialist
Mindanao Peoples Caucus
www.mindanaopeoplescaucus.org
E-Mail: florrick@gmail.com
July 7, 2009
The Mindanao Peoples Caucus strongly condemns the recent bombing in Cotabato City last Sunday which again claimed the lives of innocent people, young and old. We grieved with the family of the victims who are still shocked over the death of their loved ones. We sympathize with those who had been injured and pray for their immediate recovery. We are outraged by the spate of violence happening in Cotabato and Maguindanao which only shows our collective failure to resolve this lingering armed conflict.
In a similar fashion, we also condemn the bombings in Datu Piang and its neighboring towns in Maguindanao which displaced thousands upon thousands of civilians and burned hundreds of homes.
Just this morning, another bomb exploded in the town of Jolo which killed 6 people and wounded 40 others. This was succeeded by another bomb explosion a few hours after, this time, in Iligan City, which wounded 7 people including 2 soldiers.
Given this situation, MPC poses these questions, “Who is doing this and what are their motives? Is there a grand design that is spinning a desired political scenario? Are we already witnessing before our eyes and at the expense of our people a build up scenario for 2010?”
This is enough. The bloodshed must stop. We cannot continue to be drawn into this quagmire of war and violence. We cannot continue to watch our children die one by one. We cannot allow the civilians to pay such a high cost for this war which is not going anywhere. We are concerned with the civilians as much as we also mourn the loss of lives of combatants, soldiers and rebels alike.
While we call for justice against those responsible for the bombings, we also appeal to the authorities not to use this tragic event to commit further acts of human right violations.
Since 2003, Mindanao has relatively enjoyed the dividends of peace as a result of a functional ceasefire agreement under the auspices of the Joint Ceasefire Committee of both government and the MILF. From a record of around 700 ceasefire violations in 2002, it has dramatically dropped to less than 10 violations in 2007, due to the cooperation of the government, MILF and the International Monitoring Team. The ceasefire agreement has effectively silenced the guns in Mindanao. We saw it working for five years! We experienced that it was possible.
In the aftermath of the MOA-AD controversy, we have witnessed how the gains of the peace process had been thrown into the dust bin. The ceasefire had collapsed, the IMT had packed up and left for good and the ceasefire committee had been demobilized as the hawks took over the war front. Mindanao has again returned to the theatre of war with hundreds of thousands of people currently displaced in Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao.
We, as a people, must put an end to this carnage now. It is time to unite, Muslims and Christians alike. We have to take bolder steps to create a safer and more secure environment for our children and family. A step into that direction is to work out for a ceasefire in the conflict affected areas and allow the internally displaced persons to return home.
Let us act now.
RICK R. FLORES
Communications Specialist
Mindanao Peoples Caucus
www.mindanaopeoplescaucus.org
E-Mail: florrick@gmail.com
Saturday, July 4, 2009
A CALL TO DEFEND THE PEOPLES’ RIGHT TO KNOW
The State of the Bakwits (S.O.B.), a joint coverage of Mindanao and Manila journalists held on June 29 to July 1, 2009 was intended to focus public attention on a humanitarian tragedy that we believe has not been given the attention it deserves.
Coming from different media organizations in Mindanao and Manila, we issue this collective statement in view of the disturbing checkpoint incident on June 30 and certain pronouncements of the 6th Infantry Division’s spokesperson about the organizers and participating journalists.
The coverage was prompted by persistent and alarming reports of alleged human rights violations like food blockades, illegal arrests, disappearances and summary executions; and that non-government and humanitarian organizations, even media, were also reportedly being prohibited from going to evacuation centers presumably to protect them from hostilities between government troops and rebel forces.
We came to validate these reports and to get a solid grasp of the actual situation in the evacuation centers so that concerned authorities will be able to appreciate more fully, and respond appropriately to, the complex problem of internal displacement in Maguindanao.
We found some of the answers even before reaching the evacuation centers.
On Tuesday, June 30, as we were proceeding to the evacuation sites in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, soldiers of the Army's 46th Infantry Battalion stopped us along the Cotabato-General Santos highway in Barangay Bagan, Guindulungan.
Those in the lead car of our nine-vehicle convoy were asked if we were from the media. Not one of the soldiers could tell us why we were being held. All they could say was we would be “released” when they receive “clearance” from Colonel Medardo Geslani, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade.
When contacted within the first five minutes of what turned out to be a 46-minute standoff, Geslani’s superior, Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, commanding general of the 6th Infantry Division, said he would check with Geslani. Cayton said he was informed by Geslani that he ordered the journalists stopped because of ongoing "clearing operations" to ensure our safety from roadside bombs.
A day earlier, an improvised explosive device (IED) blew off in Barangay Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, killing two persons and injuring eight others.
The checkpoint personnel said nothing about “clearing operations.” Curiously, it was just the media vehicles that were stopped at the checkpoint.
If, indeed, there were IEDs on the roadside, why should media be given ‘preferential protection’?
And if, indeed, security was the main consideration, they could have notified us even before we had left Cotabato City for Maguindanao since the organizers had been coordinating with the military panel of resource persons who confirmed participation in the subsequent forum in the afternoon of June 30.
We also would like to correct pronouncements made by the spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Ponce, who sent out text messages to reporters claiming that the journalists who were participating in the State of the Bakwits coverage were given “pocket money” by one of the organizations involved, which he alleged was connected to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The invitation clearly states who the organizers are.
Efforts to discredit our coverage by attempting to discredit the organizing groups will not be viewed kindly by the public especially since the case of the bakwits is a matter of national and international interest. For did we not rank first among all countries for having the “biggest new displacement in the world,” contributing 600,000 to the 4.2 million total of newly displaced in 2008, according to the April 2009 report of Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre?
We assert that trying to mask the magnitude of this crisis by stifling the free flow of information and the people's right to know can only worsen the current problem.
We agree with, and appreciate the statements of both the government and MILF peace panels during separate interactions with us, that the peace process should be accompanied by transparency.
We also believe that the achievement of a just and lasting negotiated resolution to the generations- old conflict besetting the Bangsamoro is possible only when all stakeholders are granted adequate access to information about and participation in the peace process.
This is why we are saddened that there remain elements of government who are trying to curtail access to information about the problems plaguing the Bangsamoro and the roots of the age-old conflict that continues to cause so much suffering, as well as vilify those who seek to uncover the truth surrounding the situation and explain these to the people.
This much we have learned from our experience as a people who lived through and eventually overcame 14 years of dictatorship: you can neither hide the truth forever nor allow it to be hidden.
ANY MORE ATTEMPT TO CURTAIL OR CONTROL THE FLOW OF INFORMATION VITAL TO THE PEOPLE’S UNDERSTANDING OF THIS CONFLICT, WILL DEFINITELY NOT SERVE THE CAUSE OF PEACE.
Atty. CHARINA SANZ
Mindanao ComStrat and Policy Alternatives
CAROLYN ARGUILLAS
MindaNews
FR. EDUARDO VASQUEZ, OMI
I-Watch
RED BATARIO
Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD)
MA. AURORA FAJARDO
Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project
NONOY ESPINA
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
RYAN ROSAURO
The Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON)
Reference:
ROMY ELUSFA
Secretariat, SOB Coverage Mission
Mobile Phone: 09209546793
Coming from different media organizations in Mindanao and Manila, we issue this collective statement in view of the disturbing checkpoint incident on June 30 and certain pronouncements of the 6th Infantry Division’s spokesperson about the organizers and participating journalists.
The coverage was prompted by persistent and alarming reports of alleged human rights violations like food blockades, illegal arrests, disappearances and summary executions; and that non-government and humanitarian organizations, even media, were also reportedly being prohibited from going to evacuation centers presumably to protect them from hostilities between government troops and rebel forces.
We came to validate these reports and to get a solid grasp of the actual situation in the evacuation centers so that concerned authorities will be able to appreciate more fully, and respond appropriately to, the complex problem of internal displacement in Maguindanao.
We found some of the answers even before reaching the evacuation centers.
On Tuesday, June 30, as we were proceeding to the evacuation sites in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, soldiers of the Army's 46th Infantry Battalion stopped us along the Cotabato-General Santos highway in Barangay Bagan, Guindulungan.
Those in the lead car of our nine-vehicle convoy were asked if we were from the media. Not one of the soldiers could tell us why we were being held. All they could say was we would be “released” when they receive “clearance” from Colonel Medardo Geslani, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade.
When contacted within the first five minutes of what turned out to be a 46-minute standoff, Geslani’s superior, Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, commanding general of the 6th Infantry Division, said he would check with Geslani. Cayton said he was informed by Geslani that he ordered the journalists stopped because of ongoing "clearing operations" to ensure our safety from roadside bombs.
A day earlier, an improvised explosive device (IED) blew off in Barangay Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, killing two persons and injuring eight others.
The checkpoint personnel said nothing about “clearing operations.” Curiously, it was just the media vehicles that were stopped at the checkpoint.
If, indeed, there were IEDs on the roadside, why should media be given ‘preferential protection’?
And if, indeed, security was the main consideration, they could have notified us even before we had left Cotabato City for Maguindanao since the organizers had been coordinating with the military panel of resource persons who confirmed participation in the subsequent forum in the afternoon of June 30.
We also would like to correct pronouncements made by the spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Ponce, who sent out text messages to reporters claiming that the journalists who were participating in the State of the Bakwits coverage were given “pocket money” by one of the organizations involved, which he alleged was connected to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The invitation clearly states who the organizers are.
Efforts to discredit our coverage by attempting to discredit the organizing groups will not be viewed kindly by the public especially since the case of the bakwits is a matter of national and international interest. For did we not rank first among all countries for having the “biggest new displacement in the world,” contributing 600,000 to the 4.2 million total of newly displaced in 2008, according to the April 2009 report of Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre?
We assert that trying to mask the magnitude of this crisis by stifling the free flow of information and the people's right to know can only worsen the current problem.
We agree with, and appreciate the statements of both the government and MILF peace panels during separate interactions with us, that the peace process should be accompanied by transparency.
We also believe that the achievement of a just and lasting negotiated resolution to the generations- old conflict besetting the Bangsamoro is possible only when all stakeholders are granted adequate access to information about and participation in the peace process.
This is why we are saddened that there remain elements of government who are trying to curtail access to information about the problems plaguing the Bangsamoro and the roots of the age-old conflict that continues to cause so much suffering, as well as vilify those who seek to uncover the truth surrounding the situation and explain these to the people.
This much we have learned from our experience as a people who lived through and eventually overcame 14 years of dictatorship: you can neither hide the truth forever nor allow it to be hidden.
ANY MORE ATTEMPT TO CURTAIL OR CONTROL THE FLOW OF INFORMATION VITAL TO THE PEOPLE’S UNDERSTANDING OF THIS CONFLICT, WILL DEFINITELY NOT SERVE THE CAUSE OF PEACE.
Atty. CHARINA SANZ
Mindanao ComStrat and Policy Alternatives
CAROLYN ARGUILLAS
MindaNews
FR. EDUARDO VASQUEZ, OMI
I-Watch
RED BATARIO
Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD)
MA. AURORA FAJARDO
Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project
NONOY ESPINA
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
RYAN ROSAURO
The Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON)
Reference:
ROMY ELUSFA
Secretariat, SOB Coverage Mission
Mobile Phone: 09209546793
Thursday, June 18, 2009
2 gov’t troops slain in Davao del Norte
DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES – Government soldiers belonging to the 60th Infantry Battalion led by Army Major Arcadio Posada engaged in a firefight at least 15 guerrillas of the New People’s Army (NPA) at about 9:50 a.m. last June 15 in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte.
The firefight resulted to the killing of an army officer and an enlisted personnel whose identities were not disclosed in a belated report that reached The Pen Pointers On Line.
The soldiers, according to the report, were on their way to Km. 15, Barangay (village) Dagohoy in Talaingod town to inspect a government project being implemented by the Philippine Army in the said barangay when they encountered the NPA guerrillas.
The slain soldiers were brought to the headquarters of the 60th IB in Barangay Doña Asuncion, Alegria town in Davao del Norte, the report further said.
No casualty was reported on the side of the NPA guerrillas in the 15-minute firefight.
The firefight resulted to the killing of an army officer and an enlisted personnel whose identities were not disclosed in a belated report that reached The Pen Pointers On Line.
The soldiers, according to the report, were on their way to Km. 15, Barangay (village) Dagohoy in Talaingod town to inspect a government project being implemented by the Philippine Army in the said barangay when they encountered the NPA guerrillas.
The slain soldiers were brought to the headquarters of the 60th IB in Barangay Doña Asuncion, Alegria town in Davao del Norte, the report further said.
No casualty was reported on the side of the NPA guerrillas in the 15-minute firefight.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Where can you find the soldiers in Datu Piang?
By: ROMY ELUSFA
DATU PIANG, Maguindanao - The soldiers here are everywhere – in mosques, school buildings or few meters away from school buildings, and houses of civilians.
From Crossing Salvo, the main road that connects the cities of Cotabato and Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat, to this interior town within the Liguasan Marsh, are more than 10 Army check points, some of them are less than a kilometer away from each other.
Along the some 20-kilometer stretch from Crossing Salvo to the town center here are two mosques that are occupied by soldiers who made the houses of worship as their camp.
“Aside from the fact that it (using houses of worship as camps) is prohibited under the International Humanitarian Law, Islam treats mosque as a sanctuary for peace.
Soldiers or combatants are not advancing peace but war, so they shouldn’t be camping inside mosques. They are destroying the sacredness of the mosques which essence of existence is peace,” said Jose Akmad, a Muslim religious leader who is also senior council member of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC).
Pastor Reu Montecillo, chairperson of MPC said: “That should not be allowed. The soldiers should be made aware that it is against the law to occupy mosques, churches or chapels.”
Along both sides of the stretched are ruins of houses razed and partially burned. Many abandoned houses were also occupied by soldiers.
The 54th Infantry Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division is stationed 25 meters away from the compound of the Datu Gumbay Elementary School and Datu Piang National High School. At the Army Camp were two 105 and one 155 howitzers which almost daily discharge huge bullets the soldiers described as “interdiction fires.”
From Monday to Friday last week, it was only on Friday evening that Bantay Ceasefire volunteers have not heard of howitzer firing from the 54th Infantry Battalion.
Noime Pua, a teacher at the Datu Gumbay Elementary School, in a dialogue among peace advocates and officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao last week, appealed for ARMM officials to help them effect the transfer of the Army detachment farther away from the campus.
Pua said: “Every time a howitzer fires, our pupils would go out of the classroom. Some will go home to the evacuation center. Others will be fetched by their parents. Those who would be left could no longer concentrate with our lessons.”
An official of the 54th IB knows that the 25-meter distance of their camp from the school was against the Rules on Engagement, yet, Capt. Joel Lucas, the operations officer of the unit, said they shouldn’t be blamed for the camp’s location because it has been there even before they were deployed here from Luzon.
Though it is “difficult,” it was possible to transfer the camp somewhere else, but Lucas said they need to carefully evaluate the new proposed camp site. “Wala kasing ibang magandang lugar,” he said while explaining that they could only transfer the detachment if the new site is strategic enough for them.
Citing the voluminous logistical requirements that hinder them from transferring their detachment, the Army official suggested, as an alternative, the transfer of the two schools, instead.
This developed as officials of the local government unit here have also called on the Moro Islamic Liberation front guerrillas “not to attack soldiers near populated places.”
Lucas suspected that in some harassment against their camps the attackers came from the evacuation centers.
DATU PIANG, Maguindanao - The soldiers here are everywhere – in mosques, school buildings or few meters away from school buildings, and houses of civilians.
From Crossing Salvo, the main road that connects the cities of Cotabato and Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat, to this interior town within the Liguasan Marsh, are more than 10 Army check points, some of them are less than a kilometer away from each other.
Along the some 20-kilometer stretch from Crossing Salvo to the town center here are two mosques that are occupied by soldiers who made the houses of worship as their camp.
“Aside from the fact that it (using houses of worship as camps) is prohibited under the International Humanitarian Law, Islam treats mosque as a sanctuary for peace.
Soldiers or combatants are not advancing peace but war, so they shouldn’t be camping inside mosques. They are destroying the sacredness of the mosques which essence of existence is peace,” said Jose Akmad, a Muslim religious leader who is also senior council member of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC).
Pastor Reu Montecillo, chairperson of MPC said: “That should not be allowed. The soldiers should be made aware that it is against the law to occupy mosques, churches or chapels.”
Along both sides of the stretched are ruins of houses razed and partially burned. Many abandoned houses were also occupied by soldiers.
The 54th Infantry Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division is stationed 25 meters away from the compound of the Datu Gumbay Elementary School and Datu Piang National High School. At the Army Camp were two 105 and one 155 howitzers which almost daily discharge huge bullets the soldiers described as “interdiction fires.”
From Monday to Friday last week, it was only on Friday evening that Bantay Ceasefire volunteers have not heard of howitzer firing from the 54th Infantry Battalion.
Noime Pua, a teacher at the Datu Gumbay Elementary School, in a dialogue among peace advocates and officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao last week, appealed for ARMM officials to help them effect the transfer of the Army detachment farther away from the campus.
Pua said: “Every time a howitzer fires, our pupils would go out of the classroom. Some will go home to the evacuation center. Others will be fetched by their parents. Those who would be left could no longer concentrate with our lessons.”
An official of the 54th IB knows that the 25-meter distance of their camp from the school was against the Rules on Engagement, yet, Capt. Joel Lucas, the operations officer of the unit, said they shouldn’t be blamed for the camp’s location because it has been there even before they were deployed here from Luzon.
Though it is “difficult,” it was possible to transfer the camp somewhere else, but Lucas said they need to carefully evaluate the new proposed camp site. “Wala kasing ibang magandang lugar,” he said while explaining that they could only transfer the detachment if the new site is strategic enough for them.
Citing the voluminous logistical requirements that hinder them from transferring their detachment, the Army official suggested, as an alternative, the transfer of the two schools, instead.
This developed as officials of the local government unit here have also called on the Moro Islamic Liberation front guerrillas “not to attack soldiers near populated places.”
Lucas suspected that in some harassment against their camps the attackers came from the evacuation centers.
Peace Mission urges GOs, NGOs to help address plight of refugees
By: ROMY ELUSFA
DATU PIANG, Maguindanao – After a week of the ongoing accompaniment mission with the evacuees here, peace groups came up with a dozen set of recommendations to address the plight of the over 30,000 refugees, which include a call for government and private organizations to conduct health missions and trauma healing sessions.
The recommendation, which surfaced during an assessment held at the parish convent here, was based on the group’s findings that “many children and aged are sick, some of them already died in the evacuation center and the continuing deterioration of the evacuees’ health condition.”
The ongoing accompaniment mission organized by the Bantay Ceasefire is joined by the Peacebuilders Community, Initiatives for International Dialogue, OMI (Oblates of Mary Immaculate) Disaster Response Team and the Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus.
Records of the Bantay Ceasefire show that since the war started in August of last year, there were already 111 civilian casualties, 95 of them died and 16 were injured. Of the 95 death, 40 are children and infants. The Bantay Ceasefire also noted 471 houses burned in this town alone.
Aside from calling for private and government organizations to address the health problems at the evacuation center, the Mission also urged international donors to intervene by way of helping provide food and shelter for the evacuees.
Last week, the MPC issued a statement calling for a stop to the “food blockade” after 100 bags of rice of the OMI Disaster Response Team was held by soldiers.
Earlier, 11 truck-loads of rice the International Committee on the Red Cross was supposed to deliver in Datu Piang was also held at an Army check point. The Army said it was only concerned with the safety of those supposed to distribute the rations following alleged threats of MILF harassment.
Yul Olaya, coordinator of the Bantay Ceasefire, explained that many new evacuees who vacated their homes in May and early this month have yet to receive rations from humanitarian organizations who are still in the process of listing up the new evacuees.
In Barangay Macasendig alone of neighboring Midsayap town, the Bantay Ceasefire recorded over 400 new evacuees who fled the village of Reina Regente in this municipality. Some 92 houses were burned.
The recommendation of the group also included the need to educate the evacuees of their rights provided by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Olaya said they would try to invite the Commission on Human Right and other humanitarian organizations to conduct “teach-ins” at the evacuation centers so that “evacuees will know their rights as IDPs.”
“There are so many complaints about abuses against civilians who do not even know that their fundamental rights had already been transgressed,” he said.
The Mission said they will sustain their presence here and conduct “series of dialogues with stakeholders, hoping we could build a wide network of organizations jointly addressing the plight of the bakwits.”
While they are in this town, the Mission participants, numbering more than 40, said they will also try to mobilize more volunteers to replicate the accompaniment mission here in other refugee camps in neighboring towns of Datu Piang.
“We are organizing a similar mission in the towns of Guindulongan, Talayan, Datu Saudi and other towns of Maguindanao where there are also plenty of evacuees,” Olaya said.
While they are addressing the plight of the evacuees, the mission participants said that their “counterparts and partners” in the cities of Cotabato and Davao, and in Manila, will also “aggressively lobby for the resumptions of the peace talks between the government and the MILF, which collapsed after the Supreme Court did not allow the government negotiators to sign the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain. The MOA-AD, a product of a four-year negotiation between the two parties, was subsequently declared unconstitutional by the High Court.
DATU PIANG, Maguindanao – After a week of the ongoing accompaniment mission with the evacuees here, peace groups came up with a dozen set of recommendations to address the plight of the over 30,000 refugees, which include a call for government and private organizations to conduct health missions and trauma healing sessions.
The recommendation, which surfaced during an assessment held at the parish convent here, was based on the group’s findings that “many children and aged are sick, some of them already died in the evacuation center and the continuing deterioration of the evacuees’ health condition.”
The ongoing accompaniment mission organized by the Bantay Ceasefire is joined by the Peacebuilders Community, Initiatives for International Dialogue, OMI (Oblates of Mary Immaculate) Disaster Response Team and the Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus.
Records of the Bantay Ceasefire show that since the war started in August of last year, there were already 111 civilian casualties, 95 of them died and 16 were injured. Of the 95 death, 40 are children and infants. The Bantay Ceasefire also noted 471 houses burned in this town alone.
Aside from calling for private and government organizations to address the health problems at the evacuation center, the Mission also urged international donors to intervene by way of helping provide food and shelter for the evacuees.
Last week, the MPC issued a statement calling for a stop to the “food blockade” after 100 bags of rice of the OMI Disaster Response Team was held by soldiers.
Earlier, 11 truck-loads of rice the International Committee on the Red Cross was supposed to deliver in Datu Piang was also held at an Army check point. The Army said it was only concerned with the safety of those supposed to distribute the rations following alleged threats of MILF harassment.
Yul Olaya, coordinator of the Bantay Ceasefire, explained that many new evacuees who vacated their homes in May and early this month have yet to receive rations from humanitarian organizations who are still in the process of listing up the new evacuees.
In Barangay Macasendig alone of neighboring Midsayap town, the Bantay Ceasefire recorded over 400 new evacuees who fled the village of Reina Regente in this municipality. Some 92 houses were burned.
The recommendation of the group also included the need to educate the evacuees of their rights provided by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Olaya said they would try to invite the Commission on Human Right and other humanitarian organizations to conduct “teach-ins” at the evacuation centers so that “evacuees will know their rights as IDPs.”
“There are so many complaints about abuses against civilians who do not even know that their fundamental rights had already been transgressed,” he said.
The Mission said they will sustain their presence here and conduct “series of dialogues with stakeholders, hoping we could build a wide network of organizations jointly addressing the plight of the bakwits.”
While they are in this town, the Mission participants, numbering more than 40, said they will also try to mobilize more volunteers to replicate the accompaniment mission here in other refugee camps in neighboring towns of Datu Piang.
“We are organizing a similar mission in the towns of Guindulongan, Talayan, Datu Saudi and other towns of Maguindanao where there are also plenty of evacuees,” Olaya said.
While they are addressing the plight of the evacuees, the mission participants said that their “counterparts and partners” in the cities of Cotabato and Davao, and in Manila, will also “aggressively lobby for the resumptions of the peace talks between the government and the MILF, which collapsed after the Supreme Court did not allow the government negotiators to sign the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain. The MOA-AD, a product of a four-year negotiation between the two parties, was subsequently declared unconstitutional by the High Court.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Obama talks on America's relationship with Muslim World
US President Barack Obama delivered a speech on America's relationship with the Muslim World in Cairo, Egypt last June 4.
Here is the text of President Obama's speech:
I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.
We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world – tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.
So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles – principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do – to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.
Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.
As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – kept in his personal library.
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.
But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words – within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one."
Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores – that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.
Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.
So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.
Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.
For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.
This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.
That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.
In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.
The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.
Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.
That's why we're partnering with a coalition of forty-six countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths – more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism – it is an important part of promoting peace.
We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.
Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be."
Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012. We will help Iraq train its Security Forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron.
And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
So America will defend itself respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.
The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.
America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.
Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed – more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction – or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews – is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.
On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians – have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.
For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers – for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.
That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest. That is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience that the task requires. The obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them – and all of us – to live up to our responsibilities.
Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding. This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered.
Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist.
At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.
Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society. And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.
Finally, the Arab States must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibilities. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state; to recognize Israel's legitimacy; and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.
America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true.
Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.
The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.
This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically-elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.
It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues to discuss between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation – including Iran – should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the Treaty, and it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.
That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.
There is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments – provided they govern with respect for all their people.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.
Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.
Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld – whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.
Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit – for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.
Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. That is why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's Interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into Interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action – whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.
The sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.
I know there is debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.
Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.
Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men and women – to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.
Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.
I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities. In all nations – including my own – this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we will lose of control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities – those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.
But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradiction between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.
This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains underinvestment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investments within my country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.
On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in on-line learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.
On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.
All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.
The issues that I have described will not be easy to address. But we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek – a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together.
I know there are many – Muslim and non-Muslim – who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort – that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country – you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.
All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort – a sustained effort – to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.
It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples – a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.
We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.
The Holy Koran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."
The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."
The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you.
Here is the text of President Obama's speech:
I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.
We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world – tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.
So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles – principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do – to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.
Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.
As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – kept in his personal library.
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.
But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words – within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one."
Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores – that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.
Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.
So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.
Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.
For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.
This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.
That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.
In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.
The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.
Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.
That's why we're partnering with a coalition of forty-six countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths – more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism – it is an important part of promoting peace.
We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.
Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be."
Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012. We will help Iraq train its Security Forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron.
And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
So America will defend itself respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.
The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.
America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.
Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed – more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction – or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews – is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.
On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians – have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.
For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers – for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.
That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest. That is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience that the task requires. The obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them – and all of us – to live up to our responsibilities.
Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding. This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered.
Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist.
At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.
Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society. And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.
Finally, the Arab States must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibilities. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state; to recognize Israel's legitimacy; and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.
America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true.
Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.
The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.
This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically-elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.
It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues to discuss between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation – including Iran – should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the Treaty, and it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.
That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.
There is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments – provided they govern with respect for all their people.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.
Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.
Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld – whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.
Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit – for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.
Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. That is why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's Interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into Interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action – whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.
The sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.
I know there is debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.
Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.
Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men and women – to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.
Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.
I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities. In all nations – including my own – this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we will lose of control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities – those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.
But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradiction between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.
This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains underinvestment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investments within my country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.
On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in on-line learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.
On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.
All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.
The issues that I have described will not be easy to address. But we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek – a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together.
I know there are many – Muslim and non-Muslim – who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort – that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country – you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.
All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort – a sustained effort – to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.
It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples – a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.
We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.
The Holy Koran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."
The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."
The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you.
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