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.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
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)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
