Now that peace, albeit fragile, is in place in the 13 conflict affected villages in four towns of Maguindanao, the MPC and the Bantay Ceasefire once more appeal to President Arroyo to immediately order government line agencies, particularly the Social Welfare, Health, Education, Interior and Local Government, and Public Works and Highways, to immediately and collectively address the relief, medical, rehabilitation and other needs of over 22,000 individuals (4,000 families) displaced by the nine-day fighting.
After nine days, the clashes between the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) members identified with Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and members of the MILF 105th Base Command has finally ceased. With much painstaking effort, the International Monitoring Team and the Joint Ceasefire Committee has succeeded in separating the warring parties with a buffer zone that will physically prevent any potential on the ground of an engagement between the contending forces.
Admittedly, this could not have happened without the intervention of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who personally visited Maguindanao last July 8, 2006 together with the members of her Cabinet. We thank the President for responding to MPC’s appeal to immediately call the attention of Governor Ampatuan to cooperate with existing ceasefire mechanisms. Indeed, her visit has spelled out this government’s avowed will to pursue peace negotiation with the MILF. We hope this policy is sustained at all political levels up to the signing of a peace agreement and beyond.
Above all, we commend the dedication of the Joint GRP-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the International Monitoring Team for valiantly championing the observance of the ceasefire thus saving it from what had been its most serious threat since the Buliok war in 2003.
Indeed, this crisis only showed how much work still needs to be done in terms of drawing public support for the peace talks especially among the local government units and other stakeholders of the peace process. MPC strongly believes this can only be possible in a more transparent and participatory process of negotiation. What we witnessed in Maguindanao the past few days is revealing about how certain elements in our society can maneuver or even hijack situations for their own interests in order to scuttle the peace talks between the government and the MILF.
Now that peace, albeit fragile, is in place in the 13 conflict affected villages in four towns of Maguindanao, the MPC and the Bantay Ceasefire once more appeal to President Arroyo to immediately order government line agencies, particularly the Social Welfare, Health, Education, Interior and Local Government, and Public Works and Highways, to immediately and collectively address the relief, medical, rehabilitation and other needs of over 22,000 individuals (4,000 families) displaced by the nine-day fighting.
At present, many evacuees, especially the children, are suffering from illnesses like diarrhea, skin disorders, fever and flu at crowded and unsanitary evacuation centers. Given the situation, we fear of an outbreak of illnesses especially among the children. The many mobile evacuees, who stay under the trees with their sleds and hand tractor-driven trailers are also very vulnerable especially that some areas where they sought refuge are flooded. A report reaching Bantay Ceasefire accounted that four children have already died in the evacuation areas.
There also are some 200 houses burned and many farmer-evacuees have lost their farm implements and animals to the armed men who have either carted their farm machineries and equipment away or butchered their farm animals.
At least four rice mills were burned by armed men who allegedly took the rice mills’ engines before setting the buildings on fire. There were reports of hand tractors owned by civilians that have also been stolen by these armed men. We can only surmise who these armed elements are.
Given these initial reports, we urge the Commission on Human Rights, Congress and other human rights organizations to conduct a fact finding mission to be able to thoroughly document the extent of damages and the human rights violations perpetrated against the civilians and initiate charges against the perpetrators. We also appeal to organizations doing psycho-social services to immediately help address the need of many evacuees traumatized by the incident.
Lastly, we reiterate our plea for Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division and the MILF forces to cooperate and support the efforts of the JCCCH and the IMT by strictly abiding by the provisions of the GRP-MILF Joint CCCH Agreement to End the Hostilities and Normalize the Situation in the Affected Areas in Maguindanao.
We will meanwhile continue to watch and monitor the ceasefire, offer succor to the evacuees, as we continue to help search for the Holy Grail of peace in this blighted land.
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