The political scenarios in some parts of Autonomous Regions of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) moved towards increased volatility with numerous armed clashes between Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP) and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the islands of Sulu and Basilan. With the lingering vulnerable situation in Basilan in the aftermath of the killing and mutilation of the dead bodies of Marines (AFP) and a Muslim Imam, the AFP and ASG entered into a number of armed clashes in MILF areas in Basilan as AFP continued its hunt to capture the culprits involved in the mutilations. The random exchange of fire fights and skirmishes resulted in more civilian evacuation and destruction of properties and livelihoods.
The locus of skirmishes between AFP and ASG expanded to the island of Sulu when AFP attacked one of the MNLF camps in their hunt for ASG and killed a renowned MNLF commander. Within a short span of time, an AFP convoy came under heavy attack from rebels and lawless elements that killed dozens of AFP troops. This particular incident provoked AFP to bring in extra troops to Sulu and got the command from the headquarters to remove ‘all lawless elements from Sulu’. Since then, the operation is in full swing both in Sulu and Basilan. All the fire fights and shelling caused heavy casualties on the sides of all armed groups engaged in fighting and reciprocally affected the lives of thousands of civilians who ended up as IDPs. The culture of silence and fear resurfaced in communities with heavy presence of armed groups, random fire fights, increased number of forced cases of arrests of civilians of all age groups and restriction on the mobility of civilians.
Central Mindanao areas were gripped in scintillating tension as there were few occasions when AFP and MILF forces came in close proximity to each other but a timely intervention of ceasefire mechanism structure along with civil society organisations (CSOs) averted an armed clash. However, such incidences along with rumours caused strains on the lives of civilians who displaced from their locations for a brief period of time.
The scheduled peace talks between GRP and MILF from 22nd to 24th of August in Malaysia wwere put on halt in the last moment when the newly appointed Chairman of GRP Peace Panel requested additional time to prepare for the peace talks. The new date of peace talks has yet to be announced. Persistent efforts are also being made to restart MNLF and GRP peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but there is no final schedule as yet.
The Civil Society Organizations continued their proactive role to minimize the scale of violence in Mindanao and mobilized all the parties to resume peace talks to resolve all the outstanding issues. The civil society organized multiple forums and seminars in Mindanao to raise awareness among civilian on the controversial Human Security Act recently passed by the Government of Philippines.
NP’s Work
Sulu Team
The Cotabato Main Office spent ample time in the field along with Sulu Team during the critically tense situation in Basilan and Sulu islands and maintained international conscious presence; supported the efforts of Basilan and Sulu based partner CSOs to protect civilians in crisis areas; and, provided latest updates from the ground to national and international I/NGOs and IOs.
As the ceasefire was partially being observed in Basilan, heavy firefights took place in Sulu and NP partners requested the NP team in Basilan to come to Sulu. Before leaving Basilan, the team met all the stakeholders and informed concerned authorities and partners in Mindanao who later strongly appreciated NP genuine efforts to protect civilians during crisis time in Basilan along with local CSOs and its contribution to the greater cause of peace process in Mindanao.
The NP Sulu and Main office team went to Sulu and met partner CSOs and other activists engaged in peace, justice and human rights work. The team informed all the concerned authorities about its presence in Sulu and made daily contacts with key authorities on the ground. The team participated in a series of planning and strategic meetings with partners who have been working on protection issues. NP team along with partners visited a number of camps of displaced people and also maintained random presence in communities where people were ready to evacuate in case of eruption of violence. NP team relayed concerns of displaced communities to relevant authorities.
During the course of stay in Sulu, the team came across cases of harassment and arbitrary detention of civilians of all age groups. On the request of partner organizations working on human rights issues, it accompanied local CSOs to meet victims and their families, and facilitated the work of local human rights groups to document such cases and provide psycho social care to the victims of violence and their families. Proactive human rights groups publicly stated that they feel more safe, secure and confident to do work on protection and human rights issues in the presence of NP team and vehemently asked NP to establish its Sulu office as quickly as possible.
The Chairman of GRP Coordination Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) made an offer to NP Mindanao Philippines to join theMobile Joint Monitoring Assistance Team (JMAT) in Basilan which is being planned by the Ceasefire Mechanism structure to maintain peace in Basilan. (So far, there has been no monitoring system like in central Mindanao.) Later on, the Chairman of MILF CCCH welcomed the offer made to NP by GRP CCCH. In response to the offer, Project Director affirmatively showed NP Philippines intent to join Mobile JMAT Basilan but with some certain conditions to maintain the independent status of NP Mindanao Philippines. NP Philippines is the first International Peace NGO that is being formally considered by GRP MILF CCCH to officially join the Mobile JMAT Basilan.
Central Mindanao Team (CMT)
NP CMT acquired commendable trust and legitimacy from grass roots based civilian organizations and local monitoring teams. CMT maintained continuous presence in the field and established credible working relationships with the field teams of ceasefire mechanism structure, AFP, MILF and Local Government Units. CMT along with the local monitoring team did a rapid response nonviolent intervention when they heard civilians were evacuating in some barangays as AFP and MILF forces came close to each other within proximity of 200 meters. CMT coordinated with AFP, GRP – MILF CCCH, IMT and LGUs and a possible clash and displacement of civilians was prevented through rapid response and effective communication with armed groups and other monitoring structures. Later on, the area was ripe with a lot of rumours about the movement of AFP and MILF forces which occasionally caused panic among civilians and forced them to leave their communities. NP CMT rectified such rumours which were creating panic among civilians and relayed the actual ground situation to the communities. Local Civilians and monitoring teams appreciated NP’s presence, intervention and rumour control work that helped to pacify the situation.
One of NP main partner organization invited NP Central Mindanao Team as an observer in their newly established mediating body resolving a clan conflict between two armed commanders. CMT as an “Observer” maintained presence in the preparation phase of NP partner organizations work in conflict affected communities to consolidate the roles of civilians from local community as ‘mediators’ to resolve their internal clan conflicts. Some clan conflicts are linked with peace process’s in Mindanao. NP partners and communities specifically requested NP CMT to maintain regular presence and occasionally spend overnights in their communities along with civilians.
CMT finalized the initial location of NP field office within the vicinity of Dapiawaan Barangay, Datu Saudi Municipality. CMT and main office secured green signal from all the authorities like MILF Forces, AFP, LGU, and GRP – MILF CCCH from the ground level commanders to top level leadership in Mindanao. Barangay Dapiawaan is exposed to skirmishes between AFP & MILF forces as it is situated on the edge of MILF areas.
Main Office in Cotabato City
The main office in collaboration with field teams organized and facilitated the visit of Erika Shatz, fundraiser from the NP USA office. Erika Shatz along with Project Director visited NP field sites and met NP Advisory Board Members, partners on the ground and beneficiary communities. The project director and an ICP from Central Mindanao Team alternatively accompanied Erika Shatz to various meetings with local foundations in Davao and Manila.
The main office organized the 2nd Advisory Board Meeting (ABM) on 25th of August 2007 in Cotabato City. The main office and field teams thanked the members of the Board for their generous support to the NP Mindanao project and presented NP’s work of the previous three months. In the AB meeting, issues regarding collaboration in the field with partners and areas to focus in next three months were thoroughly discussed and planned. The ABM unanimously endorsed and requested NP to bring additional ICPs on an asap basis and agreed to provide recommendation letter to NP from their respective organizations in this respect. According to one prominent Advisory Board Member, NP contributed along with others to prevent the escalation of war in Basilan and other areas of mainland Mindanao.
Report written by Atif Hameed (Project Director) and Christine Schweitzer (Programme Director)