June 2011 Philippines Field Report
I. Highlights of the Month
Nonviolent Peaceforce’s (NP) Maguindanao Field team was asked by its local partner, Magungaya Mindanao Inc. (MMI), to provide an orientation of conflict prevention tools, such as Early Warning, Early Response mechanisms, as well as to share knowledge on Human Rights monitoring and documentation in a secluded community, Fukol. June is peak flooding time in the Philippines and this season happened to be one of the worst in decades, so the team set off on a lengthy ride to the community not knowing what to expect. Shortly after turning off the highway, the road became a muddy swamp. NP and MMI staff with decided to continue on foot rather than cancel the event. The two hour hike to Fukol took them through mud and high water and all the while they were carrying training supplies for 90 people. They eventually arrived and successfully conducted a full day’s training. All participants, despite being crammed together in a small venue, were very appreciative of the group’s efforts. They engaged so actively that NPP’s orientation, which was to take only one day, had to be extended by another half day. The team therefore unexpectedly stayed in the community over-night. While NP staff left the following day, again departing on a two hour walk and a one and a half hour motorcycle ride, MMI stayed four more days to provide training on communication and conflict resolution. The efforts will help the community of Fukol to grow closer together and learn to recognize and address conflict before it leads to violence.
A recent rido* in Tangkal, Lanao del Norte province, resulted in deaths and incidents of arson. The main protagonists are aware of the work of NPP and when they were not able to resolve the tension they approached the team for assistance. A similar request was also made by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front – Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (MILF-CCCH)—a key peace structure in the peace process. One of NP’s local partners, Pakigdait Inc., agreed to engage the parties with the support of the team. The two conflicting parties agreed to sit down together and they identified the key areas that need to be dealt with for the resolution of the conflict. The team visited Tangkal following the dialogue, met with community leaders and Barangay (village) officials to assess the ground situation. This intervention by local partner, Pakigdait Inc., with the support of the NPP team in Lanao, has created space for this long-standing conflict to be addressed through non-violent means. It is up to the parties in Tangkal to resolve their issues, and address the needs and security of their communities, but these processes always need wider support. The NPP team in Lanao will continue to monitor Tangkal to ensure that tensions do not lead to violence once again.
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Context / Situation
The month of June saw the culmination of many monthsof uncertainty over the elections for the Autonomous Region
of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Key political figures in the area were preparing for elections whilst others were seeking their postponement to bring them in line with national elections in 2013. The elections have now been postponed until 2013. This proved to be a setback for some, whilst others viewed it as the government’s commitment towards finalising the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The next round of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF took place on 27 June in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, although the government requested more time to prepare its counter-draft to the MILF proposal. This has now been scheduled for August.
The Philippines National Police (PNP) and military authorities have called for public vigilance in Central Mindanao in light of a "renewed threat" from lawless armed groups. In June a series of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) exploded or were found in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat killing some and wounding many others.
The Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces were severely affected by flash floods caused by unusually heavy rains. Cotabato City was particularly badly affected, and the whole region saw thousands of families displaced from their homes until the water receded. The flooding however has destroyed houses and property, livelihoods and disrupted schools and health facilities. NP teams in the area visited numerous internally displaced persons (IDP) camps created in light of the floods to assess the needs of the families living there. They then relayed this information to relevant humanitarian agencies. The flooding however affected some of NP’s regular work as the teams were not able to access a number of interior communities.
II. Management/Programme Intervention
The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), based in Manila, visited Mindanao for several days in early June. NP management met with them on 8 June in Cotabato and, in coordination with the Maguindanao field team, visited numerous key stakeholders in Maguindanao on 7 June. On top of this, the entire HCT – which included representatives from the UN Organisation of the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, UNICEF, the UN Development Programme, the UN Population Fund, the UN Department of Safety and Security, the World Bank, OXFAM, Community and Family Services International, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme – visited NP’s Maguindanao field office in Datu Piang. The HCT was briefed on the prevailing security situation in the province and avenues of future coordination and collaboration were explored, including assisting humanitarian agencies in gaining access to remote conflict-affected communities.
III. NPP WORKS: Conflict Prevention Programme (CPP)
Community Based Human Rights (CBHR) Program
In Maguindanao the team provided continuous support to partners to build their capacity and equip their monitors with the necessary skills to recognize and report human rights (HR) violations. This was a further step to help them develop effective and sustainable structures that foster peace and stability in the province. During the month, the team organised specialised coaching on HR and early warning early response (EWER) for designated local point people, management and volunteers of Magungaya Mindanao Inc. (MMI). The team also conducted an orientation for Kaduntaya Foundation Inc. (KFI) members on the same topics. This enhanced their understanding of the team’s work in the past, particularly with regards to EWER, and encouraged them to consider future collaboration and integration of the same into their existing structures. As another approach towards skills transfer, the team supported partners in organising trainings for their volunteers. In the case of MMI, due to extensive capacity building in the past, they were ready to independently act as resource persons in the trainings.
Following a request by European Union monitors from the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to meet the Maguindanao field team’s ground structures, the team requested MMI to organise a meeting with local monitors from hot spot barangays. This included volunteers from the municipalities of Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak and Guindulungan. They were requested to give general updates about their barangay, covering key security and humanitarian concerns and the IMT in turn shared the specifics of their work. With regards to the team’s regular HR monitoring work, the team visited the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Shariff Aguak to verify details regarding an arrest on 15 June 2011 in Poblacion II. It had been reported that the victim’s family strongly believed the arrest was unjustified as it was a case of mistaken identity.
The North Cotabato field team organised coordination activities to facilitate the establishment of the EWER/CBHR structures in the Municipality of Aleosan and Midsayap. A total of nine Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUs) were visited wherein the concept of both EWER/CBHR programs and interventions were discussed. The team conducted consultations with the communities and identified acceptable partners in the community for the implementation of the project. To avoid any duplication of work, the team identified and engaged the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) structures in the Municipality of Aleosan established by NP’s local partner Grassroots Against Poverty and Hunger (GAP-Hunger).
To increase the safety of HR monitors in the area, the North Cotabato team arranged an orientation for a local battalion of the Armed Forces of the Phippines (AFP) on the R.A. 9851 “Philippine Act on Crimes against International Humanitarian Law (IHL), genocide, and other Crimes against Humanity”. To ensure that the resource persons came from a broad base, the team also invited the Commission on Human Rights. Twenty one active military personnel participated in the activity. A similar orientation was conducted on R.A. 9745 also known as the “Philippine Anti-Torture Law” in partnership with the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)- a national human rights institution active in the country since 1974.
The team is also working on the re-activation and capacity building in Midsayap to develop the CBHR programme in six riverside barangays with the support of PALMA Inc. and the United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD).
The Lanao field team is currently also doing ground work for the strengthening of CBHR structures in the Municipality of Munai with its partner Ranaw Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Assistance Center Incorporated (RDRRAC) and Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA). This involves regular meetings with local partners and visits to Munai to assess further support needed, and also to follow-up on reports received from local HR monitors. The team is also re-engaging with long-term partner the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), over possibilities for collaboration for their HR awareness activities.
The team also successfully negotiated the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) official recognition to the HR monitors trained by NP and local partners. This kind of recognition will better enable the CBHR monitors to link with those official agencies and organisations mandated to respond to human rights issues. The CHR was able to confirm their support through the provision of ID cards and T-shirts for the CBHR monitors in Butig which will carry the CHR logo. This initiative will be replicated for the other CBHR monitors in Kauswagan and Marawi.
Early Warning Early Response (EWER) Program
The Maguindanao field team continued to monitor the local communities within its area of responsibility for signs of any tension or small conflicts which could escalate into violence. A visit was undertaken to Barangay Lapok, Shariff Aguak, to meet with local farmer leaders. As part of its early response ground-work and due to recent tension in the Municipality, the team introduced itself to political representatives of the MILF in Shariff Aguak. They raised concerns relating to the wellbeing of civilians and requested the team’s support in addressing them.
In Lanao, the support and training provided to the CBHR monitors, has reached a stage where they are not only informing NP about various HR Violations (HRV) but are also using linkages with its local partners in resolution of any tension. Recently, when the team received information of a firefight in Butig Municipality the CBHR monitors, on their own accord, initiated traditional conflict resolution mechanisms. The team was able to witness the arrival of the mediator to this resolution and the monitors informed NP that they expected the conflict to be resolved within the week. The team is further linking them with its local partners like Rural Initiative for Development Organisation Inc. (RIDO), which is mandated to resolve grassroots conflicts.
The Lanao team, after conducting the barangay profiling of Malabang, started working with local partner Mindanao Development on Culture of Peace (MIDCOP) to establish EWER structures. In its efforts to reduce the incidents of violence the team visited Pagayawan, Bacolod, to monitor a rido there and the progress of a dialogue facilitated by the Mayor. These visits and meetings serve to increase the visibility of NP’s civilian peacekeepers and allows the team to directly engage with the community.
Dialogue Program
The Maguindanao team experienced a small set back in June with regards to a cross-cultural initiative it had been working on with leaders from Datu Piang municipality. The local priest, and supporter of the initiative, was transferred to another parish. However, the team met his substitute and was informed that the new priest who is to arrive next month has been to Datu Piang before and speaks the local language – both promising indications that the project will be able to proceed in the coming months.
The local government of Alamada municipality has requested the North Cotabato team to help them in declaring the municipality as a “Zone of Peace”. To this end, the team is planning to conduct a “Culture of Peace Seminars and Orientation” for the stakeholders of the town. The team also supported its partner Oblates of Mary Immaculate Interreligious Dialogue (OMI-IRD) which is leading an instrument to declare Ginapaladtaka (G7) as a “Zone of Peace” in Pikit municipality. Three barangays within Pikit and one in Aleosan municipality have been identified.
The Christian community, a minority in Lanao del Sur, during the focus group discussion conducted last month had requested the team to help them establish of a desk in Marawi to address their grievances and concerns. To this end, the team engaged the Chairperson of the Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights and Responsibilities of the Iligan City Council, along with other stakeholders, and is exploring the possibility.
IV. NPP WORKS: Civilian Protection Programme Deliverables
Cotabato City – NP-CPC Secretariat
In this month the NP-CPC Secretariat continued to monitor the implementation of the CPC Program through the review of the daily and weekly field reports, the field monthly budgets, work plans and individual work plans as well as through the review of Special Verification Reports and IDP Reports. The field sites were continuously provided with guidance and feedback on reports and monthly plans.
The NP-CPC Secretariat continued to send Daily Reports to the IMT. In three cases the Secretariat recommended an intervention by the IMT, including a case of manipulating food distribution, which the CPC is mandated monitor.
Maguindanao
The team provided proactive presence in the province through 13 monitoring patrols covering Shariff Aguakk Datu Piang, Ampatuan, Datu Salibo, Datu Odin Sinsuit, Balanakan, Masigay, Ambadao, Kalipapa, Duminanga and Dado, Madtalabaygo and Tanguapo of Barangay Damablas, Midconding, Kabuntalan, Mamasapano, Rio Grande (on boat) and Dasawao. Noteworthy, on 22 June, the team’s presence along the highway between Shariff Aguak and Mamasapano encouraged civilians to stay put thereby precluding fresh displacements. This came in the wake of reports indicating that clashes between the MILF and the splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, were imminent. Civilians reported that the entire population of Bialong had prepared to flee.
15 alerts and information connected to the protection of civilians were received by the team. The team monitored 5 and verified 7 reports. The team visited displacement camps in Datu Piang and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao. While visiting the Salman Evacuation Centre in Ampatuan municipality, the team was alerted to a case of a sick female child who had yet to be diagnosed as tests were underway. In the interim, the child was prescribed medication but her family was unable to afford it. The team contacted UNICEF, who in turn contacted the Regional and Provincial Department of Social Welfare and Development who agreed to reopen her case and cover the cost of her medication.
North Cotabato
The team provided proactive presence through 8 monitoring patrols covering the municipalities of Carmen, Kabacan, Pagalungan, Pikit, Datu Montawal, Matalam, Aleosan, Kidapawan city, Magpet and Makilala. The team received 13 alerts and information related to the protection of civilians whereupon 4 reports were monitored and 3 verified.
Upon verification and reporting to the IMT, who in turn reported to the GPH Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, the army vacated a disused mosque in Aleosan municipality. Properties of a civilian nature, including places of a religious nature, are not to be occupied under the CPC agreement.
Lanao
The field team provided proactive presence through 10 monitoring patrols covering Marawi, Basak area, Iligan City, Maliwanag, Butig, Marantao, Tugaya, Wato Balingdon, Madalum, Bacolod-Kilawa, Maigo, Kolambugan, Sudok (Marawi City), Kauswagan. Noteworthy, on 19 June, the team provided proactive presence in Munai municipality to civilians who were concerned about military movements in their area of domicile, which had not been properly coordinated. The team’s presence helped to alleviate civilians’ fears.
In Kauswagan municipality, the scene of some of the worst violence in the 2008 hostilities, the team provided proactive presence during a tense situation arising from a peace caravan organised by members of the local Moro civil society in support of the ongoing MILF/ GPH peace talks. Angry members of the Christain community were demonstrating along the route of the caravan, denouncing the caravan, who were percieved to be operating under the MILF. The team, using contacts from both sides, local civil society contacts and local CPC member, the Moslem Organisation of Government Officials and Professionaols (MOGOP), postitioned themselves by a municipal building between the protestors and the passage of the caravan. Expected violent clashes did not occur.
During the month 43 alerts and reports related to the protection of civilians reached the team, whereupon 17 reports were monitored and 7 verified.
SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sarangani, General Santos City, Sultan Kuderat)
The field team conducted 7 monitoring patrols covering Maasim, Kiamba, Sarangani, Malapatan, Glan, Kanaldo, Panangan, Dalaio, Lamasal, Kubamba, Lumatil, Kamaigan, Tinoto, Lake Sebu, T’Boli, Sumbakil. It received 13 alerts and new information, whereupon 10 pieces of information were monitored and 4 verified.
Sulu
Despite limited staff capacity in Sulu, and security concerns, the team provided 19 updates on issues related to civilian protection which were processed by NP’s main office in Cotabato City and reported to the IMT.
In total, including field reports, 82 information sheets were forwarded to IMT Civilian Protection Component Coordinator in the month of June.
* Rido refers to a state of recurring hostilities between families and kinship groups characterized by a series of retaliatory acts of violence carried out to avenge a perceived affront or injustice
