‘De-mining’ of MILF-gov’t war zones launched

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Areas that were the scene of the heaviest fighting between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be turned into rice fields with the launching and implementation of a “demining” project.

Yesterday’s launching of the project, “Delivering Peace Dividends through the Reduction of Explosive Remnants of War” here in Sitio Tuka, Barangay Ganta, was led by Werner Langen, chair of the Delegation of the European Parliament for Relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and ASEAN and head of the delegation from the European Parliament.

The European parliamentarians made the visit to lend their political support to the peace process in Mindanao.

“EU will continue to support all efforts to bring peace in Mindanao,” Langen said during the launching of the EU-funded project.

Following the signing of the framework agreement with the MILF, the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL) and the Foundation Suisse de Déminage France (FSD) will work with the Philippine government and the MILF to reduce the threat from landmines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) in conflict-affected areas.

After several years of dialogue and negotiations, the FSD and the PCBL are now working together to implement the UXO threat reduction program, “Delivering peace dividends through the reduction of explosive remnants of war” in Mindanao.

It is the first “mine action” program of its type in the country, made possible through support and funding provided by the European Commission.

Implementation will be carried out under the signed agreement by both the government and the MILF.

Through the joint efforts of PCBL and FSD, the action will give effect to the agreement entitled “Guidelines for the Implementation of the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines-Fondation Suisse De Deminage (PCBL-FSD) Project Pursuant to the Joint Statement of the GRP-MILF Peace Panels Dated 15 November 2007” signed last May 5, 2010 in Malaysia.

The objective is to enhance safe resettlement and recovery of conflict-affected communities and the people affected by the conflict within the framework of a strengthened peace process.

The project will identify and clear out mines from suspected hazardous areas in 21 municipalities in Maguindanao, Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur, covering a total of 450,629 hectares inhabited by 814,651 people or indirect beneficiaries.

Besides increased economic opportunities, the project will free the beneficiaries from the fear of being killed or injured by these unfortunate relics of war.

FSD/PCBL has deployed a team in the said areas that were the scene of the heaviest fighting. The team is surveying the extent of contamination caused by landmines and unexploded ordnances through interviews with villagers in affected communities.

Some 496 people have been killed by landmines and other improvised explosive devices since 1999, with 34 casualties for 2011 that included 14 children.