Stop making war in Mindanao

Most of the reports on the war in Mindanao may be coming from military and government sources, so it is understandable that the Mindanao people’s views are not heard. Alvaro O. Senturias, Jr. and Celestino M. Lagroma, chairperson and secretary general, respectively, of the Mindanao Peoples‚ Peace Movement (MPPM) have issued a statement that refutes claims made by the military on the outbreaks of violence in war-torn Min-danao. MPPM is a tri-people grassroots coalition of human rights and peace groups.

According to the two MPPM officers, contrary to Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes‚ claim that the military operations in Mindanao are "what the people of Mindanao want . . . the people instead strongly demand an end to these injustices which over and over again destroy their means of livelihood and leave them hungry, sick, fearful, and eventually landless."

Senturias and Lagroma claim that the latest outbreaks of violence which exploded during the second week of February "were provoked by the Armed Forces‚ massive buildup of 2,000 troops and 30 tanks in the areas surrounding Pikit, Cotabato, beginning many weeks prior. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) tries to justify its pre-emptive attacks, which include shellings, bombings, and the seizure of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) territory including the Buliok Complex, by claiming that the MILF was harboring Pentagon kidnap gang members. This same justification has been used for many military operations in the past, and yet again, the AFP did not manage to capture any Pentagon members nor produce any convincing evidence of MILF cooperation with criminal or terrorist groups. The AFP attacks are violations of the GRP-MILF ceasefire agreements of 2001.

"According to the 2001 ceasefire agreements, the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) should produce and submit to the MILF an order of battle containing the names and identities of criminal elements in MILF areas, so that the MILF and GRP can form a joint force against these criminals. So far, there has been no effort follow these procedures, which would make pre-emptive strikes and armed encounters completely avoidable. Both the MILF and the AFP should cooperate with their coordinating committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH). The GRP and MILF must show their sincere commitment to the peace process by providing substantial funding and logistical support to the Local Monitoring Teams (LMTs). The LMTs should be made operational and should include a large degree of participation by those civilians directly affected by this armed conflict."

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This "useless and irresponsible war," write the MPPM officers, has forced 141,000 civilians out of their homes and their land in Cotabato and Maguindanao. Evacuation has become "a miserable way of life for many of these families, as this is the fourth wave of massive displacements since 1997. This time, nine people have already died in evacuation centers, where there is inadequate shelter and lack of health care and medicine, despite the efforts of relief agencies, religious groups, and the government.

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Senturias and Lagroma make the revelation that the military operations are taking place "in the context of the development aggression‚ mandated under Philippine Energy Plan 2002-2011, the Agriculture & Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), and the Arakan Valley Development Plan. Major projects planned for this areas include Pulangi Dam V, massive expansion of foreign-owned palm oil plantations in Arakan Valley, and exploration of oil deposits in Liguasan marsh. These projects face major people’s opposition because they would displace thousands of poor farmers and indigenous people (Lumad), while wreaking havoc on the natural environment. Strategic military operations in these areas conveniently pave the way for more permanent dislocations in the near future."

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The MPPM officers say that predictably, the MILF has responded to the AFP strikes with retaliations of its own. "While the MILF does not claim responsibility for the bomb attacks on civilians, it did ambush a truckload of military personnel in Matanog along the Ramos Highway, which left at least 17 persons dead. The MPPM understands these retaliatory attacks, because it also recognizes that the Bangsamoro armed struggle is rooted in their (the Moros‚) deep dissatisfaction and sense of injustice that their right to self-determination as a Bangsamoro nation continues to be denied."

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Senturias and Lagroma say that Mindanaoans come from many different walks of life and perspectives, "but let us all find common group in our longing for a peaceful solution to stop this terrible waste of human life. First, we must help to strengthen the ceasefire arrangements and support confidence-building between all parties to the conflict. Then we must address the demands and aspirations at the very root of this issue, by letting the will of the people be heard and respected."

The MPPM proposes a peaceful and lasting solution to this armed conflict, which will bring "genuine security to the suffering civilians, and justice to the Bangsamoro. As a coalition representing Lumad (LPs), Bangsamoro and Mindanao settlers and their descendants, the MPPM calls on the government to hold a United Nation-Supervised Referendum in Bangsamoro areas of Mindanao within the next few years. This will allow the people to choose the political option best suited to their aspirations, whether it is genuine autonomy, a federal state, or complete independence from the Philippines. We must allow Bangsamoro voices to be heard through democratic means, or else their frustrations will continue to be expressed through the barrel of the gun, causing everyone to suffer."

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