A statement of appeal has been issued by the All-Out-Peace advocacy movement, composed of peace networks and civil society groups, for the suspension of military operations (SOMO) undertaken by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
The peace advocates seek to start the campaign in the so-called "SPMS box" in Maguindanao -- Salibo, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak -- that has effectively spilled over to Guindulungan, Talayan, and Datu Piang, where BIFF members are suspected to have retreated with bomb-making expert Abdul Basit Usman, and to have possibly mixed in with non-combatant communities to frustrate the military campaign.
"We express our grave concern over the glaring civilian protection and safety issues caused by the PNP-AFP joint intensified law enforcement operations ("all-out offensive") declared last February 25 by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Catapang," the statement read in part.
The joint operation is now referred to as an "all-sectors offensive" -- alluding to the involvement of citizens who are requested to share information on the elusive Usman.
"In just three (3) weeks, more than 110,280 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have suffered the brunt of the military operations (as of March 13 UNOCHA updates).
"Twelve (12) towns in Maguindanao are already under a 'state of calamity' and a staggering P13 million a week is being spent by government for food aid to the IDPs.
"We are alarmed about the use of artillery shelling and airstrikes with bombs reportedly dropped near civilian homes.
"We note that the ground combat operations have intensified despite the increasing casualties -- one hundred sixteen (116) BIFF rebels reported killed, six (6) soldiers killed in action and thirty one (31) soldiers wounded, according to military sources.
"We categorically state that a humanitarian crisis is already staring us in the face as an effect of the prolonged military action against lawless elements.
"We are urgently appealing to all peace-loving citizens to join this 'humanitarian call' and participate in mobilizing relief goods and encouraging solidarity with the IDPs by enabling their voices and stories to be heard.
"We, henceforth, put forward the following urgent calls :
"1. We urge the PNP-AFP to declare a SUSPENSION OF MILITARY OPERATIONS (SOMO) in the twelve (12) Maguindanao towns to allow full blown emergency assistance by humanitarian groups to displaced persons and families in the evacuation camps, homes of host families and community spaces.
"'Reposition' the military troops away from the civilian population and structures (i.e. schools, places of worship, markets and other sources of water, livelihood and public installations) to guarantee safety of communities and further demilitarize the conflict-affected communities.
"2. We appeal for civic groups, other sectors and the general public to help in mobilizing humanitarian assistance in consonance with the emergency response protocols, standards and guidelines for relief drive and distribution;
"3. We call for the primacy of civilian protection amidst the excessive and indiscriminate use of artillery shelling and airstrikes on civilian communities in Maguindanao. We remind the key actors to strongly adhere to the international humanitarian laws, specifically the 4th Geneva Convention, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (UNGPID);
"4. We call for the review of the terms of reference of the "Joint Task Force Central" which is the police-AFP-Marines coordinative body installed to oversee the law enforcement operations against the BIFF. We are alarmed by the rollout of an operations plan with no specific timetable, hence, we respectfully demand disclosure by the joint task force on the progress of its operations.
"5. We seek support from media partners, learning institutions and peace communicators to generate and disseminate stories of the IDPs and the effects of the armed conflict brought about by a prolonged military operation especially on vulnerable women, young children and the elderly, in order to make a collective appeal to stop the military offensives.
"6. We call for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the bill on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) that are still being deliberated in Philippine Congress. Crisis such as this emboldens the enactment of legal measures to prevent and reduce armed violence. We believe that an enhanced and enacted BBL remains the most viable legal vehicle that can address the Bangsamoro question and bring a more durable peace in Mindanao.
"We have been battered by a series of unfortunate events over the last few months -- from the Mamasapano tragedy last January 25, to the all-out military offensive declared on February 25. We remain hopeful, however that sobriety and reason will ultimately prevail, and that there will be a renewal of trust in the political settlement that accords genuine autonomy to Muslim Mindanao.
"We believe that we will eventually overcome the current crisis, as we embrace our diversity as a people - accepting our differences, overcoming prejudices, and listening to the past and present narratives of the Moro, Lumad and Christian peoples.
"Military action begets massive displacement and we, at ALL-OUT PEACE, denounce all forms of armed violence especially inflicted on poor and vulnerable communities.
"Let's all together beat the gongs of peace, and not the drums of war!
"Declare a humanitarian ceasefire, now!
"Stop the intensified military offensives, now!
"All-out humanitarian assistance, now!"
SIGNATORIES :
National Convenors of All-Out Peace
- Friends of the Bangsamoro (FoBM)
- Generation Peace Youth Network (GenPeace)
- Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE)
- Mindanao PeaceWeavers (MPW)
- Mindanao CSO Peace Platform (MCSOPP)
- Waging Peace Philippines (WPP)
- Women Engaged in Action on 1325 (WEAct 1325)
Convening and Founding Networks
- Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) – Nat'l Campaign Secretariat
- Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan (AKKAPKA)
- Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogue in SEA (Al Qalam)
- Alternate Forum For Research in Mindanao, Inc (AFRIM)
- Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc (BMFI)
- Balay Rehabilitation Center, Inc (Balay)
- Binhi ng Kapayapaan, Inc (Binhi)
- Bisayang Dako Alang sa Kalinaw (BISDAK-Dumaguete)
- Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO)
- Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)
- Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc (MKFI)
- Mindanao Action for Peace & Devt Initiatives (MAPAD)
- Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC)
- Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM)
- Mindanao Solidarity Network (MSN) – Co-Convenor for Manila
- Pax Christi Institute (PCI) – Co-Convenor for Visayas
- Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ)
- Peacebuilders Community, Inc (Peacebuilders)
- Philippines Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID)
- Solidarity for Global Peace, Ecology, and Inclusive Econ Devt (SUCCCED Global, Inc.)
- Sustainable Cooperation for Equitable Enterprise Development (SUCCEED, Inc.)
- Women's Peace Tables
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