MILF: Mindanao People’s Caucus issues an appeal on the plight of IDP’S in Maguindanao

Posted to the MILF Website (Apr 10): Mindanao People’s Caucus issues an appeal on the plight of IDP’S in Maguindanao


The Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), one of the largest non-government organizations in Mindanao that advocates peace and development in the region issued an appeal dated April 7, 2015, addressed to the Military and the House of Congress. The document was signed by Mr. Abdulbasit Benito, MPC Secretary General.

The appeal entitled, “ A call for a Principled Peace! An Appeal of Internally- Displaced Persons (IDP’s) to end the military operations in Maguindanao, Protect Human Security, and Enact the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Their appeal runs as follows:

To our Honorable and Esteemed Members of Congress,

 We, the undersigned peace advocates, in behalf of the internally displaced women community leaders, the“bakwits” whom we have accompanied from Mindanao, call on you, our honourable legislators to bear in mind that your deliberations on the Mamasapano incident, and the subsequent findings and pronouncements you will have on the matter, will have a resounding effect not only on the development of laws concerning the criminal justice system and “terrorism” but more importantly it will shape public perception on the Bangsamoro and will set the tone in terms of policy decisions concerning social justice, development, and peace for the Bangsamoro people.    

As our duly elected representatives, we hope that when you make a stand on the findings of your investigation you would do so with a rational and open mind, and unprejudiced heart capable of going beyond the political rhetoric of war and warmongers; able to judge and understand that the real injustice brought by the incident in Mamasapano is not that the “Fallen 44” were killed while performing their duty; or that the MILF were not informed about the PNP-SAF operation hence the “mis-encounter” between their forces and the Government; nor is it even about the untimely and tragic deaths of the civilians who were caught in the crossfire. The real injustice that happened after Mamasapano was committed against the people who are now being displaced from their homes, because instead of upholding the primacy of the peace process, the government has opted to launch an all-out offensive in the area, which has led to the evacuation of 25,067 families or 125,302 persons from the 14 towns of Maguindanao.

The real victims of the fire fight in Mamasapano were not the PNP-SAF and MILF combatants who died in the battle. The real victims are the farmers who have lost all means of livelihood because they are driven out of the lands they tilled and from the animals they raised all because their lands now serves as the battleground between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). The real victims are the families who are now suffering from almost subhuman conditions in evacuations centers; living only on food aid and dole out in order to survive while being constantly under threat from hunger and starvation, disease, and death.

The true casualty of Mamasapano is the shattered hope for peace caused by the suspension of the deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the subsequent campaign against its passage. We are disheartened that even some esteemed members of Congress has gone so far as misinform the public about how the BBL is “unconstitutional” and will only strengthen and give power to the “terroristic” MILF. Unfounded statements and baseless fears that only seek to rile the Filipino people against the Bangsamoro people by feeding on the prejudices and the ignorance of the general populace about the BBL.

For the “bakwits” and for us Mindanaons who have known war and its devastating consequences, we see the BBL as the only logical and peaceful solution to the 17 year conflict which has caused countless death and suffering, and has sent the provinces of Muslim Mindanao in a perpetual cycle of war and underdevelopment.

In this context,  we ask you, our elected Representatives to consider the following:

To resume the deliberations on the BBL and ensure its passage consistent to the 12 points of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

To hold an immediate inquiry into the humanitarian situation in the areas of conflict taking to task the conduct of the Joint Task Force Central and its operation without a timetable.   

To initiate a resolution that strengthens humanitarian assistance for IDPs and protects their rights as defined by international human rights standards.

As you deliberate on Mamasapano, we fervently hope that you see this bigger picture, and that you act bearing in mind that what is at stake here is the future of peace in Mindanao. As Nelson Mandela once said "We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in any society, a life free from violence and fear.” This is what we ask you to strive for. This is what we expect from our political leaders.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/851-mindanao-people-s-caucus-issues-an-appeal-on-the-plight-of-idp-s-in-maguindanao