WUNRN
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines.
Women in the war-torn
areas of the
_______________________________________________________________________
August 29, 2008
UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
UN Headquarters
New
York, USA
Tel: 1
212 963 5012; Fax: 1 212 963 4879
Email:
sgcentral@un.org
Subject:
Armed Conflict in Southern Philippines
Dear
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
We would like to
express utmost concern about the recent breakout of violence in Southern
Philippines (parts of Mindanao island) following the issuance of a temporary
restraining order against the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on
Ancestral Domain by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) on August 4, 2008.
Fifty
(50) people, most of whom are civilians, have been killed and some 220,000 have
been displaced by the recent attacks in Lanao and North Cotabato provinces.
While
we believe that MILF units that targeted villages have engaged in serious
violations of international law and should be held accountable, we are also
seriously concerned about the formation of armed militia units with support
from the Department of Interior and Local Government. The setting up of
armed groups will not protect civilians as some local government officials
believe. Rather, it will lead to more chaos,
insecurity and division among local communities. The protection of civilians is
the responsibility of the State and its security sector such as the Armed
Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
We
thank you for your statement of August 13th where you
expressed concern about the unfolding humanitarian crisis and appealed for
restraint, protection of all civilians as well as access for the provision of
speedy humanitarian assistance to the affected population.
We now
call on your office to bring the government of the Republic of the Philippines and MILF back to the peace negotiation table as soon as possible. We
also call on you to demand both parties to honor their obligation under
Security Council Resolution 1325 which is to ensure women’s equal and fair
participation in peace processes and ensure the protection of women and
children who are the most vulnerable in armed conflict situations.
Yours sincerely,
Center
for Peace Education, Miriam College
Katungod Han Samareña Foundation, Inc. (Rights of Samar Women)
Mindanao
Commission on Women
Mindanao
Peoples' Peace Movement
Mindanao
Tri-People Women
Mindanao
Young Women Leaders Forum
Mothers
for Peace
Muslim
Women Peace Advocates
Peace
Education Network,
Philippines
Philippine
Action Network on Small Arms
Philippine Campaign against Cluster Munitions
Philippine
Council for Islam and Democracy
Political
Caucus of Women Leaders in Mindanao
Women's Crisis Center Manila
Individual
signatories:
Abdulbasit
R. Benito, Bangsamoro Center for Just Peace Inc., Philippines
Antoinette Brem, Switzerland
Barbara Lehner, Switzerland
Bianca Miglioretto, Switzerland
Chan
lean heng, Science University of Malaysia
Dr. Jan Marie Fritz (USA)
Dr.
Susana Salavador-Anayatin, Graduate Schools of Notre Dame University and Mindanao State University, Philippines
Benedicto Q. Sánchez, Broad Initiatives for Negros Development, Philippines
Elvie
Villarido-Manaytay, The Zamaboanga Sibugay Tribune, Philippines
Franciska
Keller, Switzerland
Jane
Prichard, Convenor Pacific Women's Watch, Inc, New Zealand
Katja Schurter, Switzerland
Lourdes Portus, University of the Philippines
Llili
Bienz, Switzerland
Nathan Gilbert Quimpo, University of Tsukuba
Sebastian
Becker, Germany
With endorsements from
AMARC
Women’s International Network
Asian
Circle 1325
Boston Consortium on
Gender, Security and Human Rights
Center for Women's Global
Leadership
Central American
Secretariat, Zurich, Switzerland
Comunica-ch, the Swiss
Platform on the Information Society
Femlink
Pacific
Hague Appeal for Peace
International
Presentation Association Sisters of the Presentation (USA)
International Women's
Tribune Centre
Isis International
JC
International English School Nepal
Liberia Women Media Action
Committee
Peace Boat US
Peace-communication.eu
- Germany
Radio LoRa (Zurich,
Switzerland)
Sri Lanka Women and Media
Collective
Women Action for New
Directions (USA)
Women
for Justice in Africa (Kenya)
Women
for Peace (Switzerland)
Cc:
·
the
president of the UN General Assembly
·
members
of the UN Security Council; the Philippine mission to the UN; the
following country missions to the UN: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Japan,
Libya, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, USA
·
the
Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the embassies of Australia,
Brunei, Canada, Japan, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, and USA in
Manila
·
World
Bank - The World Bank and Civil Society; World Bank Philippines, Washington DC
Office
US
Contacts
International Women’s Tribune Centre
Mavic Cabrera-Balleza mavic@iwtc.org ; tel: 1 212 687 8633
Sarah
Nagadya sarah@iwtc.org; tel: 1 212
687 8633
______________________________________________________________________
UN Food Agency Increases Aid to Mindanao Conflict Areas
MANILA,
Philippines -- The United Nations (UN) increased its humanitarian assistance to
Mindanao residents displaced by the resumption of hostilities between the
military and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The UN World
Food Program (WFP), in a statement posted at the world body’s website, said it
has sent 325 tons of rice to some 13,000 families.
The agency has
also agreed to provide an additional 250 tons of rice for 10,000 other families
in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte for at least a month.
Stephen
Anderson, WFP’s country director, said the increased assistance follows a rapid
assessment by aid officials across the region, adding that the provinces of
Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani have also been affected by the
recent fighting.
“We hope for
peace and stability so that affected families in Mindanao can soon return to
their homes and begin rebuilding their lives,” Anderson said.
“In the current
unpredictable security situation, vulnerable victims of these clashes urgently
need to receive humanitarian assistance, especially essential food among other
complimentary relief items," he added.
The WFP started
providing an initial 400 metric tons of rice to assist 96,000 people for at
least one month in the conflict-affected communities in North Cotabato.
“WFP fully
understands that the situation remains fluid, and we will continue to work
closely with all concerned to further assess the total number of affected
persons and adjust our response accordingly,” Anderson said.
“WFP remains
concerned over the growing number of persons displaced by the violence between
the armed forces and the MILF. Many of the affected population are women and
children, and we are concerned for their well-being and stand ready to support
humanitarian needs,” he said.
According to
government officials, almost 130,000 people have been displaced from 42
villages in North Cotabato province alone since the fighting began early this
month.
They are being
provided with food support in some 43 evacuation centers in the province.
WFP’s response,
which came at the request of the provincial government of North Cotabato, aims
to support the Mindanao peace process by providing food aid to meet urgent
needs, as an immediate “peace dividend” for conflict-affected communities.
Earlier, UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern about the fighting in Mindanao and
the unfolding humanitarian crisis caused by the displacement of the civilian
populace.
Ban also
appealed for restraint by the parties to the conflict in a statement issued by
his spokesperson at UN headquarters in New York City.
“The
Secretary-General is concerned about the unfolding humanitarian crisis as a
result of fighting in central Mindanao, an area which has already been affected
by conflict for several decades,” the statement said.
"Mr. Ban
appealed for restraint, protection of all civilians as well as access for the
provision of speedy humanitarian assistance to the affected population, and
stated the UN’s readiness to support the efforts of the government of the
Philippines in this regard," it added.
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