Dear friends, we would like to request for your support to the statement
(below) calling for the immediate humanitarian ceasefire and dialogue in Zamboanga City, Philippines. Please sign up and help circulate. Thank you very much!
*Mindanao PeaceWeavers-MPW* (Sect:Initiatives for International
Dialogue-IID,Mobile: (+63)09177247579; Email: lyndeeprieto@yahoo.com
==============================
*DECLARE A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE IN ZAMBOANGA CITY, NOW!*
A Petition Campaign in Support for Dialogue, ****
Humanitarian Action and Ceasefire**
*WE, THE UNDERSIGNED PEACE ADVOCATES, CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS AND CONCERNED
CITIZENS, SERIOUSLY APPEAL IN CALLING FOR DIALOGUE and THE IMMEDIATE
DECLARATION OF HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE in the conflict-affected barangays in Zamboanga City to address the standoff since September 9, 2013.
Specifically, we urge H.E. Benigno Simeon Aquino III, MNLF Chair Nur
Misuari, Mayor Isabelle Climaco, Sec Teresita Deles, and the Organization
of Islamic Conference (OIC) to heed the following calls :
1. We call for an immediate stop to the firefight and a prompt and
orderly redeployment of forces – both the MNLF and the AFP to address the
alarming evacuee situation;
2. We call on both parties to immediately delineate a *humanitarian
corridor* where civilians and injured combatants may be safely assisted
with their humanitarian needs;
3. Generate public support towards broad humanitarian action by allowing
full access and the entry of humanitarian groups to complement existing
efforts of the local government, DSWD, and civil society in Zamboanga City;
4. We call for both parties to dialogue and allow for sufficient space for
peaceful negotiations to take place;
5. We strongly recommend that those who are responsible for the deaths,
destruction of properties and other human rights violations will be held
fully accountable;
6. We appeal to the Philippine Government and its Office on the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to translate its policy
in addressing the fate of the MNLF peace process and their legitimate
issues;
7. Lastly, we call for the intervention of the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC) in resolving this issue, sustaining the role they have
long-fulfilled in ensuring the hopes for peace in Mindanao.
We hope and pray that this matter is resolved quickly, justly and
peaceably, and that equanimity prevails in the restoration of peace and
order in Zamboanga City and its surrounds.
Declare a Zamboanga City-wide ceasefire now! Spare the civilians from
armed hostilities! No to armed action and militarization in Zamboanga City!
INITIAL SIGNATORIES :
NATIONAL:
*MINDANAO PEACEWEAVERS (MPW)*
*Agri-Aqua Development Coalition (AADC)*
*Akbayan Partylist*
*Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan (AKKAPKA)*
*Alliance of Progressive Labor – Davao Region*****
*Ateneo School of Government*
*Coalition of Social Development Organizations – Sth Cotabato (CSDO-SC)*
*Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)*****
*GZO Peace Institute*
*Kabataan Consortium, Inc.*
*Kahugpungan-Mindanaw (KAMI)*
*Kalimudan Foundation, Inc – Marawi City*
*Kameritanan ne Erumanen Menuvu (KEM)*
*Katilingban para sa Kalambuan, Inc. *
*Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation*
*Luna Legal Resource Center, Inc.*
*Mindanao Alliance of Self-Help Societies – Southern Phils Educational
Cooperative Center (MASS-SPECC)*
*Makabayan Pilipinas -Mindanao*
*Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE)
Mindanao Congress of NGOs and NGIs (MINCON)*
*Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Women Development, Inc (MIPWED)*
*Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC)*****
*Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM)*
*Nagdilaab Foundation, Inc. (NFI)*
*Pambansang Kilusang Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA-Mindanao)*
*PANDAYAN*
*Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)*
*Partido Lakas Masa (PLM- Mindanao)*
*Pax Christi Institute*
*Peace Advocates Zamboanga Foundation, Inc. (PAZ)*
*Peacebuilders Community*
*PhilDHRRA-Mindanao*
*Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI)*
*PhilSSA-Mindanao*
*Reach Out to Others Foundation, Inc. (ROOF)*
*SENTRO*
*SIMCARRD INC*
*SUCCEED, INC*
*Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)*
*Timuay Justice and Governance*
*Waging Peace-Philippines*
*Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA) *
GLOBAL /REGIONAL:
*Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)*
*Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC-SEA)*
*Acehnese Civil Society Task Force (ACSTF-Aceh)*
*Child Rights Coalition Asia Secretariat*
*Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC-Nepal)*
*Karen Women Empowerment Group (KWEG -Myanmar)*
*KKSP Foundation, Educatn & Info Center for Child Rights (Indonesia)*
*Nabodhara (Bangladesh)*
*Network for Transformative Social Protection (NTSP-Asia)*
*The Life Skills Development Foundation (Thailand)*
*Women’s Initiatives Network for Peace (WIN PEACE -Myanmar)*
*Women’s Organizations Network (WON -Myanmar)*
*World without WARs and without Violence*
** **
Mindanao CSOs Statement****
Zamboanga Stand-off****
September 9, 2013****
****
CALL FOR SOBRIETY, DIALOGUE, NOT ARMED ACTION****
** **
We, the undersigned civil society groups, express our deepest expressions
of concern, prayers and support for the innocent civilians caught in the
ongoing crossfire between elements associated with the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF) and government security forces in Zamboanga City
that unfolded before us this Monday, September 9. We also likewise extend
our deep condolences to the families of the armed actors themselves – the
police, military authorities, and MNLF fighters felled during the incident.*
***
****
WE HOPE AND PRAY that this matter is resolved quickly, justly and
peaceably, and that equanimity prevails in the restoration of peace and
order in Zamboanga City and its surrounds. We express pity for the growing
thousands of displaced evacuees now streaming into safe havens in
Zamboanga, wherever they can find them. We call on all concerned to avoid
knee-jerk reactions that only feed into the distrust and discord we all
want to avoid. We encourage all involved to explore dialogue in resolving
whatever differences and grievances they may bear.****
****
WE ARE SADDENED that such a provocative event happened on the eve of the
slated and historic 10-day talks between the Government of the Philippines
(GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. This will be the longest ever continuous meeting in the history
of these talks and deserves our utmost support. Nevertheless we also expect
that there will always be those displeased with the promising progress of
these talks who will try to stop or derail such gains for their own aims
and ends. We challenge all stakeholders not to be drawn into such
diversions. Instead, let us learn from such events and stay our course of
peace, strong and resolute in our shared vision of a more united and
progressing Bangsamoro benefiting all.****
****
WE APPEAL to all involved in making peace work in our beleaguered region
to patiently and consistently find ways in establishing structured
opportunities towards meaningful inclusion of other stakeholders in the
peace process. The ongoing standoff in Zamboanga City between the MNLF and
the government forces may indicate “imperfections” in the peace process,
but there are legitimate issues that need to be addressed with a sense of
just finality in the seemingly complicated peace process of the MNLF with
the government. But we still denounce the very act of resorting to an
armed action just to send its message across at the risk of lives, limbs,
and security of innocent citizens.****
****
WE REMAIN ENCOURAGED that despite this event, both the GPH and the MILF
have expressed trust, confidence and support heading into the 40th round of
these exploratory talks. This is the spirit that we believe should be
engendered not only in the nascent Bangsamoro but through-out the country
as well. Let us continue to support dialogue as a primary tool for peace
building. Let us not allow the guns to drown out the voices we need to
hear, the ones who call for peace. These are the voices that truly speak
for us, driving our singular struggle, quest and vision for true and
lasting peace in Mindanao. ****
** **
*GRACE C. JIMENO – REBOLLOS*
PAZ-ROOF-NFI-ZABIDA
*”The duty of privilege is absolute integrity”*
* – John O’Donohue**