URGENT APPEAL TO END THE WAR IN SULU
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The brutal killing of a civilian family in Karawan, Maimbung on February 3, 2005 has allegedly triggered the current war in Sulu. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), with the so-called Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG), as an act of revenge in turn attacked military camps and led to the continuing armed confrontation between the GRP and MNLF up to this day. It has blown out of proportions that the clashes have scattered like wildfire in the ten (10) municipalities of Sulu. The war is now more than two weeks and showed no signs of letting up. Ins! tead, it has intensified.

While some local groups in Sulu called for an immediate ceasefire, the same has fallen on deaf ears. As the war raged on everyday, more and more people are also becoming displaced. On Feb 19, 2005, the number of displaced persons has already reached 27,669 and still increasing by the day. The number of casualties of war has also considerably increased which unfortunately are not made known to the public. Both sides kept tabs of the number of their fallen comrade and in turn vowed to get even against the other.

This score keeping has not helped in stabilizing the situation in Sulu. It has further deepened the hostilities not only between the contending groups but as well as the civilians. The innocent civilians who are often the victim of the war not of their making no longer know whom to trust. As one civilian puts it, “We no longer trust anyone. Everyone can be our enemy.” This mistrust is borne out of the experience of the civilians who have to flee their homes and ran for their lives.

Feeling pathetic and impotent with the current situation in Sulu, the civilians have this to say: “We are just mere civilians so we cannot stop the military from occupying our communities. We cannot also demand for them to vacate our communities.” Their lament is for peace to finally reign so that they can go back to their homes. In the evacuation centers, their economic opportunities are nil. The children are also deprived of their education as classes have stopped totally.

The lament of the ordinary citizens is simple. They are afraid of what this war will do to them and their children. Life to them has become uncertain with the war showing no signs of ending. It has become a common sight in Sulu to see people walking with their families going to the evacuation centers or to their families in neighboring towns and barangays bringing all their personal belongings and farm animals. You can even see chickens being tied to the tents which served as temporary shelters of the evacuees. Everyone has to contend sleeping on the cold floors of the classrooms and the hard earth covered only with flimsy cartons and mats exposed to the elements.

Therefore,We, the undersigned civil society organizations, would like to make the following appeal:

An immediate ceasefire to the war in Sulu, the barrel of the gun is never the solution to any problem;

To the authorities, to look into the truth behind the “Karawan Incident” and other alleged human rights violations which have lead to this current war in Sulu;

To all peace-loving groups, NGOs, individuals to join hands and faced this big challenge together. We need both strength and numbers to face this adversity and heed the call of the ordinary citizens in Sulu for peace;

For sobriety and cooler heads to reign and not be a slave of hatred and prejudices;

Lastly, we call upon kind-hearted individuals and organizations to extend assistance to the people of Sulu who have become displaced from this war in any form, be it food items, clothing, temporary shelter and medicines. The people of Sulu need our solidarity and support. Let us not fail them.

21 February 2005
Zamboanga City, Mindanao
Philippines

Signed:

MINDANAO PEOPLES’ PEACE MOVEMENT (MPPM)
MINDANAO TRI-PEOPLE YOUTH CENTER (MTPYC)
KAHAPAN FOUNDATION, INC.
MORO HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER (MHRC)
SUMPAY MINDANAO, INC.
TASK FORCE DETAINEES OF THE PHILIPPINES (TFDP)
ALLIANCE OF TRI-PEOPLE ADVANCEMENT FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS (ALTAHR)
TRI-PEOPLE ORGANIZATION AGAINST DISASTER FOUNDATION, (TRIPOD INC.)
ANAK-MINDANAO (AMIN)

Note: The above signatories have conducted a 3-day (February 18-20,2005) documentation in Sulu.

printable version