May 24,
2017
Around 2 o’clock in the afternoon of 23
May 2017, gunfight between armed men (suspected Maute Group allegedly ISIS
sympathizer) and the elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
erupted in public places in Marawi City putting civilian population hostage in
the situation. As the violence intensifies, civilian population are exposed to
higher risk of being killed or injured. In
fact, reports have noted that the gunfight has already claimed 3 lives, wounded
12 other individuals, abducted church leaders, held civilians hostage, occupied
hospital and burned and destroyed properties as of midnight of May 23.
We, in the tri-people peace and human
rights movements express our strong condemnation of this violence. We are
deeply saddened that this atrocity has happened especially in times like this
when our Muslim brothers and sisters are about to observe in three (3) days’
time the Holy Month of Ramadhan.
In this regard,
We call on all parties involved to stop
the hostilities and atrocities in Marawi City;
We call on the warring groups not to use
civilians as shields and free all public places from hostile actions and armed
confrontations; avoid indiscriminate firing, bombing and shelling; observe
compliance to the international humanitarian law and the rules of engagement in
the conduct of the operations;
We call for the government to exert all
efforts to ensure the safety and protection of the civilians now trapped in the
midst of the current emergency crisis; involve and make civilian communities,
not just mere passive recipients, but, as part and integral in coming up
solution to end this crisis;
Particularly, we ask the Moro National
Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to maximize the existing
peace processes and mechanisms to help arrest the emergency situation;
We call on the religious leaders, council
of elders, community leaders and all state and non-state peace actors to
intervene and demand for the protection of lives, properties and communities;
to lead in maintaining sobriety, critical mind, and prevent inciting religious
and cultural biases out of this situation;
We call on humanitarian organizations and
agencies to immediately respond to the needs of affected populations;
The current government’s response in Placing
Mindanao under Martial law will not solve the current situation instead it will
only further the violence and curtailment of civilian and community rights to
peace and life. Suspension of the legal remedies specifically the Writ of Habeas Corpus would further put
the communities and civil societies in a vulnerable situation- a lesson we have
learned from the terror of Marcos era. Thus, we demand to the Philippine
Congress not to support the declaration of Martial Law and must uphold the
supremacy of civilian and the Philippine constitution instead;
As peacebuilders and human rights defenders, we viewed this direct violence as result of governments’ neglect in fulfilling the rights and entitlements of its peoples which can be responded to without using arms and violence.
Despite this situation, we appeal to the general public to continue building the infrastructure of peace by strengthening solidarity towards each other, intensify our efforts to build harmonious relationship between and among peoples, strengthen our convictions to build communities of justpeace where respect, social justice and co-existence inspire us all. Let us continue propagating the seeds of understanding and mutual respect we have nurtured for quite some time already.
Signed
by:
Alliance of the Tri-People for the
Advancement of Human Rights (ALTAHR)
Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa
Kapayapaan (AKMK)
AKMK Young Women
Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa
Karapatang Pantao (AMKP)
Association of OFW
Children-Maguindanao-Cotabato
Coalition of Lanao Utility Transport for
Change (CLUTCH)
Convergence of NGOs and POs in Zamboanga
del Sur for Rural Development, Inc (CONZARRD)
Demokratikong Kilusang Magbubukid ng
Pilipinas (DKMP) – Lanao
Electoral Reforms and Development
Assistance Center, Inc (ERDAC)
Erumanen Ne Menuvu Kamal
Federation of Democratic Labor
Organizations (FDLO)
Inged Fintailan
Interfaith Movement for Clean and Peaceful
Election (IM4PeaCe)
International Institute for Research and
Education
Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Center,
Inc (Kaagapay OFW)
Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mamumuong
Kababayen-an alang sa Kalambuan (KASAMMA KA)
Kagkalimwa OFW Federation
Kahugpungan sa mga Mangingisda sa Kolambugan
(KASAMA KO)
Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA)
Kilusan ng mga Mamamayan para sa Pagbabago
ng Bayan (Kilos Bayan)
Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
(LAHRA)
Lanao Aquatic and Marine Fisheries Center
for Community Development, Inc (LAFCCOD)
Lanao Fisheries Advocacy Network (LFAN)
Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan (LMK)
Lig-ong Hinisuang Kusog sa Kabus sa
Dakbayan (LIHUK)
Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM)
Mindanao Tri-People Women Resource Center,
Inc (MTWRC)
Mindanao Tri-people Women Forum (MTWF)
Mindanao Tri-People Youth Center, Inc
(MTPYC)
MindanaOne Tri-peoples Movement for the
Advancement of Democratic Rights (MindanaOne)
Multi-Stakeholders Initiative for
Humanitarian Action Network against Disasters (MiHANDs)
Nagkahiusang Mangingisda alang sa
Kalambuan (NAMANGKA SND)
Nagkahiusang Mag-uumang Organiko (NAMAO)
Nagkahiusang Mag-uumang Organiko (NAMAO)
Nangkahiusang Organisasyong Mangingisda sa
Tubod ug Baroy (NOMaTuB)
Partido Manggagawa (PM)
Partido Manggagawa (PM)
Ranao Disaster Response and Rehabilitation
Assistance Center, Inc (RDRRAC)
Ranao Women and Children Resource Center,
Inc (RWCRC)
Sumpay Mindanao, Inc.
Sustainable Alternatives for the
Advancement of Mindanao (SALAM)
Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG) of
Teduray and Lambangian tribes
Tri-Peoples’ Organization against
Disasters Foundation (TRIPOD)
Tri-People Youth for Change (TryChange)
Teduray-Lambangian Youth and Student
Association (TLYSA)
Umpungan Nu mga Babai sa Bagua 2 (UBB2)
#StandWithMarawi #DuyogMarawi #ProtectCivilians
#StandWithMarawi #DuyogMarawi #ProtectCivilians
