POSITION PAPER ON THE EID’L FITR INCIDENT

Affected and distressed by the military operations and aerial bombardment of the forces of the Philippine Marines in Sitio Talibang, Buansa, Indanan, Sulu, on the day of the Eid’l Fitr celebration of September 20, 2009, as well as the impact brought about by said operations to thousands of residents in Sulu, particularly in the municipalities of Indanan and Panamao;

Cognizant of the fact that, in addition to: 1) the Ei’dl Fitr Incident, 2) the State of Emergency that was previously placed on the entire province of Sulu due to the kidnapping of three ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) volunteers early this year, and 3) the most recent explosion within the premises of the Jolo Municipal Hall, the situation in the province has remained fluid, volatile and explosive;

Aware that public pronouncements made by government agencies and entities have come out to be contrary to the unpublished or unpublicized pronouncements made by other sectors and stakeholders involved in, or affected by, the said Eid’l Fitr incident;

and

Concerned that tension among the people of Sulu will continue to remain high because of perceived continuation of occurrences of human rights abuses and violations made by those in authority;


We, the undersigned leaders and representatives of Moro civil society organizations in Mindanao and Sulu, have decided to conduct a series of data gathering activities and dialogues with the various sectors and stakeholders of the province of Sulu from October 31 to December 9, 2009 to acquire, glean and collate information, insights, perspectives and recommendations from: 1) the community leaders of Panamao and Indanan, 2) the LGU leaders of Panamao and Indanan, 3) the local civil society organizations of Sulu, 4) the local MNLF leadership, 5) the provincial PNP and 6) the Philippine Marines assigned in Sulu in an attempt to find ways to bring to public light the stories of all sides concerned about what had happened in Indanan, Sulu on September 20, 2009.

In light of the aforesaid situation and initiative, as well as based on the information gathered, we hereby make the following assertions:

1. That, although it was claimed by the Philippine Marines that it was the alleged convergence of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) elements that was being targeted by their military operations and bombardment, the community leaders of Indanan and Panamao, the LGU leaders of Indanan and Panamao and the MNLF leaders based in Camp Marang unanimously asserted that it was not the ASG but the MNLF camp and communities that were hit by said military operations.
2. That said operations are regarded as a sacrilege to Islam. It is also seen as a clear proof of discrimination and an utter disrespect to the dignity of the Tausug people, particularly by those who had really given the orders for the military operations to commence to the Muslim Ummah of Sulu because it was done during the day of Eid’l Fitr and because those who were directly and adversely affected were not the converged ASG groups but the MNLF and the civilian populace of Indanan and Panamao who were not only deprived and prevented from performing their religious obligations, but also were forced to evacuate.
3. The LGUs of Sulu are constrained from stopping military operations in their respective areas. They have no say on government decision. Instead, they are asked to comply with the usual call of the provincial government to support the military operations by way of organizing the para-military force multipliers in order to augment military troops dispatched in the area.
4. That civilian residents from the areas where the military operations were done on September 20, 2009 remain in their present evacuation sites because the Philippine Marines still occupying these areas. These civilians are fearful that another series of encounter with between the Marines and the AFP will recur. They are also consequently prevented from returning to their lands to revive their largely agricultural means of livelihood.
5. That said incident is an apparent sign that the national government has reduced the level of importance and value of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the still ongoing peace process with the MNLF.
6. That, only if this issue between the MNLF and the Marines in Sulu will be resolved and cleared, will the lawless elements in Sulu be identified and apprehended.
7. That the general populace of Sulu is outraged by the acts and effects of the Eid’l Fitr Incident.
8. That in the entire story after the Eid’l Fitr Incident, not once did the ASG figure in any movement or encounter. Rather, all recorded encounters were between the Philippine Marines and the MNLF local forces and/or enraged local civilians.
9. That the media ban in Sulu has prevented the press from acquiring accurate and timely information about what is happening within the province.

Having made all the afore-mentioned assertions, we make the following calls:

1. That those really responsible for ordering the military operations that caused the Eid’l Fitr Incident be made accountable for their actions and penalized. A public apology is not enough.
2. That the Philippine Marines and their superiors first weigh the situation and sincerely and honestly take into consideration the safety and plight of the civilians before they conduct such operations in the future.
3. That the Philippine Marines observe and exercise high standards of precision, efficiency, discernment and sense of humanity before conducting such operation in the future.
4. That freedom of religion be observed and promoted by those in government, not only in words or on paper, but also by actual deeds.
5. That the Philippine Marines occupying the lands of the displaced civilians of Indanan and Panamao vacate these areas immediately in order for the people to return and be allowed to recoup what little they could salvage from their agricultural means of livelihood.
6. That the United Nations and the entire international community condemn such actions and pressure national government to make fully accountable and culpable those who had conceptualized, designed, ordered and implemented said military operations.
7. That the national government and the MNLF leadership sit down and focus on the root causes of the chronic armed conflicts in Sulu and incorporate the events of the Eid’l Fitr Incident into the ongoing Tripartite Review.
8. That the media ban in Sulu be lifted to prevent future potentials for human rights violations and acts of impunity therein.

Signed this 11th day of December, 2009 at Cecille’s Convention Center, Tumaga Porcentro, Zamboanga City.


(sgd.) SAMMY P. MAULANA
Secretary-General
Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society
(CBCS)

(sgd.) FATMAWATI SALAPUDDIN
Secretary-General
Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum
(BWSF)

(sgd.) EDMUND GUMBAHALI
Lead Convenor
Concerned Citizens of Sulu

(sgd.) VANDRAZEL BIROWA
Chairman
Ittihadus Sabab, Inc.

(sgd.) MUNIB A. KAHAL
President
DAWAT

(sgd.) SHARIF ALUNAN HAIRAL
President
Halaqatul Qur’an Foundation

(sgd.) FARIDA HADJULANI
Chairwoman
Tanjuh Sulu, Inc.

(sgd.) JUMDA SABAANI
Executive Director
MURID, Inc.

(sgd.) SALIHA KALI
President
PAKAPASUG

(sgd.) JOCELYN BASALUDDIN
President
Jaga Kasulutan

(sgd.) ZURAIDA GUMBAHALI
Coordinator
Jaga Lupah Sug