A CALL FOR THE REALIZATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) is a network of key Moro civil society organizations strategically located in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) including Moro communities in some parts of Mindanao. To date, the CBCS has eight (8) regional formations with their corresponding regional management committees (RMC} based in Cotabato City, General Santos City, Digos City, Marawi City, Pagadian City, Zamboanga City, Basilan and Sulu to pursue the advocacy for human rights, peace and good governance

After the formation of its management committee in the Sulu Region in 2006, the CBCS member organizations in the area have elected Mr. Temogen “Cocoy” Sahipa Tulawie as the first chairperson of their RMC. With his 3- year stint with the Sulu RMC as chairperson, Mr. Timogen “Cocoy” Tulawie has shown extraordinary courage and a sterling performance in the protection of human rights, advocacy for peace, and promotion of good governance.

As a human rights defender, he spearheaded the staging of a protest rally to seek justice for the victims of the Ipil massacre where eight civilians, among them a 4 year-old child died as a result of an indiscriminate firing of the Philippine Navy under the Western Mindanao Command in Bgy. Ipil, Maimbung Sulu on February 4, 2008. He also led protest actions against the implementation of the Sulu Provincial Identification Card System in January 2008, which ordered the mandatory wearing of ID cards by Sulu citizens.

When the state of emergency was declared in the Sulu island province by Governor Sakur Tan on March 31 last year, he exposed the rampant human rights violations committed by the Civilian Emergency Forces (CEF) and spearheaded the move to call for the lifting of the state of emergency.

When the GRP-MILF peace negotiation was on the brink of collapse in 2008 and 2009, he led the move to call for the sustenance of the peace talks. When the GRP and MNLF squabbled on the interpretation of the Final Peace Accord, he spearheaded a move to call for a comprehensive review and full implementation of the said peace accord.

As a staunch peace advocate, he also mobilized key leaders of CBCS member-organizations in his region to mediate and settle local conflicts. And as a proponent of good governance, Cocoy Tulawie mobilized the same group to monitor and ensure the conduct of a clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful election in his beloved island province of Sulu.

With this track record in defending and promoting human rights as well as responsible governance, it is no wonder then that his daring and passionate advocacies may have threatened or gotten the ire of some parties and political personalities in the province.

When Mr. Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie was tagged as among the suspects in the alleged ambush of Governor Sakur Tan a year ago, he immediately tendered his resignation as chairperson of RMC of Sulu Region to avoid dragging the name of CBCS on the issue. On August 5 this year, he was again tagged as mastermind behind the bombing attack on Gov. Tan outside the arrival area of the Zamboanga City airport.

We in the CBCS were and are deeply saddened by this development and find it ironic -- but not at all surprising -- that being a human rights defender, peace advocate and a proponent of good governance, he was harassed and charged with a crime merely founded on questionable and non-validated source of information and testimonies.

We are also alarmed that if this arbitrary practice will not be properly checked, more human rights defenders, peace activists and proponents of responsible governance will be put into risk by being harassed and charged with a crime similar to that of Mr. Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie.

We vehemently condemn the harassment done on Mr. Timogen “Cocoy” Tulawie and members of his family. We also sympathize with the suffering and anguish he has undergone since he went into hiding to avoid falling into the hands of Sulu and Zamboanga authorities he referred to as both his “judge and executioner.”

As we manifest our unwavering unity and solidarity with the people of Sulu, we are also urging the government, especially the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Presidential Commission on Human Rights (PCHR), to immediate conduct an impartial re-investigation of the case charged against Mr. Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie and for the speedy resolution of the Petition for Review and Prohibition he filed at the DOJ.

Uphold the integrity of human rights defenders! Protect the peace advocates and proponents of good governance in the ARMM! Uphold the integrity of Mr. Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie as a staunch human rights defender and protect his rights as a citizen, as a peace advocate and a proponent of good governance!

Adopted and issued in Cotabato City, this 12th day of October 2010.

Reference:

Sammy Maulana
Secretary-General
Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)
Handy numbers: 09282277154; 09061893507