An appeal for 40 Days of Tranquility for Humanitarian Action

June 2000 - We need to pause and reflect on the impact to the country of the ongoing armed conflict in Mindanao and how to arrive at a lasting solution to it.

We appeal to the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to declare a 40-day period of tranquility to address the humanitarian needs and costs of the conflict. During this time, which is the traditional grieving and praying period for both the Muslim and Christian faiths:

• There must be cessation of armed hostilities and military build-up of both parties, whether or not the two parties agree to discuss a political solution to the conflict.
  
• There is a need to retrieve and bury the dead; to attend to the wounded; and to evacuate the civilians, especially women, children, the elderly and the disabled, away from the battle zones.
  
• There is a need to allow humanitarian aid to reach the victims of the armed conflict, particularly the refugees.
  
• There is a need for the evacuees to return to their homes to recover their precious belongings, harvest and tend to their crops and, if possible, return to a life of relative normalcy.

The cost of the fighting continue to mount and it is the civilians who are suffering the most.

From the time the fighting began in Central Mindanao between government and MILF: hundreds of people have died – including at least 60 civilians, reportedly 130 government soldiers and an undetermined number of MILF combatants. More than 98,000 families or about 520,000 persons have been affected.

The cost of the armed conflict was estimated at a Senate hearing at about P50 million each day. Trade has slowed down, not only in the vicinity of the battle areas, but also throughout the island, whose residents are nearly paralyzed with fear and uncertainty. The conflict has aggravated investor confidence in the economy. Lost business opportunities are estimated thus far at P1 billion. In the end, the poor will be hardest hit by its consequences.

The conflict threatens to escalate and spread, making it easy to misinterpret events in Mindanao and other parts of the country. Unfortunately, civilians are being mobilized for the war into rebel militias, vigilante groups and the CAFGU in a recruitment rhetoric which translates the latest clashes into a religious war between Muslims and Christians.

The fighting is eroding decades of multi-sectoral efforts to build trust and friendship among the peoples of Mindanao – Muslim, Christian and Lumad.

In addressing this conflict, we are making a distinction between the conflict with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the hostage issue involving the Abu Sayyaf.

The MILF’s struggle is a reflection of the Moro peoples’ basic aspirations and the inadequacy of previous attempts to achieve these. These must be addressed constructively. On the other hand, the recent brutal, cruel and senseless actions, such as those committed by the Abu Sayyaf against civilian hostages in Basilan, deserve nothing less than the full force of the law. No less than the Muslim World League has called these actions “un-Islamic” and “barbarous”.

During these 40 days of tranquility, we hope that we can all rise above the confusion and the passions ignited by the latest outbreak of violence. It also provides us with a useful pause to reflect and respond to the many calls from all sectors nationwide for continuing dialogue and to citizens’ campaigns towards a just and lasting peace.