April 10, 2000
Dear
Lenten Greetings!
The Board of Directors of the Moro Human Rights Center, Inc. (MHRC) based in Manila has been initiating activities to effectively intervene in putting a stop to the worsening war situation in Mindanao between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The war situation has been going on since last year but has intensified at the beginning of this year and has even worsen since the middle of last month (March) after President Joseph Ejercito Estrada (on the occasion of his visit to the AFP troops in the field) has openly declared an ‘all out war’ against the MILF. This statement has been consistent to his warning at the end of last year that he has given an ultimatum to finish the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
At present, war is still raging in Lanao del Norte with eleven battalions (Marines and elite Scout Rangers) of the AFP circling the camp of the MILF (Camp Bilal). This has caused the dislocation of almost twenty thousand civilians (Muslims and Christians). These helpless civilians have been forcibly uprooted from their lands and livelihood causing severe economic hardships and psychosocial problems especially among the children and women. Hundreds have been killed most of them are civilians. Not to mention the devastating effects on the environment due to heavy artillery and plane bombings.
But the most alarming effect is that the situation has created the deepening rift and antagonism between and among the Muslims and Christians. There have been cases of burning of the Christian and Muslim houses. We have gathered data that the military (AFP) has initiated the activation of the Christian fanatic groups (the Ilagas or now the Christian Liberation Army). Some of the Moro or Muslims have also started to form their equivalent group not to mention the extremist groups The Abu Sayyaf.
This has been going on while the government and the MILF are talking peace.
Meanwhile the people (Muslims and Christians) have been in the worsening situation.
Our reflections, prayers and direct actions seem to be a ‘cry in the wilderness’. For the concerned Christians among our group, such situation is our own Way of the Cross but it is very hard to see the Easter Victory immediately coming after the suffering and the crucifixion. It seems that the essence of time is not anymore a factor here otherwise we lost our Easter hope altogether. For the concerned Muslims in our group, it seems the real meaning of Islam is at stake here. Peace which is the whole essence of Islam is very hard to see and is always lost in so many declarations and “noble intentions” which ironically are giving birth to more and more miserable condition of our people.
Anyway, we, together with concerned Muslim and Christian brothers and sisters have been doing our best if only to lessen the dehumanizing situation of our people in Mindanao.
Right now, we are initiating fora, fact-finding missions, relief and medical missions to the most affected places (Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur including the Cities of Marawi and Iligan).
The government on its part has reached-out only around 30% of the evacuees. There have been difficulties in sharing relief services with the Muslim evacuees because they do not go to the official designated places like schools and gymnasiums because the Christian evacuees usually occupy them. And they do not feel safe there. They usually stay with their relatives in not so affected areas but again these relatives are usually in miserable condition also. (Please see Inquirer April 13,2000 issue, “If there’s no food on the table, they feed themselves dreams for supper”.
Again, we can only do as much.
In this connection then, we are appealing for your solidarity for this Lenten Season. We do this in our hope that indeed Easter is just around the corner. Specifically, we ask you to write the President of the Philippines to pull out the AFP in the Moro areas and to conduct genuine peace talks with the MILF. Military operations are not the way to solve the Moro problem in Mindanao.
Sincerely yours,
Erwin M. Gaerlan
Executive Director
Moro Human Rights Center