Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, May 24 – The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have joined forces in the 10-day continuous pursuit operations that led to the rescue of Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Angelina Suken Chew Manjique early this morning.
Manjique, owner of Sam’s Restaurant and Bakery in North Upi, Maguindanao, was released by her kidnappers at 4:30 a.m. in Barangay Dadtumeg in this town.
Government of the Philippines (GPH) panel chair Marvic Leonen congratulated the 6th Infantry Division led by Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo, and the MILF for conducting joint operations. “This is a positive development in the peace process,” he said in a statement.
He also lauded the efforts of the joint Coordinating Committee in the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) of the GPH and the MILF for complementing the actions of the military and police.
“However, we still expect the MILF to pursue and arrest the kidnappers who are currently operating in areas dominated by their group,” added Leonen.
Kato's involvement
A very reliable source involved in the operations confirmed that some of the kidnappers of Manjique were identified to be members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) under MILF commander Amiril Umra Kato who broke away to form his own armed group. There are also reports that some commanders belonging to the BIFF attempted to reinforce the kidnappers but were thwarted by the showing of more superior forces.
“Law enforcement operations are still continuing to arrest the perpetrators at the soonest possible time,” he said.
On this, Leonen called on the MILF to take steps in finding “ways and means to discipline Kato for ever attempting to assist the kidnappers.”
Earlier, the panel chair had expressed serious concern over having an MILF breakaway group, considering its grave implications to ceasefire and peace negotiations in general.
Joint CCCH and AHJAG
Manjique was kidnapped on the afternoon of May 14 by five unidentified men and brought to the Liguasan Marsh, an area in Maguindanao inhabited by MILF members.
“Considering that it is an MILF-dominated area, our military and police immediately coordinated with the government CCCH and AHJAG to assist in the rescue operations. Members of our CCCH and AHJAG contacted their MILF counterparts who carried out their own operations,” Leonen recounted.
He also said that the kidnappers were forced to release Manjique on the 10th day in Dadtumeg where she was fetched and brought to a nearby hospital.
“However, the operations do not end here. The government is actively pursuing the perpetrators in order to bring them to justice. We expect the MILF to do their part in pursuing and arresting the kidnappers who are currently operating in their areas,” Leonen stated.
The government panel is set to present its proposal to the MILF on the next round of talks on June 27-28 in Kuala Lumpur. #
Showing posts with label grp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grp. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
GPH panel’s CASER draft taking shape
Antipolo, Rizal, May 17 – The government Reciprocal Working Committee (RWC) has begun drafting its version of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-economic Reforms (CASER) that will be presented by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel at the next round of formal talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).
The committee has identified the key principles that will ground the position of the GPH panel in the bilateral meeting of CASER tentatively scheduled during the second week of June.
With insights from the focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) conducted in April and May among various stakeholders, RWC-SER Chair Ednar Dayanghirang said "This is unprecedented. We have made the people part of the peace negotiations. A peaceful and just settlement of conflicts is meant to be inclusive of the interests of all.”
The FGDs and KIIs covered issues related to indigenous peoples (IPs), urban land reform, fisheries and forest reform, inclusive growth, agrarian reform, environmental risk, resource access and utilization (local and national), industrial policy and agricultural development, and social protection.
More of these research instruments tackling several other issues are expected to be completed as the peace talks progress.
Exchange of drafts
The GPH draft will be exchanged for review with the NDFP version two weeks prior to the first RWCs-SER bilateral meeting.
These drafts will focus on “agrarian reform and rural development” for the NDFP and “asset reform” for the GPH, and “national industrialization” for the NDFP and “industrial policy” for the GPH.
A total of three bilateral meetings have been set by both parties. The two other meetings are scheduled for the second and fourth weeks of August.
The consolidated CASER is slated to be finished for submission to the negotiating panels by September 2011.
CASER to address the causes of conflict
Dayanghirang underscored the importance of CASER in paving the way for a negotiated political settlement with the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
“This is the meat of the much-needed reforms. We are putting into writing our response to the causes of conflict,” he stated.
Fr. Albert Alejo, RWC-SER member, is upbeat on the just-concluded writeshop that produced the draft agreement.
“We are all in consensus that asset reform is not just agrarian reform. We’ve broadened its scope to include fisheries, forest, and urban land reform,” he said.
Prof. Fernando Aldaba, another committee member, said that “reducing inequality is key – we should work for increase not only of income but also of individual assets.”
In the same light, Atty. Aison Garcia, one of the government’s consultants on agrarian reform, said that the increase in assets should help uplift the lives of the marginalized sectors. “It’s all about making economic growth work for the poor.”
Also present at the writeshop were Jimid Mansayagan, consultant for IP concerns; Proculo Fuentes, consultant on basic services concerns; Joselito Sescon, consultant on inclusive growth/ industrial policy concerns; and Atty. Jun Quicho, consultant on environmental risk concerns.
SER, one of the four substantive agenda
SER is one of the four agenda items affirmed by The Hague Joint Declaration as instrumental in the eventual forging of a final political settlement between the GPH and the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
The agenda on human rights and international humanitarian law had earlier been addressed in 1998, when the two parties signed the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
The remaining agenda for discussion within the agreed upon three-year time frame of the peace talks are political-constitutional reforms (PCR), and end of hostilities and disposition of forces (EoH/DoF).#
The committee has identified the key principles that will ground the position of the GPH panel in the bilateral meeting of CASER tentatively scheduled during the second week of June.
With insights from the focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) conducted in April and May among various stakeholders, RWC-SER Chair Ednar Dayanghirang said "This is unprecedented. We have made the people part of the peace negotiations. A peaceful and just settlement of conflicts is meant to be inclusive of the interests of all.”
The FGDs and KIIs covered issues related to indigenous peoples (IPs), urban land reform, fisheries and forest reform, inclusive growth, agrarian reform, environmental risk, resource access and utilization (local and national), industrial policy and agricultural development, and social protection.
More of these research instruments tackling several other issues are expected to be completed as the peace talks progress.
Exchange of drafts
The GPH draft will be exchanged for review with the NDFP version two weeks prior to the first RWCs-SER bilateral meeting.
These drafts will focus on “agrarian reform and rural development” for the NDFP and “asset reform” for the GPH, and “national industrialization” for the NDFP and “industrial policy” for the GPH.
A total of three bilateral meetings have been set by both parties. The two other meetings are scheduled for the second and fourth weeks of August.
The consolidated CASER is slated to be finished for submission to the negotiating panels by September 2011.
CASER to address the causes of conflict
Dayanghirang underscored the importance of CASER in paving the way for a negotiated political settlement with the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
“This is the meat of the much-needed reforms. We are putting into writing our response to the causes of conflict,” he stated.
Fr. Albert Alejo, RWC-SER member, is upbeat on the just-concluded writeshop that produced the draft agreement.
“We are all in consensus that asset reform is not just agrarian reform. We’ve broadened its scope to include fisheries, forest, and urban land reform,” he said.
Prof. Fernando Aldaba, another committee member, said that “reducing inequality is key – we should work for increase not only of income but also of individual assets.”
In the same light, Atty. Aison Garcia, one of the government’s consultants on agrarian reform, said that the increase in assets should help uplift the lives of the marginalized sectors. “It’s all about making economic growth work for the poor.”
Also present at the writeshop were Jimid Mansayagan, consultant for IP concerns; Proculo Fuentes, consultant on basic services concerns; Joselito Sescon, consultant on inclusive growth/ industrial policy concerns; and Atty. Jun Quicho, consultant on environmental risk concerns.
SER, one of the four substantive agenda
SER is one of the four agenda items affirmed by The Hague Joint Declaration as instrumental in the eventual forging of a final political settlement between the GPH and the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
The agenda on human rights and international humanitarian law had earlier been addressed in 1998, when the two parties signed the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
The remaining agenda for discussion within the agreed upon three-year time frame of the peace talks are political-constitutional reforms (PCR), and end of hostilities and disposition of forces (EoH/DoF).#
Monday, May 9, 2011
GPH Panel Member speaks to top humanitarian journalists
GPH Panel Member speaks to top humanitarian journalists
Manila, May 10 – Government peace negotiator for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Miriam Colonel-Ferrer on Saturday spoke before finalists of the first Red Cross Humanitarian Reporting Awards.
In a forum prior to the awarding ceremonies, Ferrer shared her observations on Philippine media coverage of conflicts and peace processes.
“The armed conflict and the peace negotiations are highly visible in the media. This shows that the peace processes have remained in the national agenda,” Ferrer stated as she started her lecture.
She also said that efforts to make media more responsible and sensitive to reporting conflict have borne fruit, adding that what counts as news on the armed conflict have broadened.
“It’s no longer just the body count,” she observed.
However, Ferrer believes that there is still room for improvement in media’s reportage, such as the need for journalists to discuss concepts, not just report on events. For accuracy and deeper analysis, she also stressed the importance of securing and studying facts and data from diverse and reliable sources.
Further, she discussed some of the things media should avoid, one of which is the propaganda trap. “Propaganda is war by other means,” she quipped.
Other things she mentioned to avoid are spins that lead to misunderstanding and the “AFP said, armed group said” method of constructing a story.
“While this ‘he said, she said’ method may be an honest attempt at objectivity, it doesn’t provide a conclusion. It doesn’t leave the audience better off or with a clear understanding on who or what to support.”
Peace as the bottom line
Ferrer also recognized the role of 'netizens' or active internet surfers as writers for peace. In interactive websites where negative and thoughtless comments proliferate, she recommended that 'netizens' must raise the level of discourse and make it substantial. “Let’s keep up the discourse on the folly of war and the need for a peaceful settlement of the armed conflict. Let’s move away from name-calling.”
“The bottom line is that we have to build a national consensus that our problems cannot be solved by war, that it makes sense to report peace and peaceful means to end conflict,” Ferrer ended her lecture.
Other speakers and guests
Aside from Ferrer, two notable members of the media also served as resource persons of the forum.
Jason Gutierrez of the Agence France Press shared his experience as an embedded war correspondent while Antonio Cruz of tonyocruz.com spoke on his observations on the role of new media in conflict situations.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) communication coordinator Anastasia Isyuk for her part presented how the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) protects journalists and helps in conflict reporting.
Christoph Sutter, ICRC deputy head of delegation, and Philippine Red Cross Chair Dick Gordon each gave a salute to the journalists present, both underscoring the bravery of the press in light of the difficult and dangerous field they decided to cover.
“I am here to pay tribute to your bravery in bringing issues not often being reported…on your bravery to report what needs to make sense,” Sutter said.
Gordon, for his closing remarks, mentioned that “humanitarian reporting may not be as ‘salacious’ as what editors would want in a news story, but it behooves all of us to pay attention. It is about time we put these issues on the front pages.”
Awardees
“We have seen civilians targeted in armed conflicts. We believe that the best way to achieve stronger protection is to respect IHL. The media’s voice should be heard in favor of proper and responsible behavior in wars. Media, therefore has a responsibility to influence public opinion, weapon bearers and governments to avoid any encouragement to violate the IHL,” Isyuk stated.
The first Red Cross Humanitarian Reporting Awards were given to journalists who reported on civilians often forgotten or dismissed as “collateral damage” of war.
Isyuk said that conflict-sensitive reporting is one of the criteria for the selection of winners. This entails that the report or entries do not stereotype or label people or groups; not take advantage of the victims’ plight, but rather encourage the readers to move into action.
First prize winners include Frinston Lim of the Philippine Daily Inquirer-Mindanao for his in-depth story “Women grieve over land mine deaths” (print category); Marya Salamat of Bulatlat.com for her story entitled “Child rights advocates bewail distortion of child protection principles for counter-insurgency” (online category); and Ed Lingao of Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) for his documentary “Maguindanao, isang taon” (TV/radio category).
There were 23 finalists from a crop of 60 entries submitted to the Red Cross.
Coming from the mainstream media are finalists and recipients of special citations from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, and Malaya (print) ; Al Jazeera, PCIJ, and GMA-7 (TV/radio); and GMAnews.tv, Bulatlat.com, MindaNews, and VeraFiles (online).
The community media was also represented by finalists and recipients of special citations from SunStar Davao, The Mindanao Cross, Zamboanga Sibugay Tribune, DXND-AM in Kidapawan City, The Mountain Province Exponent and The Catarman Weekly Tribune.
Isyuk said that some of the issues highlighted by the contestants include media safety; plight of internally displaced people; peacebuilding initiatives and community projects; problems of children affected by conflicts; and indiscriminate use of weapons. #
Manila, May 10 – Government peace negotiator for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Miriam Colonel-Ferrer on Saturday spoke before finalists of the first Red Cross Humanitarian Reporting Awards.
In a forum prior to the awarding ceremonies, Ferrer shared her observations on Philippine media coverage of conflicts and peace processes.
“The armed conflict and the peace negotiations are highly visible in the media. This shows that the peace processes have remained in the national agenda,” Ferrer stated as she started her lecture.
She also said that efforts to make media more responsible and sensitive to reporting conflict have borne fruit, adding that what counts as news on the armed conflict have broadened.
“It’s no longer just the body count,” she observed.
However, Ferrer believes that there is still room for improvement in media’s reportage, such as the need for journalists to discuss concepts, not just report on events. For accuracy and deeper analysis, she also stressed the importance of securing and studying facts and data from diverse and reliable sources.
Further, she discussed some of the things media should avoid, one of which is the propaganda trap. “Propaganda is war by other means,” she quipped.
Other things she mentioned to avoid are spins that lead to misunderstanding and the “AFP said, armed group said” method of constructing a story.
“While this ‘he said, she said’ method may be an honest attempt at objectivity, it doesn’t provide a conclusion. It doesn’t leave the audience better off or with a clear understanding on who or what to support.”
Peace as the bottom line
Ferrer also recognized the role of 'netizens' or active internet surfers as writers for peace. In interactive websites where negative and thoughtless comments proliferate, she recommended that 'netizens' must raise the level of discourse and make it substantial. “Let’s keep up the discourse on the folly of war and the need for a peaceful settlement of the armed conflict. Let’s move away from name-calling.”
“The bottom line is that we have to build a national consensus that our problems cannot be solved by war, that it makes sense to report peace and peaceful means to end conflict,” Ferrer ended her lecture.
Other speakers and guests
Aside from Ferrer, two notable members of the media also served as resource persons of the forum.
Jason Gutierrez of the Agence France Press shared his experience as an embedded war correspondent while Antonio Cruz of tonyocruz.com spoke on his observations on the role of new media in conflict situations.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) communication coordinator Anastasia Isyuk for her part presented how the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) protects journalists and helps in conflict reporting.
Christoph Sutter, ICRC deputy head of delegation, and Philippine Red Cross Chair Dick Gordon each gave a salute to the journalists present, both underscoring the bravery of the press in light of the difficult and dangerous field they decided to cover.
“I am here to pay tribute to your bravery in bringing issues not often being reported…on your bravery to report what needs to make sense,” Sutter said.
Gordon, for his closing remarks, mentioned that “humanitarian reporting may not be as ‘salacious’ as what editors would want in a news story, but it behooves all of us to pay attention. It is about time we put these issues on the front pages.”
Awardees
“We have seen civilians targeted in armed conflicts. We believe that the best way to achieve stronger protection is to respect IHL. The media’s voice should be heard in favor of proper and responsible behavior in wars. Media, therefore has a responsibility to influence public opinion, weapon bearers and governments to avoid any encouragement to violate the IHL,” Isyuk stated.
The first Red Cross Humanitarian Reporting Awards were given to journalists who reported on civilians often forgotten or dismissed as “collateral damage” of war.
Isyuk said that conflict-sensitive reporting is one of the criteria for the selection of winners. This entails that the report or entries do not stereotype or label people or groups; not take advantage of the victims’ plight, but rather encourage the readers to move into action.
First prize winners include Frinston Lim of the Philippine Daily Inquirer-Mindanao for his in-depth story “Women grieve over land mine deaths” (print category); Marya Salamat of Bulatlat.com for her story entitled “Child rights advocates bewail distortion of child protection principles for counter-insurgency” (online category); and Ed Lingao of Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) for his documentary “Maguindanao, isang taon” (TV/radio category).
There were 23 finalists from a crop of 60 entries submitted to the Red Cross.
Coming from the mainstream media are finalists and recipients of special citations from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, and Malaya (print) ; Al Jazeera, PCIJ, and GMA-7 (TV/radio); and GMAnews.tv, Bulatlat.com, MindaNews, and VeraFiles (online).
The community media was also represented by finalists and recipients of special citations from SunStar Davao, The Mindanao Cross, Zamboanga Sibugay Tribune, DXND-AM in Kidapawan City, The Mountain Province Exponent and The Catarman Weekly Tribune.
Isyuk said that some of the issues highlighted by the contestants include media safety; plight of internally displaced people; peacebuilding initiatives and community projects; problems of children affected by conflicts; and indiscriminate use of weapons. #
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Lumads take up case of slain Lumad leader, landgrabbing to GPH peace panel
Press Release
April 19, 2011
Lumads take up case of slain Lumad leader, landgrabbing to GPH peace panel
Davao City --- Lumad leaders shared optimism that the government peace negotiators can take up the case of Datu Dominador Diarog, whose 3rd death anniversary is on April 29, remains an unsolved extra-judicial killing linked to a dispute involving the land-grabbing by a powerful religious cult leader. Fresh incidents of land-grabbing coupled with abusive military operations have again been reported early this month in Sitio Kahusayan, Brgy. Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District, this city.
GPH representative to the peace talks Ednar Dayanghirang in a forum on Land, Life and Justice organized by the Solidarity Action Group for Indigenous Peopls (SAGIP) here at Haran House, UCCP, said he will talk to the Office of the Presidential Affairs for Peace Process (OPAPP) to follow up the case of the 2008 killing of Kahusayan leader Datu Dominador Diarog and the continuing landgrabbing of their ancestral lands by the influential group of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
In the past week, lumads from Kahusayan are again restless as 3 backhoes arrived together with a platoon of army soldiers from the 84th Infantry Battalion were deployed to their community, threatening to bulldoze their ancestral lands.
“This renewed attempt to completely drive us away from our ancestral lands is condemnable. We appeal to the conscience of the masterminds behind these landgrabbing attempts to leave us and our land in peace. We also demand that the long overdue resolution of the Davao City Council to remove the barb-wired fences put up by Quiboloy around our peoples’ lands. We have waited long enough and we see no progress in what the Davao City Council has promised to do,” said Diolito Diarog, one of the council leaders of the Kahugpungan sa mga Lumad sa Kahusayan (KSL) and PASAKA spokesperson.
“The pine trees surrounding the palace of Quiboloy and the fences put up to deny us of our access to our traditional hunting grounds, sources of water, have worsened the poverty and hunger we experience. Continued militarization by government troops paid to serve the ones lording over us in Quiboloy’s palace has never since allowed us to live in peace and bounty, affecting our culture, threatening the development of our tribe,” said Diarog. #
For Reference:
DIOLITO DIAROG
Deputy Secretary General
PASAKA
Contact: 09303035126
April 19, 2011
Lumads take up case of slain Lumad leader, landgrabbing to GPH peace panel
Davao City --- Lumad leaders shared optimism that the government peace negotiators can take up the case of Datu Dominador Diarog, whose 3rd death anniversary is on April 29, remains an unsolved extra-judicial killing linked to a dispute involving the land-grabbing by a powerful religious cult leader. Fresh incidents of land-grabbing coupled with abusive military operations have again been reported early this month in Sitio Kahusayan, Brgy. Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District, this city.
GPH representative to the peace talks Ednar Dayanghirang in a forum on Land, Life and Justice organized by the Solidarity Action Group for Indigenous Peopls (SAGIP) here at Haran House, UCCP, said he will talk to the Office of the Presidential Affairs for Peace Process (OPAPP) to follow up the case of the 2008 killing of Kahusayan leader Datu Dominador Diarog and the continuing landgrabbing of their ancestral lands by the influential group of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
In the past week, lumads from Kahusayan are again restless as 3 backhoes arrived together with a platoon of army soldiers from the 84th Infantry Battalion were deployed to their community, threatening to bulldoze their ancestral lands.
“This renewed attempt to completely drive us away from our ancestral lands is condemnable. We appeal to the conscience of the masterminds behind these landgrabbing attempts to leave us and our land in peace. We also demand that the long overdue resolution of the Davao City Council to remove the barb-wired fences put up by Quiboloy around our peoples’ lands. We have waited long enough and we see no progress in what the Davao City Council has promised to do,” said Diolito Diarog, one of the council leaders of the Kahugpungan sa mga Lumad sa Kahusayan (KSL) and PASAKA spokesperson.
“The pine trees surrounding the palace of Quiboloy and the fences put up to deny us of our access to our traditional hunting grounds, sources of water, have worsened the poverty and hunger we experience. Continued militarization by government troops paid to serve the ones lording over us in Quiboloy’s palace has never since allowed us to live in peace and bounty, affecting our culture, threatening the development of our tribe,” said Diarog. #
For Reference:
DIOLITO DIAROG
Deputy Secretary General
PASAKA
Contact: 09303035126
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