Amnesty International / 25 August 2009


Philippines has one of highest numbers of displaced people in the world; new report reveals ongoing arrests, beatings and electro-shock torture

More than 200,000 civilians in central Mindanao are still vulnerable to human rights abuses despite the recent ceasefire between the Philippine army and the insurgent Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), warns Amnesty International in a new report published today. 

The report, 'Shattered lives: Beyond the 2008 - 2009 Mindanao armed conflict', details the risks that hundreds of thousands of people face as they are forced to live in camps or makeshift shelters, sometimes surrounded by a heavy military presence.

We, the Mindanao Peace Weavers- a convergence of seven peace networks in Mindanao- challenges the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to recommit to previous ceasefire agreements and immediately reactivate the ceasefire mechanisms.

There is no other way but for the GRP and the MILF to come together and dialogue for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Mindanao. This is the only way for both sides to be accountable to the protection of civilians who are caught in the cycle of war and impoverishment. War is waged in their name and it is in this same framework which demands that they come together and talk.

We thus demand for the GRP and MILF to uphold the primacy of the peace process, not merely through pronouncements and declaration of a Suspension of Military Operations (SOM0) and Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) but to immediately take action against mounting human rights violations against civilians in war torn areas in Mindanao.