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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on October 29, 2008

Amnesty Int'l reports thousands suffering the impact
of shattered Mindanao peace talks
By Ellen Red

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—"The suspension of the peace talks between the government of the Philippines and insurgents (Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF) in the southern island of Mindanao threatens hundreds of thousands of civilians facing escalating hostilities," Amnesty International said in a new report.

The international rights group reported that since the breakdown of peace negotiations between the MILF and the government of the Philippines, human rights abuses have been carried out including:

  • the deaths of at least 100 civilians since August, some deliberately targeted by Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) fighters;
  • some 140 men, women and children taken hostage;
  • almost 400,000 people living in displacement camps, having left their homes, and often crops and livestock as well, as they fled fighting. Many homes have been burnt, and possessions stolen, reportedly by both the MILF and the Philippine army; and
  • the activities of untrained and unaccountable civilian militias.
The recent escalation in violence, Amnesty said, followed after the Philippine Supreme Court's decision to block implementation of a Memorandum of Agreement between the government and the MILF in August. The agreement was part of the ongoing peace process to halt the four decade long conflict.

"The MILF and local groups opposing the peace talks have used violence as a negotiating strategy and hundreds of thousands of people are paying the price," said Donna Guest, Amnesty International's Asia Pacific deputy director.

"The Philippine government and the MILF must clarify to both their commanders, and to their rank–and–file forces that attacks on civilians will not be tolerated, and see that anyone suspected of carrying out such violations is removed from their position, or from a situation where abuses might happen again. Otherwise, the picture for the people of Mindanao remains bleak if they continue to be targeted," said Donna Guest.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development–Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD–ARMM) reported that the total number of evacuees in the region stands at 40,943 families or 205,033 persons.

The Department of Health–ARMM reported that 50 died and 38 were injured due to the on–going armed conflict.

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