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Moro Internally Displaced People ((IDPs) Want Home Before Ramadan Next Month
28 July 2009
There are still more than 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are either taking shelter and refuge with relatives homes, evacuation centers and makeshifts along the roads, under the trees, and everywhere, especially in Maguindanao and Cotabato provinces due to the resurgence of hostilities between forces of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last year. Almost 100% of these IDPs are Muslims and they reiterated their strong appeal, two days ago during the program Bakwit (evacuees) Power 2, to the government and MILF forces to pave the way for their safe return to their places of origin before the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadhan which falls on August 21 0r 22, this year. Needless to say, there are also some non-Muslim evacuees and for all them to be back home before Ramadhan makes a lot of sense and inspirations for peace, justice, unity, building relationships, and conflict resolution among others. All wanted them to be backed home for nobody wanted them (600,000 plus IDPs) to be displaced in the first place by the resurgence of the armed clashes, which no party in deliberation wanted it to happen. Because of the centuries-old conflict in Mindanao that that we felt short of resolving last year due to the aborted signing of the already initialed GRP-MILF MOA-AD had caused the displacements in a proportioned described as the worst case situation for IDPs in 2008. The government declaration of suspension of military offensives against the MILF two days ago and which will be reciprocated by MILF with its own declaration of suspension of military actions expectedly today have opened the door, perhaps the first one, for the safe return of the IDPs. But can the IDPs be backed home really or practically before the advent of Ramadhan? Optimistically, of course, they can. But there are a lot more imperative that must be looked into. The resumption of the stalled peace talks between the government and MILF must take place soon so that the GRP – MILF Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), the joint body that plays critical role for the safe return of the IDPs, can follow suit. Chance for the meeting of the GRP – MILF CCCH to take place ahead of the resumption of the peace talks is slim. Keeping the big presence of the military forces in the midst of the civilian communities where the IDPs are returning and residing is also a big question. Relatedly, the fact of high threat of unexploded ordnance, mortars and improvised explosive device in these communities, which even the IDPs also believe, is another concern. No problem with the IDPs whose houses were not burned down. But how about those IDPs whose houses were burned downed deliberately and destroyed by the ferocious artillery and air strikes. Based on records, more than 2000 belonging to the IDPs were damaged. Nonetheless, good planning anchored on convergence approaches for this urgent concern must start now and not later.
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