KALINAW MINDANAO DENOUNCES ABDUCTIONS

DARES AUTHORITIES TO PRODUCE WARM BODIES

 

Press Statement

Monday, April 07, 2003

*(This statement was released during the Moro People’s Press Conference held 11 am until past 12 today at Tugan Gym, Barangay Sirawan, Toril, Davao City.  It was attended by Families of the victims, Muslim Religious Leaders, local officials and various support organizations.)

 

Kalinaw Mindanao denounces the spate of abduction and the militarization of Moro communities following the declaration of Davao City under “State of Lawless Violence.”

 

Kalinaw Mindanao raises fears more human rights violations are bound to be committed under these circumstances.

 

Already, two Moro people were since reportedly abducted. The first was Datu Abdullah Sabdura Ala, 48, who, according to witnesses was whisked off by armed men wearing bonnets on board a white van about 6 pm April 3 while he was about to buy spare parts in a hardware in Maa, Davao City.

 

Ala is a Purok Leader of Barangay Maa and a member of the Barangay Development Council.

 

While Abdullah Ala remains missing until today, another Moro, Ustadz Julkifle Alimmudin, was abducted   around 6 pm yesterday April 6, 2003 while waiting for a ride in Inawayan, Sta. Cruz. His abductors were reportedly on board a gray Tamaraw FX with plate number PBX 469.

 

Alimudin is an Ustadz, a teacher of Arabic School in Sirawan.

 

Kalinaw Mindanao holds this government using its primary instrumentality for suppression, the military and the police, accountable for these grave human rights violations committed against the people.

 

We demand that they produce now the warm bodies of Ala and Alimmudin who remain disappeared until now!

 

The abductions have created a debilitating effect among the communities who are suddenly living in terror under these conditions.

 

Kalinaw Mindanao is also alarmed by the deployment of AFP troops in Moro Communities, particularly in Sirawan area where troops have already started massing up.

 

Kalinaw Mindanao sees the declaration of “State of Lawless Violence” as martial law masking under counter-insurgency measures implemented by the Arroyo administration.

 

The declarations linking the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to the bombings has created an indiscriminate imputation on Moro communities which is currently manipulated by the State to justify drastic military action against the people.

 

The said declaration, has likewise fanned the Anti-Moro hysteria.  The said declaration, has likewise fanned the Anti-Moro hysteria.  Suddenly, Moro communities have become target of attacks. The subsequent lobbing of grenades in mosques in three separate incidents, including that of Sirawan, early dawn is indicative of this.

 

These series of  incidents have sown a climate of fear among Moro communities. We are concerned of the safety of our Moro brothers and sisters who are suddenly facing dislocation.

 

We are therefore urging the government to consider the plight of the Moro people under circumstances where due process to ensure political and civil rights, especially of the Moro people are put at stake.

 

We are therefore urging the public to unite and oppose this instrument of the state to further suppress people’s rights. We are calling on legislators and government officials, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, cause oriented and human rights groups, peace advocates, and interfaith solidarity groups to bond and call for the lifting up of the

declaration.

 

We are calling on the people to stand guard of their rights and prevent opinions that will give further licentiousness to the State’s Armed Forces to persecute the people, especially our Moro brothers and sisters.###

 

 

For Reference:

 

Kalinaw Mindanao Convenors:

EVELYN CARIAS

Secretary General

Khadidja Moro Women

 

ARIEL CASILAO

 Secretary General

Karapatan Southern Mindanao

 

 

 

 

Kalinaw Mindanao is a nationwide movement comprising of legislators and government officials, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, cause oriented and human rights groups, peace advocates, and interfaith solidarity groups seeking an end to the all-out  war in Mindanao.