GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Fatima, not her real name, in her early 30s and a human rights defender from the island-province of Sulu, says she would love to encourage others to take the cudgel and be one of them. Despite the threats, she says, being a human rights monitor for a non-government group gives her the feeling of fulfillment.
“It’s a noble task, it’s a calling. When you know that you are able to help others. They need more of us, this country needs more human rights defenders,” says Fatima, who instead of pursuing his own profession, a public administration degree holder, has decided to do human rights work.
Animated by the same vision, Fatima along with her other colleagues from Sulu took the almost twenty-hour ride just to attend the 3rd General Assembly and Contingency Planning Workshop of the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC), at the weekend in this country’s tuna capital. She and her team met other human rights defenders from 14 conflict affected provinces.
Mindanao peace process, ceasefire mechanisms, human rights violations and the issue on the reform agenda in the Muslim autonomous region characterized the said gathering. MinHRAC, anonprofit organization that provides human rights awareness, initiatives, and protection has gathered over 40 human rights defenders across Mindanao region in an event aimed at strengthening the group’s network.
“We focus on the grassroots,” said lawyer Zainudin S. Malang, executive director of MinHRAC even as he noted the importance of human rights monitors. The monitors serve as the eyes and ears of MinHRAC in the ground.
Mr. Malang, in his presentation, said that among the four members of the Civilian Protection Component (CPC) of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), MinHRAC has the deep grassroots understanding of the decades-old Mindanao conflict.
Alongside MinHRAC, other members of CPC include Mindanao Peoples Caucus, Muslim Organization of Government Officials and Professionals and the Belgium-based Non-violent Peaceforce. CPC monitors the security, socio-economic, humanitarian and rehabilitation and civilian protection aspects of the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Mr. Malang added that the Mindanao conflict needs the push of the international community citing the October 18 firefight in Basilan last year that resulted in the killing of 19 government soldiers.
The said fighting led to intense pressure from critics of President Benigno S. C. Aquino III to abandon the talks and instead launch an all-out war against the 12,000-strong MILF. But Mr. Aquino has held firm and late last year negotiators from both sides met in a series of talks in Kuala Lumpur for the resumption of formal negotiations.
“For as long as the peace negotiations are still there, we have a lot to observe and monitor,” Mr. Malang said in Pilipino.
Other Risks
Participants from Western Mindanao, during the assembly, cited other risk factors that could threaten human rights. Rido or clan feud, the destruction that mining operations cause, natural calamities such as flooding, threats from lawless individuals were among the risks they have pointed out.
Meanwhile, participants from Central and Northern Mindanao noted the looming clash between the government panel and the MILF. The unresolved conflict between the government and the communist group was raised by the Davao delegation.
Putting premium on quick response, complaints based on facts
For his part, MinHRAC’s Deputy Executive Director Atty. Galuasch Ballaho underscored the group’s contribution in quick response. He said MinHRAC banks on responding to conflict especially those that involved innocent civilians. “In times of conflict, there will always be incidents of displacement, and we are there to help,” he said.
Atty. Noor Hafizullah M. Abdullah noted the importance of filing legal complaint on cases of human rights violation. “In filing complaints, it should be based on facts.”
MinHRAC is a group that envisions a just and humane society where people of diverse cultures freely exercise and enjoy the full realization of their Human Rights. It was established by 12 local nongovernment organizations to pool, rationalize, and standardize their human rights initiative. Its civilian protection program is funded by a grant from the European Union. (Amir S. Mawallil)
20