Civil society urges Malaysia to be consistent as a peace broker; calls for dialogue on Sabah crisis

The Sabah crisis may be hogging the headlines now, but the Mindanao PeaceWeavers (MPW) hopes that the raw passions generated by the politicization of the issue will not derail the collective gains we continue to harvest from the GPH-MILF peace process that is about to wind up.

Indeed we cannot totally insulate the GPH-MILF peace talks from issues that have implications on the ties between the Philippines and Malaysia who is the facilitator of the process. Thus MPW believes that Malaysia must reiterate their commitment to peace by ending the violence in Sabah. Malaysia should enter into dialogue among parties involved to peacefully resolve the dispute the same way that it has sought to do with the GPH and the MILF.

MPW also calls on the Philippine government to pursue the peace process resolutely while it fulfills its obligation in protecting the legitimate and human rights of its citizens affected by the violence in Sabah and the needs of the refugees in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.

MPW also appeals to the Sultan of Sulu and his followers to maintain their earlier declaration of a unilateral ceasefire and exert all means to resolve the issue peacefully and honorably. We urge them to be mindful of provocateurs that may use their legitimate concerns with other selfish agenda. The Sultanate has made their point.

Once again, we reiterate our message to the governments of Malaysia and the Philippines and the Sultanate of Sulu to: IMPLEMENT A “HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE” IN THE CONFLICT-AFFECTED DISTRICTS IN SABAH.

1. CEASE & DESIST MILITARY ACTION & ATTACKS of Malaysian police, army and the followers of Sultan Kiram III by declaring a bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities until the humanitarian crisis is fully addressed.

2. A PUBLIC CALL FOR HUMANITARIAN ACTION to adequately address the humanitarian crisis in Lahad Datu, Sabah and Tawi-Tawi, Sulu.

3. ADDRESS the forced evacuation and deportation of Filipinos and provide immediate consular assistance.

4. ALLOW & PROVIDE SAFFE PASSAGE of independent local and international humanitarian groups to help conduct humanitarian action and monitor the situation

5. NEGOTIATE a consensus on the mechanics of “disengagement” of all armed actors in the conflict areas.

6. URGE for the governments and the followers of Sultan Kiram III to discuss key issues on the table and exhaust dialogical means in conflict resolution.

7. AGREE & IDENTIFY an external dialogue facilitator (specifically from among the ASEAN member-states) in bridging the process.

8. DENOUNCE the reported increasing human rights violations caused by the OPS Daulat of the Malaysian Government in their mopping up operation against Kiram’s followers

9. ENCOURAGE independent and civil society-led fact-finding missions to study and investigate on the status of the human rights situation in the districts of Sabah

10. CALL for a convergence of local and international/regional actors to assist and monitor the refugee situation in the Sulu Islands and the borders of Sabah. Urge for an interagency action from ASEAN existing mechanisms, UNHCR, OCHA, IOM, etc., to facilitate.

With utmost humility, we also request both the GPH and MILF to release a joint statement on the Sabah issue the soonest – not only to serve as an assurance that the peace talks is moving, but also an affirmation believing that the power of dialogue will deliver the promise of humanity in the districts of Sabah and Tawi-Tawi, Sulu.

MINDANAO PEACEWEAVERS CONVENORS :

Agong Peace Network (AGONG)
Bisayang Dako Alang saKalinaw (BISDAK)
Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)
Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace (IRSMP)
Mindanao Peace Advocates Conference (MPAC) – Lawig Kalinaw
Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM)
Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC)
Mindanao Solidarity Network (MSN)

MPW SECRETARIATS :

Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) – Lead Secretariat
Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc (BMFI)
Catholic Relief Services – Mindanao (CRS)
Sentrong Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN-Mindanaw)

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