JOINT STATEMENT OF PHILIPPINE-MALAYSIAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
Standoff in Lahad Datu: Engage in Dialogue Now with all stakeholders to resolve the crisis peacefully
We the undersigned Civil Society organisations (CSOs) from Malaysia and Philippines are extremely concerned over the on-going standoff between the Malaysian security forces and followers of the Sultanate of Sulu’s heirs, Jamalul Kiram III at Lahad Datu, Sabah. We the CSOs, together with all individuals, organizations and networks, urgently call upon President Benigno S. Aquino III of the Philippines, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of Malaysia and Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, to disavow all forms of violence, and instead supports dialogue as the primary mechanism for a resolution to the siege.
We are very concerned and worried about the security of civilians in Lahad Datu, Semporna and the surrounding villages and we would like to see a peaceful solution to resolve this ongoing problem. According to media reports, at least 43 people have been killed in Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kampung Tanduo, Sabah.
We believe the situation in Lahad Datu requires swift and peaceful intervention. We urge all parties to resist from using force while remaining committed to dialogue and negotiation throughout this process.
We are also very concerned with the lack of real-time information with respect to what has actually taken place so far in Lahad Datu. Up to this point the information received through the Malaysian news media lacked transparency and created unnecessary rumors and assumptions about the situation. The people have the right to get information on on-going issues in Sabah.
In this context, we call on the governments of Malaysia and Philippines and the Sultanate of Sulu to:
- Immediately declare a HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE so that agencies concerned can take immediate measures to ensure the safety of women, children, elderly and other vulnerable persons in the affected area. And provide “safe zones” where humanitarian organizations and relevant agencies can install facilities to be accessed by those who are injured and require immediate medical care;
- Take immediate steps to end the use of violence and to engage in DIALOGUE with all stakeholders to resolve the crisis peacefully.
- Take proper measures to ensure that in the process of resolving the crisis, the human rights of everyone involved are respected and protected especially civilians from Lahad Datu, Semporna and nearby villages;
- Take immediate measures to secure the safety of journalists who chose to access the area at all times to ensure fair reporting and dissemination of information to the general public;
- Cease and desist from using excessive force and armed violence to end the prevailing conflict;
- Initiate an independent and impartial investigation into the killings that has taken place and make the findings of the investigation public.
We fervently dissuade all the principals involved from brinkmanship by instead living up to your respective legacies as genuine leaders of your people with honor and dignity.
Time is of the essence. The world is looking at you, now.
Signed :
MALAYSIA
- Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
- Tenaganita
- Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
- JUMP
- ALIRAN
- Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
- Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
- Justice for Sisters
- Seksualiti Merdeka
- Pusat KOMAS
- Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan
- Community Action Network (CAN)
- Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
- Community Development Centre (CDC)
PHILIPPINES
- Mindanao PeaceWeavers (MPW)
- Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
- Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID)
- Free Burma Coalition – Philippines (FBCP)
- Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF)
- Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM)
- Agri-Aqua Development Coalition, Mindanao
- AGONG Peace Network, Mindanao
- Akbayan Citizens Action Party
- Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan (AKKAPKA)
- Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
- Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA)
- Arya Progresibo
- Balay Mindanao Foundation, Inc
- Banwaon One Tribe, One Territory, Mindanao
- Billah Islam C.O.R.D
- Business and Professional Women Ormoc (BPWO)
- Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)
- Center for Peace Education – Miriam College
- Citizen’s Peace Watch
- Civil Peace Service Program – Southern Christian College
- Community Organizers Multiversity (CO Multiversity)
- Coalition for ARMM Reform and Transformation (CART)
- Coalition of Ormoc Women (COW)
- Coalition of Social Development Organizations
- Coalition for the Development of Sibuguey – Western Mindanao
- Coffee for Peace, Inc
- Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance
- Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society
- Council of Organized Social Service Agencies in Mindanao
- Derepa te Erumanen ne Menuvu, Mindanao
- Focus on the Global South -Philippines
- Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)
- Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas
- Generation Peace
- Gitib Inc., Mindanao
- GZO Peace Institute
- Human Rights Defenders-Pilipinas (HRDP)
- Institute for Comparative and Advanced Studies (ICAS Phils)
- Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)
- Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace (IRSMP)
- IQRAA Islam Foundation, Davao del Norte
- Kabataan Consortium, Inc., Davao City
- KAGDUMA, Incorporated, Mindanao
- Khairul Bariyyah Youth Movement
- Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP)
- Kebager te Ked-Inged, Mindanao
- Kahugpongan sa Mindanaw
- Khairul Bariyyah Youth Movement (KBYM)
- Landcare Foundation of the Philippines, Inc
- Lawyers’ League for Liberty (LIBERTAS)
- Lumad Mindanaw Peoples’ Federation
- Luna Legal Resource Center for Women and Children, Inc., Davao City
- Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement
- Mindanao Peace Advocates Conference
- Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE) Secretariat
- Mindanao Alliance of Self-Help Societies – Southern Philippines Educational Cooperative Center
- Mindanao Congress of Development NGOs and NGIs –Mindanao
- Mindanao Indigenous People Women Development
- Mindanao Solidarity Network (MSN)
- Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan, UP Diliman (KAISA)
- Nisa Ul-Haqq Fi Bangsamoro
- Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)
- Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas (PANDAYAN)
- Partnership of Philippine Support Services Agencies – Mindanao
- Pakigdait, Incorporated, Mindanao
- Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet – Negros (PsP-N)
- Pagtinabangay Foundation
- Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)
- Partido ng Manggagawa (PM)
- Pasaday Manobo Association (PAMAAS)
- Pax Christi Institute
- Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ)
- Peacebuilders Community, Inc
- People’s Alternative Studies Center for Research & Education in Social Dev’t (PASCRES)
- People’s Global Exchange (PGX)
- Peoplex27
- Philwomen on ASEAN
- Philippine Action Network to Control Arms
- Philippine Human Rights Information Center (Philrights)
- Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
- Philippine Business for Social Progress – Mindanao
- Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court
- Philippine Partnership for the Devt of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA)
- Philippine Rural and Reconstruction Movement (PRRM)
- Pinay Kilos
- Province of Zamboanga Sibugay Rubber Farmers Association (PZSRFA)
- Rajah Buayan Cultural Institute (RBCI),Mindanao
- Redemptorist Center for Social and Ecological Concerns – Mindanao
- Shariful hashim Cultural university (ShacuS)
- Silsilah Dialogue Movement
- SANLAKAS
- SANLAKAS-Youth
- SARILAYA
- Shariful Hashim Cultural University (SHACUS)
- Social Organization Safeguarding Ecological Advancement Related to Humanity (SOS-EARTH)
- SOCSKSARGEN Sociological Society
- SPREAD – Oblates of Notre Dame
- Sulong CARHRIHL
- Sultan Kudarat Active-People’s Network (SKAN)
- Tambayan Center for Children’s, Inc.
- Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
- Tausug Global Media – Jolo, Sulu
- Textile Clothing Footwear Ormoc (TCFO)
- The Peacemaker Circle Foundation
- United Transport Workers Organization (UTWO)
- WomanHealth Philippines
- Women and Gender Institute
- Women Engaged in Action on 1325 (We Act 1325-Philippines)
- Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau (WLB)
- World March of Women – Pilipinas
- Young Moro Professionals Network, Inc
- Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA)
REGIONAL/GLOBAL
- Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
- Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict – Southeast Asia (SEA-GPPAC)
- Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
- Alternatives – Asia
- Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN- Burma)
- Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
- Asia-Pacific Movement on Debt & Development (JSAPMDD)
- Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia)
- Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific (CATW-AP)
- International Peace Bureau (IPB)
- ISIS International
- Media Defense South East Asia (MD-SEA)
- Migrant Forum Asia (MFA)
- Network for Transformative Social Protection (NTSP-Asia)
- South East Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA)
BANGLADESH
- Humanitywatch
- NABODHARA, Bangladesh
- Participatory Research & Action Network (PRAN)
- VOICE, Bangladesh
BURMA/MYANMAR
- Generation Wave Institute
CAMBODIA
- Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF)
EAST TIMOR
- East Timor Students Solidarity Council (ETSSC)
FRANCE
- Europe solidaire sans frontièrezs (ESSF)
GERMANY
- Asienstiftung (German Asia Foundation)
- Philippinenbüro – Asienhaus
INDIA
- Burma Centre Delhi
INDONESIA
- Center for Community Development and Education (CCDE – Aceh)
- Independent Committee for Election Monitoring (KIPP)
- IMPARSIAL, Indonesian Human Rights Monitor
- Lembaga Bantuan Hukum / Legal Aid Institute (LBH-BALI)
- Lembaga Bantuan Hukum / Legal Aid Institute (LBH-Makassar)
- Lembaga Bantuan Hukum /Legal Aid Institute (LBH – Pers Padang)
- Lembaga Bantuan Hukum / Legal Aid Institute (LBH-Jakarta)
- Solidaritas Perempuan (SP)
- Yamakindo
- Yayasan Transformasi Lepra Indonesia
NEPAL
- All Nepal Peasants Federation (ANPFa)
- All Nepal Women Association (ANWA)
- Campaign for Climate Justice Nepal (CCJN)
PAKISTAN
- Center For Peace & Civil Society (CPCS)
SINGAPORE
- Think Centre
THAILAND
- People’s Empowerment Foundation (PEF)
- Women’s Education for Advancement and Empowerment (WEAVE) – Thailand
USA
- National Organization of Asian Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence (NAPIESV)
INDIVIDUALS
- Anbony Cuanico, Philippines
- Chayie Maligalig, Philippines
- Crystal Yeldes Flores, Philippines
- Denz Bazada, Philippines
- Edgardo Beltran, Philippines
- Eleanor Trinchera, Philippines
- Fr. Angel Calvo, Mindanao PeaceWeavers, Philippines
- Ganesson Suppiah, Malaysia
- Gani Serrano, President, PRRM – Philippines
- Hew Li Huang, Malaysia
- Howard Ng, Malaysia
- Japs Hatta, Philippines
- James Mante, Philippines
- Jean Justimbaste, Philippines
- Jenny Aulin, Philippines
- Joan Makau, Philippines
- Jun Enriquez, Philippines
- Juvinal Dias, Timor Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis, Timor Leste
- Ka Rene Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Philippines
- Kevin Kettle, Bangkok,Thailand
- KP Lee, Malaysia
- Loch na Menon, Malaysia
- Ma. Lisa Betita Fontanilla, Philippines
- Marishel Gapit, Philippines
- Mayor Ronnel Lim, Sorsogon, Philippines
- Michael Teng, Malaysia
- Mmk Tggw, Myanmar
- Monse dela Cruz, Philippines
- Muhammad AwisAl Qarni, Malaysia
- Noel A. Hernandez, Philippines
- O.g. Abesamis, Philippines
- Pastor Dann Pantoja, Peacebuilders Community, Mindanao, Philippines
- Prof. Abdullah Grande Mamacotao, Philippines
- Prof. Anuradha Chenoy, University of India
- Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, University of India
- Prof Keshab Khadka, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Pua Wah Lum, Malaysia
- Ramon Casiple, IPER, Philippines
- Rasol Abbas, Philippines
- Raul Gatinao, Philippines
- Roland Fortun, Philippines
- Roy Calfoforo, Philippines
- Sia Phearum, Director, HRTF, Cambodia
- Sittie Guinomla, Philippines
- The Pplway Jian Min, Malaysia
- Vincent Fung, Malaysia
- Yok Foo Looi Looi, Malaysia
- Yvette Mah, Malaysia
PHILIPPINE PETITION CAMPAIGN CONTACTS:
Lyndee Prieto
Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
Mindanao PeaceWeavers (MPW) – Secretariat
Mobile:(+63) 9177247579
Email : [email protected]
Malou Tabios Nuera
IID-Manila Office
Asia Pacific Solidarity Action (APSOC) – Secretariat
Phone: (+632) 9110205; (+632) 4352900
Mobile: (+63) 9177247580
Email: [email protected]
