Four civil society organisations, including FORUM-ASIA member Philippines Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), released a report this month on their fact-finding mission conducted in Mindanao, south of the Philippines, in October 2008.

Through interviews and discussions with local authorities and the people affected by the conflict between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the organisations report that both parties "had likewise caused tremendous damages to homes, farms and properties, and means of livelihood." The people are left with psychological trauma and lack of security, often internally-displaced.

The participants to the mission were 80 people from 52 civil society organisations, including Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), a FORUM-ASIA member and a member of PAHRA.

Mindanao region got international attention lately, as three Red Cross volunteers have been kidnapped in Jolo since 9 February.

(Photo courtesy of the report)

To read the report, please click here (.pdf).