Stop The War In Mindanao, Peace Advocates Appeal

As hostilities between the Philippine military and the Moro National Liberation front escalate in Mindanao, we from the Stop the War Coalition - Philippines, a broad coalition of social movements, NGOs, and other organizations, join the call for an immediate ceasefire, a return to the negotiating table, and full, substantive, and meaningful self-determination for the Moros, indigenous, and other oppressed peoples in Mindanao.

We demand convincing and unequivocal proof behind the government’s reason for its military offensive – i.e. that the Moro National Liberation Front is coddling ‘terrorists.’ We reject the manipulative use of the threat of ‘terrorism’ against the Moro people and we reject military solutions to address the said threat.

We demand the immediate withdrawal of the US troops who have been permanently stationed in Mindanao since 2002 and we demand that they play absolutely no role whatsoever – whether in providing intelligence or assisting in operations – in the ongoing conflict.

We call for justice for all those who have been killed, tortured, or detained and we demand accountability and punishment for all perpetrators.

We demand relief and rehabilitation for all those who have been displaced by the war, protection for all civilians, and compensation for all those who have been affected.

We call on the media to report on the war fairly and accurately. We demand that journalists refrain from being the mouthpiece of the military and we demand that they should have the courage to challenge and verify the military’s claims.

We call for the full implementation of the peace agreements and we call for the expulsion of hawks in the military and in the government who have been working to undermine it. We demand the immediate release of Nur Misuari who has been illegally detained for five years without any trial.

We stand in solidarity with all those who stand for lasting peace and genuine self-determination.

Stop the War Coalition-Philippines

Members:

Alliance of Genuine Labor Organizations (AGLO)
AKBAYAN!
Akbayan! Youth
Alab Katipunan
Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
ALMANA
ALYANSA!
Anak Mindanao Party (AMIN)
APPRA
ASAP

Alliance of Genuine Labor Organizations (AGLO)
ASSALAM Bangsamoro
ASSALAM Party
Bagong Kamalayan Collective, Inc
Bangsamoro People’s Solidarity
Billah Islam
BISIG-Youth
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)
Coalition Against Trafficking of Women Asia Pacific (CATW-AP)
Filipino Democratic Movement (FilDem)
Focus on the Global South
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)
Gathering for Peace
Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)
International South Group Network (ISGN)
Juan Makata
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission – Association of
Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines
K! Kalayaan NCR-BLC
KAAKBAY AFDM
Kagan People’s Forum – Mindanao
KAISA KA
KALAYAAN
KANLUNGAN
Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya
KOMPAK
Laban ng Masa (LnM)
League of Urban Poor for Action
Liga Manggagawa
MAKABAYAN Pilipinas
Movement for Student Power (MASP)
PANGISDA
Partido Manggagawa
People’s Task Force for Bases Clean UP Philippines
Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement
Philippine Peace and Security Council
Pambansang Kaisahan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (PKMP)
PKSK
Progressive Organization of Worker Advocates (PRO-WORKER)
Resource Center for People’s Development (RCPD)
Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan (SDK)
SANLAKAS
Solidarity of Unions and Labor Organizations for a New Government
(SULONG)
Task Force Subic Rape
Teatrong Bayan
TW-MAE-W
UP ALYANSA
UP Assabiyah
UP-IIS
Women and Gender Commission AMRSP
Women and Gender Institute
Women’s Legal Bureau, Inc
YES to Change!
Young Moro Professionals Network
Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND)


ENDORSED BY (as of 18 April 2007):
Asian Women Human Rights Council- Philippines
Balay Rehabilitation Center
CONZARRD Inc.
GZO Peace Institute
Jihad-al-Akbar Org
Lolas Kampanyera Comfort Women Survivors Group
Mindanao Solidarity Network
Wedpro Inc.
Xaverian Missionaries

(Individuals)
Fr. Archie Casey SX
Lennard Daoud P Tan
Sheila May Tan


[To add your organization to the list of endorsers, please e-mail
herbert@focusweb.org]