Freed Abu Sayyaf hostage Octavio Dinampo. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)The World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA) warmly welcomes the release of one of its partners, Prof. Octavio Dinampo, from kidnappers who abducted him along with three Filipino TV journalists in Jolo, Mindanao.
While we are pleased with this development, we condemn in the strongest terms his abduction: under no circumstances can such a barbaric act be justified.
Moreover, we are disturbed by the military's prolonged "detention" of Prof. Dinampo for "de-briefing" purposes after he was released. Family and friends had no immediate access to him, as he was instead flown to Zamboanga City for further "de-briefings". Furthermore, we strongly reject the insinuations made by certain ranking officers within the security forces that Prof. Dinampo was not a genuine "victim."
Prof. Dinampo is a renowned peace advocate who joined WFDA's solidarity and peace mission to Timor Leste during the 2006 crisis that hit the region's newest nation. He also joined us in our biennial conference in Manila last September when we gathered the region's leading democrats and activists in exploring common paths to peace and democracy.
WFDA is distressed by the culture of violence that has beset many countries and territories left marginalized due to historical injustices perpetuated by incumbent governments. The kidnapping of a peace advocate together with neutral journalists is reflective of the desperation of marginalized peoples to attain their goals of survival and acceptance into mainstream society and the body politic.
We are deeply concerned that this kidnapping may have further complicated the stalled peace process in Mindanao while preparations are also being made for the impending controversial election in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.
We call on all related authorities and sectors to work for the elimination of the conditions that led to the kidnapping of Prof. Dinampo. We pray that such egregious violations of human rights will not happen again.
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