Opinion: Time to support the Martial Law in Mindanao!

If you feel worried and wonder why the reasons for a Martial Law in the Mindanao in the Philippines, than your not trusting the central government and President Rodrigo Duterte. It is time to so, because this is the last measure of the government. Since the Maute Group, a Militant Islamic group who started their violence in 2016 in Butig town in Lanao Del Sur part of Mindanao.

Maute Group:

The group is named after its leaders, the Maute brothers, both Filipinos with extensive ties to the Middle East, according to the military” (…) “Military intelligence said the Maute brothers also had links to two of the region’s most dangerous militants – Indonesian Ustadz Sanusi and Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan. Both were killed by Philippine security forces, Sanusi in 2012 and bin Hir in 2015” (Mogato, 2017).

So it is not like the Maute group who has already besieged Butig in 2016 was unknown to the President. The militants was known, but the sudden attack and clashes in Marawi over the last days has been massive. The burning of state buildings, kidnapping of several key figures in the city, as well as beheading the city Police Commander. Therefore, this weeks assault on the Marawi city is really disturbing and should be worry.

There are the ones that are addressing the Martial Law and saying it is wrong. Well, it should be wrong to totally to besiege Marawi City. That is what is happening and the Philippine National Army are now trying to fight back the Maute Group. The pictures leaked of the militants as they went into the city. They had modern military equipment as they took the town. The clips of the actions and skirmishes in town proves the army doing what they can to battle them back. That can also be seen with the 13 militants defeated in the latest day.

That President Duterte has delivered the Martial Law to the two houses in Parliament proves that he is following the procedure of the constitution. As well as other things are working like normal, not only Finance Minister Carlos Dominguez saying the business will go as normal. Even the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is supporting it. So it is not controversial everywhere, it is in the states and parts of the Republic, which isn’t affected by the Marital Law. The people of Mindanao are supporting it.

That is because the insurgency and the violence are happening around their homes and close to their friends and family. If they doesn’t give away some freedoms and liberties, than the state might not get a chance to weaken and get rid of militants in the area. That the public has to wear-ID and has to cross dozens of checkpoints on their way. Is a little price to pay to give the army and their intelligence needed space to defeat the Maute Group. The deaths and destruction in Marawi is proof of the cure of terrorism.

That Martial Law is taking away ordinary liberties and freedoms is expected, that the public has less power and cannot walk around as free as normal. Is the price that the government needs to stop the Maute group from growing and also create more havoc in Lanao Del Sur in Mindanao. There are guidelines and advice for citizens to follow under Martial Law. As the extensive force for the army and less ordinary capacity for justice, as the Martial law suspends the normal courts in away.

The Martial Law is not controversial in Mindanao, but in Luzon and Metro Manila. Therefore, the ones that get their freedoms taken away and see the value is accepting it. They give the state and the army more freedoms so they fight the Maute group. As they are destroying and continuing to destabilize the Mindanao island. This should been seen as why we should support the Martial Law. Not because the state should sanction this for longer time needed, but as long as the militants kills, destroys and create havoc for ordinary people. As long as Maute guerrilla warfare continues to cause nothing but bloodshed and destruction. President Duterte is reacting to it with force of his arm and the tools at his disposal. 

If you want a peaceful Mindanao, you need to support the Martial Law, as it might sanction and also take away basic freedoms, but it gives the army needed space to battle with the Maute group. That should be enough reason to stand behind it and with the knowledge that the citizens of Mindanao, also supports it! Should also be a secondary reason for being behind it. If the Luzon and Metro Manila is fearing the Martial law, they should know that the people of Mindanao fears the militants. They do not fear the army and their protecting force. Peace.

Reference:

Mogato, Manuel – ‘Maute background, links: Little-known group becomes formidable force in PH’ (25.05.2017) link: http://www.interaksyon.com/maute-bakground-links-little-known-group-becomes-formidable-force-in-ph/

Parliament report on Nalufenya didn’t say much, but what it did say was important!

The 10th Parliament went on a visit to the Nalufenya detention facility on the 19th May 2017, that the Security Agencies in charge of the facility has made this sort environment and this allegations of torture there. Doesn’t come from the wind, but from the certain leaked photos and leaked information from former detainees at the facility. That is certainly the reason for the fear of ending in the dungeons of Nalufenya, as the report is clearly saying more than enough. Also, that the Police together with other security agencies worked to clean up the place and make sure the most hurt detainees was moved. If not the committee would have seen the real-deal. The manufactured story they tried to make, as the sudden massive move of detainees proves the state tries to cover-up their misgivings. Certainly, there are more untold, than told, but the indications are strong enough at this given time.

Nalufenya Detention Facility is a gazetted police station that has been in existence since independence and was initially gazetted for the population of Jinja because of high crime rates in the district” (…) “Nalufenya operates as a special police facility dedicated to handling “handling profile cases” where suspects are brought from any part of the country for investigation and interrogation” (…) “The Committee was informed by the officers (SSP Henry Mugumya) that the police in carrying out the “special operations” works jointly with other sister security agencies such as Internal Security Organization (ISO), External Security Organization (ESO), Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI) among others” (Parliament, P: 6, 2017).

From the inspections of the look of the lock up book/ register, the Committee found that within the course of one week, many detainees were transferred to Luzira Maximum Security Prison and other detention facilities. The Committee therefore, could not establish whether there had been overcrowding or not or whether those transferred had been tortured at the facility” (Parliament, P: 11, 2017).

The Committee observed that detainees at Nalufenya detention facility are held incommunicado. All inmates noted that since their detention, their families are not aware of their whereabouts. They were therefore concerned of the psychological torture of their families” (Parliament, P: 13, 2017).

The Committee is gravely concerned by the lack of coordination in the security agencies in executing arrests of suspects. It is apparent that owing to lack of coordination, the Police cannot always account for the cases of torture” (Parliament, P: 14, 2017).

The detainees seem to live under fear and there is a general fear of disclosure of information to any person. Hence, even when the detainees would want to disclose information, they are constrained” (Parliament, P: 14, 2017).

That the level of fear inside the facility, that the state and their security agencies are really using all methods to pour the power over the detainees. As they are locked away from the world and their families left in the dark. That the usual openness of this report is rare, even as the covering-up and clearing the shop before the Members of Parliament came for visit. Is clear by the Lock-Up book and other initial part of the report. Since the leaked pictures and intelligence from the Nalufenya detention facility, therefore hard to believe that there isn’t anything illegal or torture happening at the place. The Committee of the Parliament couldn’t prove, because the clear moving of detainees and the other factors was shuffled away for the visit. Also, the proof that the Police cannot account for the cases of torture, since it might be other security agencies behind the violence on inmates, might show there are not only possible, but more likely for it there.

So with the little said in the Parliament report, it says enough to know there are implications and problems underneath the surface that the State and their security agencies was covering up, as the level of fear, the level of unaccounted affairs from other agencies and also the sudden move of detainees, are as proof of it as it need to be. There been lot of work and preparation by the Police Force before the Members of Parliament showed-up, to make sure that they couldn’t verify or indicate the leaked information was real. Peace.

Reference:

Parliament of Uganda – ‘Report of the Human Rights Committee on the Alleged Cases of Torture at Nalufenya Detention Facility in Jinja District’ (May 2017)

Philippines: Declaring a State of Martial Law and Suspending the Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Whole of Mindanao (24.05.2017)

CEPO: South Sudan and Sudan have six-month to resolve Abyei dispute – UN (20.05.2017)

Burundi: Declaration du CNARED-Giriteka Suite AU 18th Sommet Ordinaire Des Chefs d’Etat de la Commuate de l’Afrique de l’Est (23.05.2017)

Ethiopia: Food insecurity intensifies despite late Gu and Belg season rainfall (24.05.2017)

Key Messages

  • Despite enhanced rainfall at the end of April into early May over many areas of Ethiopia, food security outcomes are still expected to deteriorate, particularly in southern and southeastern pastoral areas due to the late start, erratic, and below-average Gu/Genna rains. In portions of Somali Region, the accelerated loss of livestock has significantly expanded food consumption gaps, and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are likely in the absence of sustained assistance during June to September. In lowland areas of SNNPR along the Rift Valley and in East and West Hararghe, southern Tigray, and portions of northern Amhara, projected outcomes are expected to move from Stressed (IPC Phase 2) to Crisis (IPC Phase 3), beginning in June, due to low household purchasing power and a lack of confirmed humanitarian assistance.
  • Late Gu/Genna season rainfall has partially rejuvenated water points for both livestock and human consumption across some woredas of Somali Region, and improved water availability has been reported in Borena and Guji zones of Oromia and South Omo in southern SNNPR. However, the rainfall has not continued into mid-May, and the short-term forecast indicates only moderate rainfall as the season concludes. The current marginal improvements in pasture and water are likely to be depleted by early June, which will mean rangeland resources will rapidly decline, and subsequently livestock body conditions and productivity, until the Deyr/Hageya season in October.
  • Over most Belg-producing areas of the country, extended dry spells through much of April suppressed the growth of Belg crops as well as Meher long-cycle crops. As a result, even if the Belg rains continue through the end of May, lower yields are likely for maize crops in particular, especially in lowland areas of SNNPR along the Rift Valley. Due to late planting, the green and dry Belg maize harvest in SNNPR is likely to be delayed by more than two months. Poor households are already experiencing constrained food access as they are highly market dependent during the peak of the lean season. Staple food prices, especially for maize, remain atypically higher.
  • The 2017 HRD initially estimated that 5.6 million people needed humanitarian assistance through June 2017, but the National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) has revised higher the number to 7.81 million. In addition, the NDRMC has projected that in Belg-dependent areas, additional PSNP beneficiaries past the traditional six-month period of transfers will need extended support. The NDRMC, JEOP, and WFP completed the first two distribution rounds, and the third round is underway. However, there are logistical constraints that might impede timely distributions.

South Sudan: Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities between the Youth of Dinka Bor and Murle Communities (23.05.2017)

Rep. Elijah Cummings letter to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Michael Flynn subpoena in the Russian Probe (22.05.2017)

SPLM-IO: On the One-Sided National Dialogue and Ceasefire of President Salva Kiir and his allies (22.05.2017)

UNAMID calls for restraint amid renewed Darfur clashes (22.05.2017)

EL FASHER – Fighting has been taking place in the past few days between Government of Sudan forces and non-signatory movements in North and East Darfur, with reports of multiple casualties.

UNAMID’s Joint Special Representative, Jeremiah Mamabolo, said that the Mission was deeply concerned about these developments.

“Significant progress has been made on the road towards peace and security in Darfur, and it would be a serious setback to see these gains jeopardized” said Mr. Mamabolo.

“UNAMID calls on all parties involved in this latest round of fighting to show restraint and use the peace process to resolve all outstanding issues. This is the only course of action that can satisfy the interests of the people of Darfur.”

UNAMID wishes to remind all the parties of their unilateral commitment to a ceasefire which was decided in goodwill with a view to advancing the peace process.

UNAMID personnel in the vicinity of the clashes have been put on high alert. The Mission has dispatched verification patrols and is collecting information by other means from areas mentioned in incoming reports