[FoME] URGENT/WICHTIG: Letter to UN SG Ban Ki-moon on Mindanao - deadline: August 29th]

[Wolf Ludwig]

Erlaube mir, diesen dringenden Aufruf über die FoME-Liste 
weiter zu leiten -- Bitte dieses Email sofort an interessierte Organisationen 
und Einzelpersonen weiterleiten.  Danke!!! Sorry for Crossposting.


Liebe Freundinnen und Freunde
In Mindanao auf den Philippinen herrscht wieder Krieg!!! Es ist sehr
traurig und für die betroffenen Zivilpersonen, Frauen, Kinder und ältere
Personen ein Horror.
Das International Women Tribune Center hat die Initiative ergriffen einen
Brief an den UNO Generalsekretär Ban Ki-moon zu schicken, mit der
Forderung, dass die UNO sich für einen sofortigen Waffenstillstand
einsetzt und gewährleistet dass die UNO-Resolution 1325 zu Frauen, Frieden
und Sicherheit eingehalten wird.
Ich möchte Dich und Deine Organisation einladen diesen Brief so schnell
wie möglich mitzuunterzeichnen. Natürlich waere es toll wenn möglichst
viele Organisationen unterzeichnen. Aber auch Einzelpersonen sind wichtig.
Bitte schick Deine Unterschrift direkt and Mavic Cabrera vom Internatinal
Women's Tribune Center mavic at iwtc.org, möglichst noch heute.

Danke für Deine Unterstützung.
Liebe Grüsse
Bianca Miglioretto>
isiswomen.org

+++
August 29, 2008 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
UN Headquarters
New York, USA    

Dear Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,

Subject: armed conflict in Southern Philippines 

We would like to express utmost concern about the recent breakout of violence in Southern Philippines (parts of Mindanao island) following the issuance of a temporary restraining order against the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on August 4, 2008. 

Fifty (50) people, most of whom are civilians, have been killed and some 220,000 have been displaced by the recent attacks in Lanao and North Cotabato provinces.

While we believe that MILF units that targeted villages have engaged in serious violations of international law and should be held accountable, we are also seriously concerned about the formation of armed militia units with support from the Department of Interior and Local Government.  The setting up of armed groups will not protect civilians as some local government officials believe. Rather, it will lead to more chaos, insecurity and division among local communities. The protection of civilians is the responsibility of the State and its security sector such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. 

We thank you for your statement of  August 13th where you expressed concern about the unfolding humanitarian crisis and appealed for restraint, protection of all civilians as well as access for the provision of speedy humanitarian assistance to the affected population.

We now call on your office to bring the government of the Republic of the Philippines and MILF back to the peace negotiation table as soon as possible. We also call on you to demand both parties to honour their obligation under Security Council Resolution 1325 which is to ensure women’s equal and fair participation in peace processes and ensure the protection of women and children who are the most vulnerable in armed conflict situations. Finally, we hope that these efforts will lay the groundwork for the United Nations to become the main peace broker in the Mindanao peace process.  
 
Yours sincerely,
(Signing orgs)


(Signing individuals)



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