SULU HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
Author: Milet B.  Mendoza, Tabang Mindanaw


The Plight of Internally Displaced Peoples in Sulu

Not known to many, hundreds of men, women and children continue to be displaced from their homes in Sulu. What makes it more tragic is the lingering pattern of the lack or even absence of humanitarian concern for these internally displaced peoples. This can be attributed to a growing mindset often mouthed by local leaders and apathetic individuals that people in Sulu are "used to war" and, therefore, displacement is nothing new. People have indeed become resilient to hardship over time but never to war that only diminishes human dignity with social injustice and humiliation. Coping mechanisms are enhanced only because people are left with no choice but to survive amidst the apathy and inaction of their mandated local and national officials that seem to condone the spiraling violence and the violation of the peoples' right to live in peace and dignity.

A number of communities in Sulu, particularly in Indanan and Patikul, have not gone back to their home communities since they have been displaced in the '70s (martial law). Some at more recent dates such as the Sipadan Hostage crisis, and, more pronounced in 2005 to date, due to military operations against  high value targets, Jemaah Islamiyah, and the Abu Sayyaf Group. The latter is deemed much lesser in number than one is made to believe.

This lack of humanitarian concern for the plight of the IDPs, who are growing in numbers, leave more people in despair for peace and authentic sustainable development. Government data from three currently displaced communities in Indanan record at least 625 displaced families. No other reliable information regarding other frequently and long time displaced families have been consolidated. And this can easily be by the thousands. If these families are to be seriously assisted for humanitarian aid and eventual return and rehabilitation, there must be a serious effort to account for them. As it is, the humanitarian imperative leaves much to be desired in a place like Sulu where humanitarianism is more carried out as a false sense of benevolence rather than as a respect for the right of the IDP to be cared for and assisted.

On February 26, about 285 families from Kagay, Maaligay and other surrounding communities of Marang, Indanan were in panic as they evacuated from their homes and source of livelihood to run for safety. It is not the first time for these families to have evacuated. As it was then, they had nothing on except the clothes on their back. The
safety of infants and children are foremost in any parent's heart. They are now jam-packed in the public elementary school in Bato Bato, Indanan as it was back then in February 2005 at the height of the military operations. As there is uncertainty, no one knows when these families will ever get back home. Even to this day, many communities in Indanan as well as in Patikul have been unable to return since martial law. Old people, reminiscing the comforts of "home" can only hope of returning, not even wanting "a bed for the night" but simply to "snore in their sleep" with no pounding in their heart caused by mortar fire or cannons. When modern day warfare has transformed civilian communities into ugly battle zones, any dead or injured civilian, and damage to property are deemed part of the war game – or merely tagged as "collateral damage".  The blatant intrusion into private civilian sanctuaries is the norm.

IDPs helping IDPs

The IDP mothers of Kasambuhan are taking charge of the feeding program for their children. Since February 25, an average of 220 children is fed twice a day with nutritious porridge. On March 12 began the feeding for at least 300 more children in Bato Bato and on March 13 for another 150 children in Talatak. It can be shown that if properly organized, the IDPs can manage to fend for themselves with some quality humanitarian assistance that promotes transparency, discipline and participation. They take rightful pride in this even as their political and religious leaders, mandated relief agencies, and local CSOs have left a big gap in raising a humanitarian appeal on their behalf and helping appease their plight. The IDP women of Kasambuhan, Tagbak, have shown, in very modest but sincere ways, how much they care for their fellow IDPs from Kagay and other areas surrounding Marang. IDPs feel for each other's pain and there emanates an unspoken collective misery. This same anguish could be the beginning of community self-help in Sulu especially as one can only forecast further displacements due to continuing military operations. Military officials say that at least 10,000 military personnel are in Sulu not counting armed groups of political clans. One can only surmise that these armed groups are not there for mere peacekeeping, in its true sense.

Amazingly, the IDP women and men, if given the opportunity to organize can do much better in caring for one another than any relief agency could. For the Kasambuhan, Kagay and Maaligay, and Laum Saging communities, they have begun to organize themselves for a twice a day feeding program for their children and other vulnerable groups. Cognizant that there is nothing much to be expected from local leaders and even fellow citizens, the IDPs realize they can only depend on themselves to help themselves. This is a proud work they must rightfully claim. With some modest food and feeding materials, they are able to cook porridge in the morning and afternoon to feed their hungry children. This reduces the parents' mental and emotional agony of having to worry about their children's well being. Whatever is left over is set aside for pregnant women and lactating mothers and senior citizens. With scarce resources, the weak or the most vulnerable have to be attended first. Over time, with no nutritious food and exposure to sun and rain, increased morbidity can be anticipated even as there are already indications of ailments and malnourishment among the young and the weak. With further exposure to harsh elements and unsanitary conditions, it can be expected that ill health and even death will stalk these innocent victims sooner than anyone can anticipate.

Death of a Minor

Mrs. Norena Abbilul, resident of Kasambuhan and mother of 14 year old Abdulhakim Abbibul, who was allegedly shot dead by Scout Rangers operating on a "test mission" in the area on the evening of February 19, 2007, said that her innocent son sustained gunshot wounds that resulted to his immediate death. Abdulhakim's companion, 20 year old Sarib Jumdail, sustained multiple (at least 13) gunshot wounds from M14 and M16 rifles on his back and some more in his extremities. Sarib was able to run for his life and is currently being secured in a place his parents feel is safer for their son. Sarib is traumatized for life and has not been sufficiently medically attended to this day. Such remains to be the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire. Even those injured continue to suffer in pain and fear for their lives as their expected legitimate protectors would most likely accuse them as enemies of the State. To whom then does one run for protection and aid? The scenario is grimmer with the passage of the Human Security Act of 2007 where most likely, as it has been for Sulu, many innocent civilians will be tagged as "terrorists".

Mrs. Abbilul was unaware of the tragic plight of her son until bloodstained Sarib arrived at his relative's house after that incident on February 19, 2007. The parents were at a loss finding their child's body until the next day when someone reported that Abdulhakim was about to be buried anonymously in the Muslim cemetery in Jolo town. The people were not permitted by the military to locate the body of Abdulhakim on the site of the incidence.  The military still claims to this day that the tragic February 19 incident that killed a minor and injured another innocent civilian was a legitimate encounter. In Sulu, how can the poor and powerless people contest that?  There is in fact a long list of unresolved crimes and violations of human rights left unheeded. This has sadly bred indifference and distrust.

The fact is at the night of the tragedy, the two boys were en route to their respective homes after stopping over their relatives' house to watch "Bakekang", a favorite tele-novela. The boys went on an errand to buy rice but decided to stop over and watch TV. This is typical among the people in the area to go to their relatives or neighbors' homes for some leisure. They did not realize that something gruesome awaited them on their walk back home.

On the same night, upon hearing thunderous bursts of gunfire that no one thought had killed a boy and injured another, the fearful residents evacuated in panic to the nearby Kasambuhan Elementary School located along KM 4 with their children in tow. Moreover, some residents claimed that their homes were allegedly ransacked by the
Scout Rangers and some valuable personal belongings like cell phones, jewellery, and even farm animals were stolen.

Since the evening of February 19, the Kasambuhan Elementary School is being used as an evacuation center. For other IDPs, they seek sanctuary in relatives' homes.

Returning home remains uncertain for these people as soldiers still lurk about. No assurance from military officials can convince residents to return as the mere sight of a military uniform sows trepidation and, perhaps even brewing rage, evoking traumatic memories of social injustice committed against their families and relatives who have suffered for so long.  Many parents can only cry and suffer in silence when narrating stories of their innocent sons being killed and later further insulted with claims by military authorities as Abu Sayyaf terrorists. It is difficult to compete with a sophisticated government and military propaganda machine that wins the war with untruth and deceit that aims at deepening the prejudice and, therefore, effectively soliciting public support. In Sulu, civilian government has relinquished its authority over to the military. Leaders are preoccupied with "high impact, high funded projects" that have not truly impacted on the lives of the people that matter. Both government and non-government development agencies have accepted the fact that over many years of technical and financial assistance in Sulu has neither significantly improved the lives of the people nor has it brought peace. Yet, no other conflict-torn people in this country aspire for true peace and human dignity than the people of Sulu, especially those that have been most deprived of even the most basic development rights to education, water, health and sanitation, and livelihood.

The real humanitarian crisis

This deliberate scheme of continued disempowerment of people has kept Sulu at the bottom of the pit. In this day and age, how can we allow this to happen? How can our hearts not beat with the people of Sulu that have a very rich cultural heritage and history that gave birth to ours? How can our hearts not be pierced by the wounds of a people that

remain unhealed? This, I believe, is the true humanitarian crisis. Acceptance by action or inaction the injustice that beset our Muslim brothers and sisters in Sulu bespeaks of a nation's soul in distress. No one deserves it most to be left alone in peace. No one can claim to have the utmost desire for peace than the people that have lost a beloved son, mother or father, or a spouse due to armed conflict, and a future that is continually being stolen by violent interludes spiraling to deeper conflicts. Yet, amazingly, one can find the most forgiving hearts right in the place that have suffered the most. For this reason alone, there is hope in Sulu and this lies in the hearts of people at the grassroots.

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Tabang Mindanaw is currently based in Sulu implementing programs for peace and development. It is working with IDP women and volunteers in providing nutritious meals twice a day to at least 700 IDP children and other vulnerable groups in three communities in Indanan.