DOCUMENTARY REPORT: Recognition of Human rights violations key to Transitional justice

 

 MY POINT OF VIEW

  By Jun Enriquez

  Interviews were conducted during the Transitional Justice conference, 7-9 February 2023, held in Davao City, sponsored by the GIZ CPS and forumZFD, regarding the issues on Transitional justice and reconciliation (TJR) to victims of human rights violations, especially in Mindanao, pre and during martial law years. This include the perspectives from the academe and media aiming for sustainable just peace through the creation of TJR mechanisms, is a must.

Hadja Rugaya Sondalo

Hadja Rugaya Mala Sondalo, was one of the victims of Malisbong massacre in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, September 24, 1974. Her father and relatives were killed during the incident. Only few of the victims were recognized and received compensation but many did not meet the processing period deadlines to submit the required documents. Hadja Rugaya said that all the massacre victims must be recognized and compensated for the sake of justice.

Hadja Fatima Sapalon

 Hadja Fatima Mamba Sapalon, was one of the victims of the Manili massacre in Carmen, North Cotabato in June 19, 1971. Her father and relatives were killed during the massacre in the Masjid during the incident. All the Human rights victims of the Manili massacre was not recognized by the government because the incident was happened before the declaration of Martial law. Hadja Fatima said that the Manili massacre has triggered the declaration of martial law. That's why they demand compensation for the Human rights victims of the Manili massacre. She said the victims are now organized themselves calling the Transitional justice and reconciliation commission (TJRC) and the BARMM for the sake of justice for the victims of the Manili massacre. 

Tony A. Said

Tony A. Said is a peace advocate working for the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) based in Tawi-tawi. He said Prior to the martial law, Tawi-tawi was part of Sulu, and after the martial law it was separated from Sulu and became a new province. Tony said that there were many cases of massacres in Tawi-tawi which were not recorded and no compensation at all. He said these cases must be properly investigated, interview the victims and documented to be included as a primary concerns on the TJR for seeking justice for the victims of Human rights violations in Tawi-tawi.

Allan Olubalang

Allan Olubalang, a Teduray tribe youth leader, mentioning about their irony of their ancestral domain in Maguindanao. He said they supported the creation of BARMM to make their ancestral domain become successful to acquire the Certificate of Ancestral domain title (CADT), but until now nothing happened because the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) issued a resolution no. 38 to stop the operations of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in the BARMM and it stops the processing of CADT. Olubalang said that their ancestral domain (AD) is now under siege by different factions and armed group created conflict due to several misconceptions on the issue of ancestral domain and land dispute cases. Olubalang is calling to continue the processing of the AD through the lifting of BTA cease and decease order for NCIP, so that the CADT will be awarded to the Teduray and Lambangian tribes. He is calling for the mandate of TJRC in order to recognize the traditional laws and structure of the IPs in the BARMM and fast-track the IPs code serves as a mandate of IPs rights described in the BOL. Olubalang also pointed out for the protection of the environment because it is part of the lives of the IPs. He is calling the Bangsamoro Parliament to protect the environment to prevent the people from suffering on any natural disaster.

Amier Dodo, TWG-MILF

Amier Dodo is a member of the Technical working group (TWG) - TJRC under the negotiating panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF), acknowledged to at least 90 Transitional justice (TJ) recommendations received from the ground is a great challenge. He said in these challenges there is opportunity to come up with a mechanism to work for the implementation to serve the at least 90 TJ recommendations. He is calling the civil society organizations to work together for the creation of TJRC mechanisms. Amier said through this action will heal the wound of the history of conflict and prevail sustainable just peace. 

Mossulini Sinsuat Lidasan

Mossulini Sinsuat Lidasan, Executive Director, Al Qalam Institute of the Ateneo de Davao University. Lidasan was a former member of the Bangsamoro parliament - BTA BARMM. He was also member of working the BBL, now the BOL in creating the BARMM. He said that TJRC is a prime need to work as of this time. He paused a question, what are we transitioning for? Lidasan said that on the past, it was known that Bangsamoro is fighting for independence to autonomy, from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Issues of historical injustices such as, the Malisbong massacre of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, Mamili massacre of Carmen, Northe Coabato, Tacub massacre of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, and many more were not properly addressed. These massacres have been used as reasons for recruitment on violent extremism. Lidasan said Transitional justice new definition of the Bangsamoro will co-exist the Muslims, Christians and the Indigenous peoples in achieving peace, works hand-in-hand and helping one another. 

Karlos Manlupig, Journalist

Karlos Manlupig is a journalist and peace advocate, said that the role of the media is a big challenge to bring the voices of the Bangsamoro, especially on issues of Human rights violations and historical injustices targeting civilians committed in the past. It is very important to produce and fill the gaps of historical narrative to inform and educate the people, pushing TJRC mechanisms to recognize and compensate Human rights victims to achieve just peace.

In my point of view, Transitional Justice (TJ) based on the narratives above is a process of transforming conflict into peace. Human rights violations must be recognized and compensated to end the historical injustices committed in the past to achieved just peace. My greetings to all our Muslims Brothers and Sisters of celebrating Eid'l Fitr. Happy celebration!