Letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

August 29, 2008  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon UN Headquarters New York, USA    Tel: 212 963 5012; Fax: 212 963 4879 Email: sgcentral@un.org  Subject: armed conflict in Southern Philippines  Dear Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 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 honor 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.  Yours sincerely, Mindanao Commission on Women Mothers for Peace Mindanao Young Women Leaders Forum Political Caucus of Women Leaders in Mindanao Center for Peace Education, Miriam College Katungod Han Samareña Foundation, Inc.  (Rights of Samar Women) Mindanao Peoples' Peace Movement Mindanao Tri-People Women Muslim Women Peace Advocates Peace Education Network, Philippines Philippine Action Network on Small Arms Philippine Campaign against Cluster Munitions Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy Women's Crisis Center Manila Individual signatories:   Abdulbasit R. Benito, Bangsamoro Center for Just Peace Inc., Philippines  Antoinette Brem, Switzerland Rakesh Chand, Fiji Barbara Lehner, Switzerland Bianca Miglioretto, Switzerland  Chan lean heng, Science University of Malaysia Dr. Jan Marie Fritz (USA) Dr. Susana Salavador-Anayatin, Graduate Schools of Notre Dame University and Mindanao State University, Philippines Benedicto Q. Sánchez, Broad Initiatives for Negros Development, Philippines Elvie Villarido-Manaytay, The Zamaboanga Sibugay Tribune, Philippines Franciska Keller, Switzerland Jane Prichard, Convenor Pacific Women's Watch, Inc, New Zealand Katja Schurter, Switzerland Lourdes Portus, University of the Philippines Llili Bienz, Switzerland Nathan Gilbert Quimpo, University of Tsukuba Sebastian Becker, Germany With endorsements from AMARC Women’s International Network Asian Circle 1325 Boston Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights Canadian Voice of Women for Peace Center for Women's Global Leadership Central American Secretariat, Zurich, Switzerland Comunica-ch, the Swiss Platform on the Information Society Femlink Pacific Hague Appeal for Peace International Presentation Association Sisters of the Presentation (USA) International Women's Tribune Centre Isis International JC International English School Nepal Liberia Women Media Action Committee Peace Boat US Peace-communication.eu - Germany Radio LoRa (Zurich, Switzerland) Sri Lanka Women and Media Collective Women Action for New Directions (USA) Women for Justice in Africa (Kenya) Women for Peace (Switzerland) Cc:  the president of the UN General Assembly  members of the UN Security Council;  the Philippine mission to the UN; the following country missions to the UN: Australia, Brunei, Canada,  Japan, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, USA the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the embassies of Australia, Brunei, Canada,  Japan, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, and USA in Manila World Bank - The World Bank and Civil Society; World Bank Philippines, Washington DC Office US Contacts International Women’s Tribune Centre Mavic Cabrera-Balleza mavic@iwtc.org; tel: 1 212 687 8633 Sarah Nagadya sarah@iwtc.org;  tel: 1 212 687 8633

Million TAPs for Peace takes off

Mothers for Peace, the Mindanao Commission on Women and other organizations all over the country are launching a nationwide campaign for peace dubbed "Million TAPs  for Peace."  TAP is short for Thoughts and Acts of Peace. Instead of the usual campaign for money, Million TAPS for Peace asks that individuals "donate" minutes of peace.  Donation may be given through participation forms available at the Million TAPS for Peace website (www.milliontapsforpeace.org) in participating schools, and in other public spaces where TAPs for peace booths will be set up.

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