Dear friends,

Find below the joint Phil-Malaysian CSOs statement appealing for dialogue and Humanitarian Ceasefire in Lahad Datu, Sabah as well as other affected areas in the standoff.

We are again circulating the joint statement as we continue to collect more signatures — now already reaching to 100 from CSOs in Malaysia, Philippines, and all over the world! ( Please find joint statement and initial signatories below and attached).

Our call remains urgent and relevant despite a barrage of pronouncements coming from the principals of late. Sultan Jamalul Kiram III proposed a unilateral ceasefire in response to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon call to end the violence. The gesture has been rejected by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of Malaysia on the same day. At the same time, President Benigno S. Aquino III of the Philippines turned down Malaysian’s proposal for Philippine government to find ways to extradite Kiram III and his followers.

The joint statement will be submitted to the principals today.

This statement also serves as an expression for Malaysian-Philippines civil society to come forward, with the support of the civil society across the globe, and plead on what matters most in this crisis situation : civilian protection - for Sabahans and Filipinos living within the conflict hot spots.

Kindly pass on to your networks and friends for support. Let’s help save lives in Sabah!

In peace and solidarity,

Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW) & SUARAM-Malaysia

---

JOINT STATEMENT OF MALAYSIAN-PHILIPPINE CSOs

March 7, 2013

Standoff in Lahad Datu: Engage in Dialogue Now with all stakeholders to resolve the crisis peacefully

We the undersigned Civil Society organisations (CSOs) from Malaysia and Philippines are extremely concerned over the on-going standoff between the Malaysian security forces and followers of the Sultanate of Sulu’s heirs, Jamalul Kiram III at Lahad Datu, Sabah. We the CSOs, together with all individuals, organizations and networks, urgently call upon President Benigno S. Aquino III of the Philippines, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of Malaysia and Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, to disavow all forms of violence, and instead supports dialogue as the primary mechanism for a resolution to the siege.

We are very concerned and worried about the security of civilians in Lahad Datu, Semporna and the surrounding villages and we would like to see a peaceful solution to resolve this ongoing problem. According to media reports, at least 43 people have been killed in Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kampung Tanduo, Sabah.

We believe the situation in Lahad Datu requires swift and peaceful intervention. We urge all parties to resist from using force while remaining committed to dialogue and negotiation throughout this process.

We are also very concerned with the lack of real-time information with respect to what has actually taken place so far in Lahad Datu. Up to this point the information received through the Malaysian news media lacked transparency and created unnecessary rumours and assumptions about the situation. The people has rights to get the information on on-going issues in Sabah.

In this context, we call on the governments of Malaysia and Philippines and the Sultanate of Sulu to:

• Immediately declare a HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE so that agencies concerned can take immediate measures to ensure the safety of women, children, elderly and other vulnerable persons in the affected area. And provide “safe zones” where humanitarian organizations and relevant agencies can install facilities to be accessed by those who are injured and require immediate medical care;

• Take immediate steps to end the use of violence and to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders to resolve the crisis peacefully.

• Take proper measures to ensure that in the process of resolving the crisis, the human rights of everyone involved are respected and protected especially civilians from Lahad Datu, Semporna and nearby villages;

• Take immediate measures to secure the safety of journalists who chose to access the area at all times to ensure fair reporting and dissemination of information to the general public;

• Cease and desist from using excessive force and armed violence to end the prevailing conflict;

• Initiate an independent and impartial investigation into the killings that has taken place and make the findings of the investigation public.

We fervently dissuade all the principals involved from brinkmanship by instead living up to your respective legacies as genuine leaders of your people with honor and dignity.

We urge you to come to terms with the unfolding of events that has serious implications on many lives and social institutions. We all can’t afford that this will escalate into a grave humanitarian crisis spilling over into other nearby villages aside from Lahad Datu and Semporna, Sabah.

Time is of the essence. The world is looking at you, now.

Sgd.

Civil Society of Malaysia and Philippines

March 7, 2013

---

Please sign this joint statement to show your concern, support and commitment to resolve the issue in Sabah in a peaceful mann

MALAYSIA

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Tenaganita
Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
JUMP
ALIRAN
Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility
Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
Justice for Sisters
Seksualiti Merdeka
Pusat KOMAS
Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
Community Action Network (CAN)
Persatuan Sahabat wanita Selangor
Community Development Centre (CDC)

PHILIPPINES

Mindanao PeaceWeavers (MPW)
Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID)
Free Burma Coalition – Philippines (FBCP)
Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF)
Agri-Aqua Development Coalition, Mindanao
AGONG Peace Network, Mindanao
Akbayan Citizens Action Party
Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA)
Balay Mindanao Foundation, Inc
Banwaon One Tribe, One Territory, Mindanao
Center for Peace Education – Miriam College
Citizen’s Peace Watch
Civil Peace Service Program – Southern Christian College
Coalition of Social Development Organizations
Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society
Council of Organized Social Service Agencies in Mindanao
Derepa te Erumanen ne Menuvu, Mindanao
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)
Focus on the Global South -Philippines
Generation Peace
Gitib Inc., Mindanao
GZO Peace Institute
Human Rights Defenders-Pilipinas (HRDP)
Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)
Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace (IRSMP)
KAGDUMA, Incorporated, Mindanao
Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP)
Kebager te Ked-Inged, Mindanao
Kahugpongan sa Mindanaw
KAISA - UP Diliman
Lumad Mindanaw Peoples’ Federation
Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement
Mindanao Peace Advocates Conference
Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE) Secretariat
Mindanao Alliance of Self-Help Societies – Southern Philippines Educational Cooperative Center
Mindanao Congress of Development NGOs and NGIs –Mindanao
Nisa Ul-Haqq Fi Bangsamoro
Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)
Partnership of Philippine Support Services Agencies – Mindanao
Pakigdait, Incorporated
Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)
Partido ng Manggagawa (PM)
Pax Christi Institute - Philippines
Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ)
People’s Alternative Studies Center for Research & Education in Social Dev’t (PASCRES)
People’s Global Exchange (PGX)
Philippine Human Rights Information Center (Philrights)
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
Philippine Business for Social Progress - Mindanao
Philippine Partnership for the Devt of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA)
Redemptorist Center for Social and Ecological Concerns - Mindanao
SANLAKAS
SANLAKAS-Youth
SPREAD – Oblates of Notre Dame
Sulong CARHRIHL
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
Women Engaged in Action on 1325 (We Act 1325)
Women’s Human Rights and Legal Bureau (WLB)
World March of Women – Pilipinas
Young Moro Professionals

REGIONAL/GLOBAL

Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict – Southeast Asia (SEA-GPPAC)
Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
ALTSEAN- Burma
Asia-Pacific Movement on Debt & Development (JSAPMDD)
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific (CATW-AP)
International Peace Bureau (IPB)
ISIS International
Media Defence South East Asia
Network for Transformative Social Protection (NTSP-Asia)
South East Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA)

BANGLADESH

Humanitywatch
NABODHARA, Bangladesh

BURMA/MYANMAR

Generation Wave Institute

CAMBODIA

Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF)

EAST TIMOR

East Timor Students Solidarity Council (ETSSC)

FRANCE

Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF)

GERMANY

Asienstiftung (German Asia Foundation)
Philippinenbüro – Asienhaus

INDIA

Burma Centre Delhi

INDONESIA

Solidaritas Perempuan (SP)

NEPAL

All Nepal Peasants Federation (ANPFa)
All Nepal Women Association (ANWA)

PAKISTAN

Center For Peace & Civil Society (CPCS)

INDIVIDUALS

Prof. Anuradha Chenoy, University of India
Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, University of India
Mr. Ramon Casiple, IPER, Philippines
Ms. Sia Phearum, Director, HRTF Cambodia
Mmk Tggw, Myanmar

---

Contacts:

Gus Miclat, Executive Director
IID Main Office (Davao City)

Lyndee Prieto
Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW) Secretariat & IID

Malou Tabios Nuera
IID-Manila Liaison Office

---