Clans join to end conflicts in Mindanao - Centre for Humanitarian ...

Find out more about:Mediation Projects | Mediation SupportPress statementFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDateline Geneva, Switzerland28 September 2010Clans join to end conflicts in MindanaoClan leaders resolved two major conflicts on the Mindanao island of Sulu inthe Philippines last week during a two-day conference on violence and familyfeuds.Twenty participants, representing more than 15 clans, also signed a jointdeclaration agreeing to promote peace through dialogue.They also committed to settle conflicts, and help others do so, by acting as atrusted third party.“We asked clan representatives to take advantage of this gathering to resolveconflicts they want to end.” said David Gorman, the Centre for HumanitarianDialogue representative in the Philippines, when talking about the historicmoment recorded on video.“Without a resolution of clan conflicts, political violence andunderdevelopment will not end.” he added.While Sulu is more widely known as a stronghold of terrorism and kidnapping,violence on the island largely stems from clan conflicts. In the last twomonths, more than 30 civilians have been killed in violent clan-relatedconflicts in the province.The conference was organised by the Office of the Mufti of Sulu (the Islamicleadership in the province) and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (the HDCentre), an independent mediation organisation. It brought togetherrepresentatives of various clans for the first time (Tan, Tulawie, Caluang,Abdurajak, Estino, Kamlon, Tawasil, Undug, Bahjin, Tingkahan, Sangkula,Related• HD Centre projects:Philippines, Mindanao• HD Centre projects:Philippines, NDF• Internationalmomentum for peacein MindanaoYou may havemissed:• Time for women inAsia and the Pacificto have a centralrole in peacemaking• Election DisputeResolution: AvertingCrisis inSomaliland's 2010PresidentialElections• HD Centre supportsAfrican Year ofPeace and SecurityForward to a friendKnow someone whomight be interested?Why not forward thisemail to a friend?

Hayudini, Ammas Mira – Ujan, Omar, Daud, Sahidulla, Unga). The WesternMindanao Command Commander, General Muhammad Benjamin Dolorfino,and the Commissioner of the National Commission of Muslim Filipinos, Prof.Moner Bajunaid also attended.Participants discussed ways of resolving conflicts and improvingunderstanding of clan conflict and family feuds."Through this conference, we tried to develop an appreciation for the value ofdialogue, what it can do and how it can work to resolve clan conflicts. It seemswe may have achieved that.” said Vandrazel Birowa, the HD Centre officemanager in Sulu.Follow the HD CentreRSStwitterfacebook“We also wanted to provide an opportunity for the participants to exploremajor issues that could cause clan conflict and family feuds." he added.Issues discussed also included the mapping of ongoing clan conflict and familyfeuds as well as the effects of, and values attached to, those conflicts andfeuds. Participants also reviewed successful conflict resolution mechanismscurrently being employed, and suggestions of mechanisms to resolve clanconflict in Sulu.Clan representatives agreed to meet again in the coming months to follow upon commitments and see how they can capitalize on the gains of this firstconference.This meeting was part of an HD Centre project to reduce violence inMindanao.***ENDS***Video footage of the conference is also available on the HD Centre’s websiteFor more information on this conference please contact Vandrazel Birowaon +63 (0)9054248433 or by email birowa@hdcentre.org.To know more about the HD Centre’s activities, please write to pr@hdcentre.org.Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue114 rue de Lausanne | Geneva 1202 | Switzerlandwww.hdcentre.orgDisclaimer: The HD Centre is not responsible for the contents or reliability for web links in thisdocument. They are provided for information only.The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue is an independent mediation organisation dedicated toimproving the global response to armed conflict. It mediates directly between belligerents and helpsothers to do the same. The HD Centre is active in approximately 15 conflicts around the world, someof which are necessarily confidential.