Press Statement
30 January 2008

Suara Bangsamoro supports Sulu people’s opposition to ID system!

Suara Bangsamoro supports the call of the people of Sulu to stop the implementation of the ID system in their province.

In a text message, the Concerned Citizens of Sulu said that they “got the consensus of the different organizations to hold a mass campaign against the (holding of) Balikatan and the implementation of the ID system,”.

This was the result of a public symposium held in Jolo, Sulu on January 28 , initiated by Concerned Citizens of Sulu, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, and the Ulama Council of Sulu.

They also refute claims of the local military officials that the ID system is willingly accepted by the local residents in Patikul and different parts of Sulu.

Suara Bangsamoro believes that the holding of Balikatan in Sulu will further worsen the cases of human rights violation there and will affect the outcome of the peace ongoing negotiation of the government with the Moro National Liberation Front.

In the past US-RP joint military exercises, residents of wartorn area of Indanan, Sulu has accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines of allowing US soldiers to participate in a combat military operations against the MNLF and which resulted to massive evacuation of residents in November 2006. Residents of Indanan has also complained of spy planes roving in their communities.

Suara Bangsamoro cannot help but suspect that the imposition of the ID system is part of the security measures needed for the permanent basing of the US troops in Sulu.  Already, doctors in a hospital in Sulu complain of the imposition of US military officials in their hospital operations by calling for the hospital to shut down at night.

Suara Bangsamoro will join the march protests in Lanao, Cotabato and Sulu this February in protest of the holding of the Balikatan military exercises.

No to US Intervention!
No to Balikatan Exercises!

For Reference:  
Amirah Ali Lidasan
National President, Suara Bangsamoro