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Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Philippines: Marawi post-conflict appraisal begins
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte surrounded by soldiers pose to
souvenir pictures during his visit to the military camp in Marawi City,
Philippines August 4, 2017. Source: Malacanang Presidential Palace via
Reuters-Displaced children stay at an evacuation centre outside the
city, as army troops continue their assault against insurgents from the
Maute group, in Marawi, Philippines, on July 4, 2017. Source:
Reuters/Jorge Silva
Combat seized weapons are displayed by Philippines army during a news
conference, as government troops continue their assault against
insurgents from the Maute group in Marawi city, Philippines, on July 4,
2017. Source: Reuters-(File) A view of an empty street is seen as
government forces continue their assault against insurgents from the
Maute group, in Marawi City, Philippines June 25, 2017. Source:
Reuters/Jorge Silva
WITH the fighting in Marawi City in the southern Philippine island of
Mindanao already “confined” to just less than 1sq km spanning two
villages, the national government-led post-conflict needs assessment
(PCNA) for the embattled Islamic city is finally gaining ground.
OCD Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima, spokesman of Task
Force Bangon (Rise) Marawi, said those who will carry out the PCNA have
undergone a four-day training early this month.
The team will consist of some 200 people from different national
government agencies, affected local government units and community
stakeholders.
“For the ways forward of the PCNA, a deployment plan is being prepared
for the human recovery needs assessment and the deployment shall begin
(today) Aug 8,” Purisima said at the Mindanao Hour briefing.
The human recovery needs assessment will include not only those in the
75 evacuation centres, but also the internally displaced individuals
(IDPs), locally called “bakwits,” who have sought refuge with their
relatives, the official said.
Over 400,000 civilians have been displaced by the conflict in Marawi,
which erupted on May 23 between government forces and the Islamic
State-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law for 60 days
hours after the clashes erupted. The Philippine Congress later extended
it until Dec 31, 2017.
Purisima suggested it would be easier for the PCNA team to conduct the
human recovery assessment as they have already the initial list of IDP
data surveyed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and
the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
“We know where the IDPs are, most are home-based (staying with their relatives),” he said, adding the bakwits have been given Disaster Assistance Family Access Cards by the Social Welfare Department so they can access government aid.
The official did not give a timeline as to when the consolidated PCNA
report, which includes the reconstruction and rehabilitation aspects,
would be completed.
“It really depends on the situation on the ground. We are beginning with
what we can — with what we can assess, which is the human side. We’re
going into the evacuation centres. We’ll go to areas on the ground we
can go to already,” he said.
“We’re hoping we could go into the area, ground zero, so to say, in the
soonest possible time,” Purisima said, noting this would depend on the
clearance from the military.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Brigadier General Restituto
Padilla said government troops were doing their best to expedite the
liberation of Marawi from the remaining 30 to 40 terrorist gunmen.
“In the current situation in Marawi, we still continue to concentrate on
the remaining problematic area, which is less than one square kilometre
within the heart of the commercial business district,” Padilla said
“Our forces are all in place and are doing their best to fulfill their
mandate of liberating Marawi at the soonest time possible,” he added.
The official noted that military efforts to reclaim Marawi from the
Maute Group are also hampered by the consideration on the safety of the
hostages and the sniper fires from the enemies.
The terrorist gunmen are reportedly still holding some 100 civilians, including a Catholic priest, inside a mosque.
Padilla appealed to the displaced civilians to be patient because “as
soon as the coast is clear, we shall declare it safe” for them to go
back.
While many would apparently no homes to go back to based on pictures
coming out of the war zone, the government has assured them of help. To
those with unhabitable homes, the government vowed to provide them with
socialised housing or extend financial assistance to those whose houses
need minor repairs.
The government also abandoned plans to build a tent city in Marawi and
neighbouring areas for the civilians displaced by the war. Instead, they
will be housed in at least 1,000 temporary shelters to reduce crowding
in evacuation centres as part of the initial phase of rehabilitation
efforts for the war-ravaged city.
Marawi resident Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, co-convener of Ranao Rescue Team,
lamented the uncertainty of going back home as the Marawi crisis entered
Day 78 today, Tuesday.
“On our incoming 80th day of the Marawi crisis, the lingering question
on when to return to Marawi remains unanswered. Another mortar incident
in the outskirts of Marawi in the border with Marantaw town doused our
hopes as bakwits to set foot back to our beloved cool sanctuary,” she said in a social media post.
Gutoc-Tomawis confirmed that civil society organisations have been
tapped to participate in charting the recovery and rehabilitation of
Marawi.
“Today, we gather as civil society in Iligan City to firm up participation in Task Force Bangon (Marawi),” she said.
Gutoc-Tomawis hailed the volunteers and non-government workers who
worked without remuneration to help those affected by the Marawi crisis.
On August 4, Duterte visited the troops in Marawi for the second time to
boost their morale and encouraged them to defeat the enemies to allow
the return of displaced civilians to the city.
“I have to be here because I want all of you to know that… Mahal ko kayo
(I love you). I hope you will be able to clean up Marawi City and get
rid of the terrorists,” the President said in his speech.
Duterte said he is hopeful that the government will not lose more troops because of the ongoing battle in the locality.
The commander-in-chief’s second visit to the besieged city, just like
the first, was unannounced. Officials only confirmed the visit when the
President already left the area.
Duterte also reiterated his pledge of putting up a PHP50 billion (US$993
million) trust fund for the children of soldiers and police personnel.
Wearing on now for the third month, the war in Marawi has killed 122
military and police personnel and 45 civilians as of Monday’s data from
the government.
Five more terrorist gunmen were killed, bringing their fatalities to
528, the data showed, adding that 603 firearms were recovered from them.