Election Violence Monitoring Seminar Held

Frank E. Dosdos, Jr.

Marawi City, Lanao del Sur

A half-day seminar on Election Violence Monitoring was held at Manican Mansion here, February 23, by Non-Violent Peaceforce in cooperation with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Kasalimbago Movement (KM).

The Seminar began with Messages from representatives of the PNP, AFP and KM.

An Update on the local situation was given by Suwaib M. Campong, Executive Director of RIFPAD.

It was followed by a presentation on the local conflict situation and resolution by Sultan Hamidullah Atar.

Atar’s piece dealt with RIDO, a situation where feud arises between clans often resulting in violence and the cultural approach to resolving such conflicts.

Rami Kolehmainen of the Non Violent Peaceforce discussed the Ceasefire Mechanism in place during the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation and is still going on up to the present.

He emphasized the importance of documenting and reporting incidents of violence.

It was also discussed that during violent incidents there are times when children are involved; a brief review of Children’s Rights was presented.

A Workshop was done where the participants presented plans on what to do during the forthcoming May Elections where incidents of violence might take place.

Ayobkhan B. Saripada was the Master of Ceremony.