Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc.

Kaangayan, Kalambuan, Kalinaw ... sa Mindanaw, sa Pilipinas, sa Kalibutan

East Timor martial artists learn peacebuilding in Mindanaw
Posted 2 May 2008

	East Timorese visitors posepose at the Balay Mindanaw Peace Center after the exposure visit.

Key leaders of the different martial arts groups of East Timor visited Mindanao last April 19-24 and had an exposure on the different peace initiatives of Balay Mindanaw. They had the opportunity to learn and share experiences with rural communities on community-based peacebuilding, the negotiation process between GRP and RPM-M, and also had a dialogue with military commanders who are now engaged in peacebuilding.

The exposure visit was part of a year-long program of Action Asia in East Timor on Capacity-building for Martial Arts Leaders in East Timor on Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding Tasks. Action Asia is a network of peacebuilding NGOs and individuals around the Asian region, wherein Balay Mindanaw is a member. One of the objectives of the program is to build trust and relationship among the leaders, which will hopefully eliminate the mistrust and suspicion among them that fueled the rivalry and violence with each other in the past.

Their Mindanao exposure was the second part of their Philippine visit that started April 14. The first half was held in Manila where they visited historical sites and museums, and had a dialogue with inmates of the National Bilibid Prison who are taking part in nonviolent seminars. They also had an exchange of experiences and learning with representatives of the different base groups of AKKAPKKA, an organization espousing nonviolence as a way to live and as a means for social change.

The martial arts groups in East Timor have been fighting among each other for a long time now, resulting in deadly and violent clashes on the streets of Dili (the capital of East Timor). Each leader can have members from 5,000 to 6,000 whom they could call during street fights. Various groups or gangs were formed during Indonesia’s occupation as a way to defend themselves. Now, they are seen as having a critical role in East Timor in terms of maintaining peace among its peoples.

With the dialogue in Mindanao regarding the GRP-RPMM peace process, the Timorese leaders learned the importance of involving communities in matters concerning their very lives. The people are the main stakeholders of the process. In their sharing, they said that there is still war because there is still poverty, corruption and inequality. But the efforts done here in Mindanao is what they intend to do in East Timor.

They also had the chance to visit, share and learn experiences with communities doing community-based peace building. Divided into three groups, they visited three areas. One group went to Barangay Sangalan in Gingoog City to have a dialogue with the tribal leaders. They had a glimpse of how local conflicts are resolved locally through indigenous dispute resolution or in the traditional way of resolving conflicts. Majority of the population in Sangalan are Higaunons.

After a dialogue with the soldiers who are also learning and experiencing peace building, the East Timorese visitors had a "boodle fight" during lunch with the soldiers of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in Camp Ranao, Marawi City.

Another group went to the municipality of Sugbongcogon and had a dialogue with Provincial Councilor Benedict Lagbas, who also leads the MISORET Cluster. They had a sharing of experiences about the peace zone efforts of the cluster, specifically on the institutional mechanisms set up in its implementation. The group then went to Barangay Salubsob in the next town, Kinoguitan. There, they had a dialogue with the local peace trainers or facilitators who currently conduct peace trainings in the barangays. They saw how members of the community become trainers themselves who are training other communities in peacebuilding.

The third group went to Barangay Tamboboan in the town of Claveria where they met with community leaders and discussed issues on local governance and land disputes. When the barangay organizational structure was presented, the visitors from East Timor were impressed on how the community advocates work closely in the barangay and that they play a significant role in the community. The land issues caught their attention because they also encounter these issues in their country. They said that in their country, government could just drive you away in your land. There are no clear and exact titles. They have Portuguese Title and at the same time there is also the Indonesian Title, which were handed out to them during their respective occupations.

The East Timorese also had a change in perspective in how they view the military. They had viewed the military as people for war, for combats and are trained to kill. It was their first time to hear that some people in the military are engaged in peace efforts. They said that during the Indonesian occupation in East Timor, their military fought for freedom. But when they gained independence, their military got lost and instigated the conflicts. With the peacebuilding efforts of the military where Balay Mindanaw supports through peace trainings and policy advocacy, the Timorese have understood that these military people are settling clan wars or family feuds and even doing immersions with the community.

Overall, their exposure visit here in the Philippines was a step towards learning and building peace in East Timor. The struggle for peace is not only with individuals but also with organizations, communities and even nations. Balay Mindanaw is hoping that its peacebuilding initiatives will have an impact not only here in Mindanao and the Philippines but also, hopefully, in East Timor.

East Timor was a Portuguese colony since the 16th century until Portugal’s decolonization of the country which started in 1974. It declared itself independent on November 28, 1975 but nine days later it was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces before the declaration could be internationally recognized.

Indonesian rule was marked with violence and brutality. It is estimated that 60,000 to 200,000 were killed in the period of 1975-1999.

A UN-supervised referendum was held on August 30, 1999 to choose between special autonomy within Indonesia and independence. A total of 78.5 percent choose independence. However, violent clashes broke out afterwards, which were allegedly instigated primarily by elements within the Indonesian military and aided by the Timorese pro-Indonesia Militias.

The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) provided an interim civil administration and a peace keeping mission in the territory of East Timor from its establishment on October 25, 1999 until its independence on May 20, 2002. Its responsibilities included providing a peacekeeping force to maintain security and order; facilitating and coordinating relief assistance to East Timorese; facilitating emergency rehabilitation of physical infrastructure; administering East Timor and creating structures for sustainable governance and the rule of law and assisting in the drafting of a new constitution. East Timor finally gained independence on May 20, 2002.

Some Facts

Flag of East Timor

Has an estimated population of 1,115,000
Alongside the Philippines, East Timor is one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Southeast Asia
Has a total land area of 15, 410 square kilometers
Form of Government: Parliamentary Republic
President: Jose Ramos-Horta
Prime Minister: Xanana Gusmao