New armed group born in Marawi, Lanao Sur

MARAWI CITY -- A new armed group emerged Monday to demand the restoration of normalcy in this city and Lanao del Sur.In a post on line, the group introduced itself and its demands.Below is the Meranaw Victims Movement (MVM) narrative of why it existedandI. WHO WE AREDear fellow Meranaws, we are your sons and brethren, who are among the evacuees from Marawi City. Some of us have relatives among the civilians who perished and what is more hurting is that their remains have yet to be retrieved. It’s almost four months now that we have been seeking shelters in evacuation centers or among our relatives’ homes in different towns. Consequently, some passed away while many others fell sick, prompting us to unite and call our group as the MERANAW VICTIMS MOVEMENT. This movement is dedicated to help in fighting for the rights of the Bangsa Meranaw whose dignity was trampled upon because of this crisis. II. WHAT IS OUR STANDFirst, we did not conform with the using of Marawi City as sanctuary neither did we approve of what some of our kinsfolk who claimed to be ISIS/Maute Group did which ignited the war in Marawi City that has brought about grave sufferings to the Meranaw people.Second, we deem unacceptable the actions of the Government that caused the displacement of tens of thousands and deaths of several civilians due to the aerial bombings and use of heavy armaments in Marawi City which are among those prohibited under International Humanitarian Law.Third, we hold our local leaders, past and present alike, responsible for failing to prevent the ISIS/Maute Group from carrying out their plan since they were fully aware of the group’s presence in the city prior to the siege and for literally forsaking the civilians like orphans in the midst of great danger during the onset of the siege on May 23, 2017.Fourth, we are dismayed with the MILF since, until now, nothing was heard of them, let alone have they made a categorical position on the current Marawi crisis.III. WHAT ARE OUR DEMANDSFirst, we would like to ask our kinsfolk from among the so-called ISIS/Maute Group to leave Marawi City at once and free their hostages, Muslims and Christians alike.Second, we would like to ask the Government, especially President Rodrigo Duterte, the followingand1. Allow the civilians to return to their homes in areas in Marawi City that were already cleared by the military2. Stop the aerial bombings of Marawi City if only to salvage houses or buildings that may not have been destroyed yet3. Stop the abuses of some military and police personnel at checkpoints and accord respect to civilians, especially the women4. Ease access to and from Marawi City, especially the roads through Barangay Maliwanag so that people in the First District of Lanao del Sur would have better and convenient access5. Secure the remains of civilians so they may not be mixed with the garbage in the process of military clearing operations and so that they may be given proper burial even if only skeletons are left of them6. Provide immediate appropriate material and financial support to all wounded civilian victims similar to the support being provided by the government to wounded military and police personnel7. Compensate for the damaged houses and buildings, wasted goods and merchandise of civilians and provide for their livelihood as well8. Rebuild or rehabilitate the mosques and madrasahs and other destroyed structures that represented the Meranao culture and heritage9. Importantly, the government should not make any hint that it would occupy the land of the Meranaws on the basis of military reservation, instead it should help legitimate owners to have their respective land titles :10. For the military and PNP personnel to avoid occupying mosques and madrasahs.Third, we demand from our local political leaders to account for all the relevant government funds such as the Calamity Fund and all assistance and donations and ensure transparent and equitable implementation or spending of the same.Fourth, we are enjoining the MILF to support the foregoing demands by ensuring that these reach all those concerned.IV. WHAT THE MVM WOULD DO IF THE FOREGOING DEMANDS ARE NOT METTo our ISIS/Maute Group kinsfolk, if you would not heed our call, we would be compelled to face you because by then you no longer care for the welfare of the people and you did not only fail to realize but have violated the essence of Jihad in Islam.To the Government, this will be the last time that we will ask in relation to previous demands of various sectors of the Meranaw society, and that if the foregoing demands will fall to deaf ears, likewise, we will be compelled to fight for our rights that have been trampled upon and that Jihad becomes our legitimate recourse.To our leaders, should we find out that you defraud or corrupt the assistance and support intended for the evacuees, we will unrelentingly pursue until we take them for the people in whatever means possible.To the MILF, take note that the demand for the approval of the BBL becomes irrelevant if the key area where it should be implemented would no longer be in the hands of the Meranaw, and that by then the support of the people of Lanao becomes weak in time that you need it.V. WHAT DO WE ASK OF THE MERANAW PEOPLEDear fellow Meranaws, for the longest time our people had not experienced this kind of most demeaning crisis, especially the utter destruction of Marawi City, a rendezvous for the Four Principalities/Royalties of Lanao. Indeed, let us accept this crisis as a tribulation for our sins and omissions. Let’s go back to Allah and seek atonement for our sins, and let us stop all our wrong or evil ways, small and big alike.It’s almost four months now that we have been waiting for any groups or individuals who would take the cudgels for our land and our people but it seems none is coming. Henceforth, even we are weak in terms of arms and less in number, we leave our fate in the power of Allah for He knows what’s in our hearts and that we are just following His commands. We find it unacceptable to have a future history of Marawi City being lost by the Meranaw people of this generation, hence our conviction to stand for it and fight for the rights of the people now.Do not lose hope. For us, we will not stop until we are able to go back home to Marawi and be able to avail of our rights in full.The fate of this effort depends on you, especially those who truly care for our land and the people.Please help us with your prayers so that Allah will help us because no one has control over anything except Him and that all powers come from Him.