MARTIAL law continues to negatively affect the economic activities of Marawi City as it restricts the flow of goods to this war-torn area, a Moro leader said.
Because of the curfew that followed after the implementation of martial law, the movements of products and people have been limited and this has not helped Marawi’s road to speed recovery, said Drieza Lininding, chair of the Moro Consensus Group (MCG).
He said there was a lack of income opportunities for businesspeople and entrepreneurs because of this as establishments have also suffered due to shortage of basic necessities.
Lininding has also questioned why some roads connecting Marawi to other parts of the Lanao provinces have remained closed to the public.
“There are roads that were closed during the Marawi siege but are still closed by the military to this day,” he added.
Another concern Lininding raised is the focus of the security sector to the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group and other band of armed extremists that other criminal acts were neglected.
“The police have lost their law enforcement function as the military is still the lead agency tasked with maintaining the peace in Marawi and outlying areas. They (police) have limited power,” he said.
There were instances when the freedom of expression had been stifled, especially during peace and prayer rallies organized by various Moro groups in and around Marawi.
“Even organizers were threatened for holding peaceful gatherings,” he noted.
Per last year’s data gathered by Kalinaw Mindanao, a coalition of people’s organizations and church-based workers, there were more than 300 cases of human rights violations perpetrated by state forces, among them, 45 victims of illegal arrest, 25 of whom were languishing in jails.
The Kalinaw Mindanao-led National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission (NIHM) reported 110 victims of indiscriminate gunfire and aerial bombardment, four victims of divestment of properties, two victims of violation of domicile, 15 victimes of destruction of properties, and 122 victims of threats, harassment, and intimidation.
In an interview on Wednesday, July 4, Aida Ibrahim, chairperson of Tindeg Ranao, a group of Marawi evacuees, said they have yet to update their data on the number of human rights abuses, but added they are planning on holding the third NIHM sometime this year to follow up on the situation of the Maranaos affected by the conflict.
Ibrahim said their main concern at present is the continuing displacement of more than 27,000 civilians who used to reside in Marawi’s most affected area.
“We are calling on the Duterte government to give justice to the Maranao people, especially those who are still displaced as they are not allowed yet to return to their homes. Not addressing their needs is in itself an injustice,” she said.
Ibrahim said what the “ground zero” residents want is for the government to allow them to return to their properties, help them rebuild their homes, and provide them financial assistance for their livelihood.
“Many of us wanted to return, but how come our lives can go back to normal if we are not given the opportunity to start again?” she added.