Kidnapped nonviolence activist released in the Philippines

One of my most memorable international trips was to the southern Philippines in August 2005. I was there to attend an international Muslim-Christian Solidarity Conference that was organized by a Moro alliance network — a group of organizations representing Moro indigenous peoples, many of whom are Muslim — and the National Council of Churches of the Philippines.

More than 95% of the people of the Philippines are Christian, and the small Muslim community is based mostly in the south (primarily on the island of Mindanao) and in the urban area around the national capital of Manila, on the main island of Luzon. For more than a quarter-century, Moro and other Muslim minority groups have fought for self-determination in their home areas as land and water rights have been given to multinational corporations and natural resources have been taken. I was one of about a dozen international participants at the conference, and the Filipinos we met described in depth how the Philippines military has targeted and oppressed many local communities as a result of this long-running conflict.

In 2008, the Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) set up a peace team in Mindanao to work as an international civilian-led peacekeeping force in this heavily militarized region. A few months later, one of NP’s staff working on that assignment was kidnapped. NP and its supporting organizations, including the Fellowship of Reconciliation, sought to keep this terrible incident quiet, so as to work for the release of the peace worker. Today, I am ecstatic to report, he was freed.

Below you will find the statement issued today by Mel Duncan, NP’s executive director. Please join NP, FOR, and others in gratitude for the safety of Umar Jaleel.

Dear Friends,

With happiness, relief and a mix of many other emotions we are pleased to share that Umar Jaleel has been returned to NP on Basilan. He was released today at 1245 UTC near the vicinity of Tipo Tipo in Basilan. Jaleel was released through negotiations between a spokesperson for the captors and NP, with the assistance of local contacts supported by the provincial administration, the Philippine National Police and the Western Mindanao Command.

Because of our strategic consideration to keep a low profile during this ordeal, you might not have heard that Umar Jaleel was kidnapped from the NP residence on Basilan in the southern Philippines by nine armed men on Friday, February 13. Jaleel served NP as a field officer in his native Sri Lanka before joining the Mindanao project (NP-P) last October.

After a thorough medical evaluation and rest, Jaleel will return to his family in Sri Lanka.

I am particularly grateful for the hard work of our local partners in Mindanao, local and national authorities, civil society groups, various non-governmental organizations and religious leaders in Mindanao and throughout the Philippines. We are thankful to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its forces in Basilan, the Moro National Liberation Front, the crisis management committee of Basilan, the Provincial Governor of Basilan, the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for extending their cooperation. No ransom was paid.

Atif Hameed, NP country director in the Philippines, and NP-P Communications/Strategic Relations Coordinator, Norgianna Suleik, NP-P Security Coordinator, Jeya Murugan and the rest of the dedicated staff at NP-P did an outstanding job coordinating the work on the ground. Relying on strong networks and relationships, they were able to effectively implement our security procedures and help in a large part to bring about this favorable outcome.

An NP Crisis Management Team worked around the clock to orchestrate an effective response on multiple levels from the UN to local barangays in Mindanao.

And many of you around the world united in your concern, thoughts, prayers and offers for help.

The response to Jaleel’s abduction demonstrates the interrelatedness of civilian protection. Our partners who invited us to protect them played a major role in protecting NP, demonstrating that protection goes both ways. Groups and leaders in the Philippines and throughout the world became involved. We rely upon one another.

While this is a traumatic event, I remind us to refrain from demonizing anyone.

Many of us have experienced this trauma to varying degrees. Take care of yourself. Recognize stress signs within yourself and ask for help if you need it.


Thank you once again.

With hope and resolve,

Mel Duncan