PHILIPPINES: UN envoy to monitor Filipino children affected by armed conflict

April 6, 2011

United Nations Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy is now in the Philippines to follow up on UN recommendations to protect children in areas of armed conflict. This is from a statement made by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) on Tuesday.

“Coomaraswamy will be here until April 9 to meet with different sectors and discuss specific plans in promoting the rights of children in conflict areas and preventing the recruitment of minors by armed groups,” the OPAPP said.

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PHILIPPINES: Muslim rebels, militias clash in the Philippines

April 2, 2011

COTABATO CITY, Philippines. Muslim rebels clashed Sunday with pro-government militias in the southern Filipino province of Maguindanao and conflicting reports said as many as 8 people were killed in the fighting.

The army confirmed the clashes, but would not say if there were casualties in the violence. There was a clash alright, but we cannot give any details as far as casualties are concerned. We are still getting all the facts here, Major Marlowe Patria, a spokesman for the 6th Infantry Division, told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said the fighting occurred in the town of Mangudadatu late in the afternoon and that troops had been sent to the area to contain the violence. Both sides have been fighting over control of lands in the town.

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PHILIPPINES: Malaysian peace monitors begin work in Mindanao’s peace efforts

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/309171/malaysian-peace-monitors-begin-work-mindanaos-peace-efforts

By Edwin O. Fernandez

March 13, 2011, 8:22pm

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – The new batch of Malaysian peace observers that belonged to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) started its job Sunday by meeting local police and military officials and other team members to ensure continuity of religious observance of the government and Moro rebel ceasefire agreement.

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PHILIPPINES: Civilians flee village as clan war erupts in Maguindanao

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/308296/civilians-flee-village-clan-war-erupts-maguindanao

March 9, 2011, 11:55am

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, Philippines (PNA) – A clan war has erupted in a remote village in Maguindanao sending more than 150 families fleeing, the military here said.

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AFGHANISTAN: Gates apologizes for Afghan civilian deaths

 

VOA News, 3/7/11

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/US-Defense-Secretary-Arrives-in-Kabul-Amid-Strained-Relations-117510188.html

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has apologized for the accidental deaths of nine Afghan children in a coalition airstrike last week, calling it a setback.

His comments came during a joint press briefing Monday in Kabul with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who accepted the apology.

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