Election Related Violence in Sulu

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (the HD Centre), an international conflict resolution NGO with a presence on the ground in Sulu, reported a summarized document of the initial reports (presented in each paragraph) from volunteers of the Armed Violence Reduction Initiative (AVRI) in various municipalities in the said province happened on May 11, 2010 – a day after the national election.

The proclamation in Tongkil was undertaken early morning on May 11, 2010. Tension in the island was still volatile that time. The opposing mayoralty candidate was not given the chance to vote with his supporter, and the clustered precincts were located in the control area of incumbent mayor Wahid Sahidulla.

In the municipality of Pata, the situation is normal. Given the presence of peacekeeping force deployed by JTF Comet, election was orderly exercised in the conflict municipality. In lieu of the presence of AFP and PNP, at least 40% of the opposition was not given the chance to vote because of the fear, the clustered precincts are located at the area of their contra party. No election related armed violence was recorded on the day of election.

Overall situation in Panglima Tahil is peaceful, as reported 6:20am. Unopposed Mayor Jess Burahan concentrated the supervision of the election on the provincial and national candidates. Burahan was one of the strong allies and a supporter of Gov. Tan. Panglima Tahil is an island municipality adjacent to Jolo with more or less 4,000 registered voters.

Proclamation in Talipao was undertaken at around 7am. After all the tension and high expectation of violence in Talipao, the Tambrin’s camp successfully got back the post in the municipality. No armed violence was reported in the municipality, except for isolated fist fights, that was immediately pacified by the peacekeeping force deployed in the area.

At 8:00am in Siasi, no untoward incidents were reported. Commotions was felt in some polling place, and efforts of pacification was made by community leaders. Presence of AFP and PNP is also a factor that sustained the peace and order during the election.

There was no additional shelling of artillery from the mayoralty candidate of Arbison in Panglima Estino, and the situation was managed by the AFP. They successfully ended the election with no skirmishes and no victim of armed violence. The winning mayor (incumbent – Hadji Munib Estino) was officially proclaimed at early morning.

On mid day of election, supporters of both parties Arbison and Tan, rumbled in at least three clustered precincts in Pandami, yet no one was seriously wounded.

A 3:00pm report stated that there are no untoward situations that happened in Luuk. In spite of the high tension brought by Hadja Amina’s candidacy, a wife of board member Buclao and a leading contender of Arbison, Luuk election is made quite peaceful after the Hadja Amina’s warrant of arrest was served by the PNP. A criminal charge was filed to her in effect to the TULAYAN incidents (rooted from last barangay election). Hadja Amina and her party were supported by Gov. Sakur Tan, and they were not given the chance to fully cast their votes in Luuk.

At the same time, a supporter of incumbent Mayor Hayudini and also a close relative of opposing maroyal candidate Datu Bahjin, had a fist fight with his (Datu Bahjin) sons. Three sons of Datu Bahjin was brought to provincial hospital for further treatment of wounds in their heads. Assessment: incidents may result to family conflict between Bahjins and Julkarnain (relatives). The incident happened at Barangay Gandasuli, Patikul.

BEIs of Larap Clustered precincts in Lugus were slapped by the supporters of Mayoralty candidate Aradais on the situation that the BEIs rejected the order to manipulate the voting process. The BEIs left the machines and election paraphernalia then ran to the main town of Lugus. Marines took the custody to recover and bring the machines and materials.

Normal situations in Tapul had been reported. Tapul Island is a controlled area of Daud, with no opposing candidates. And Tapul is a strong ally of Arbison.

On the day of election in Pangutaran, one shooting incident was recorded 3 WIA as a result of squabble in some precincts. This was initiated by Ibnu (son of barangay captain of Bangkilay), supporters of Police Sali (mayoralty candidate),  Taha (aka Kulot)  Abdurahim, and Sulaiman Abdurahman (supporter of Ahmad Nano, incumbent mayor). As of the day, the victims already filed criminal charges against the perpetrators. The victims were treated at the provincial hospital in Jolo by the time the report was submitted. Canvassing of votes from the precinct level was brought to Jolo at MSU- Sulu campus and heavily escorted by AFP, as reported 4:31pm.

High level of tension aroused in Kalinggalang Caluang at 5:00pm, between the supporters of incumbent mayor Hadji Piping (Arbison’s Ally) and Rajan (Tan’s party mate). With the full AFP command taking the charge of controlling the situation, no untoward incidents and armed violence was recorded.

In Maimbung Kulasi, at around 5:25pm in the afternoon, gun shooting was undertaken. After was a harsh argument of two contesting party of Governor Tan’s son and the Maldisa Clan. A fire coming from unidentified direction hits the polling place where the wife of Sakur Tan situated and so the tension flared up. Voting was disturbed but no casualty was reported. As of late evening that day, Samir Tan (son of Governor Tan) is leading on the mayoralty post against incumbent mayor Najib Maldisa. (Tan-Maldisa has long standing clan conflict/Feud – rooted also by political violence – when allegedly Sakur Tan ordered to kill the brother of Najib Maldisa then a vice governor of Sulu.) Potential eruption of armed conflict was on high level. Most of the neighboring barangay of Maldisa’s area evacuated the place.

Tupay Loong, a candidate for Congressman in first district under the ticket of Lakas Kampi CMD of Sakur Tan, slapped his elder brother Hussin Loong who ran for mayor in Parang under Arbison’s party. Sources disclosed that Hussin Loong suffered from nose bleed. Elections in the municipality was successfully ended with no armed violence recorded, and Sakur Tan got the highest casted vote (Benjamin Loong is a party mate of Arbison overruled by Tupay as his elder brother, he only delivered less than 10% of votes out  of 20,000 registered voters in Parang).

Omar municipality is one of the controlled municipalities of Arbison. A 6:00pm report stated that Hadji Ahamad (incumbent mayor) managed to deliver 95% of total votes to Arbison. A fist fight was also recorded in the municipality. The proclamation of winning candidates was held in the municipal hall with no resistance from other candidates.

Some clustered precincts in Indanan declared failure of elections at the same time, and one PCOS machine was destroyed by brother of mayoralty candidate Hussin Ahajan in Barangay Bunot. Two other clustered precincts were not opened because of violence possibility, so the BEI decided to close and declared failure of election. No proclamation was made till the time the report was submitted. Fortunately no armed violence was recorded, except for isolated fist fights.

Peaceful election was observed in all barangays in Jolo. No untoward incidents were reported and Mayor Amin was officially proclaimed.