27 May 2017•Update: 28 May 2017
By Meltem Bulur and Mehmet Ozturk
ANKARA
Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) member Huseyin Oruc has voiced his concerns over martial rule that was introduced in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.
On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the entire island of Mindanao for 60 days and warned that he would enforce it harshly.
“We hope this is done for Daesh-related groups,” said Huseyin Oruc.
The implementation of martial law came after clashes between government troops and groups linked to Daesh erupted in the city of Marawi in the north-central part of the island.
“Muslim groups have become very sensitive on this issue," Oruc told Anadolu Agency. "In Marawi, [they] agree with the government’s policies against Daesh.”
He urged Muslim groups to cooperate with the government in order for the application of martial law to be as short as possible.
“Marawi City is predominantly Muslim city -- around 95 percent of the population,” he added.
He also said the erupting clashes in the city were not ordinary and did not have the support of the Muslim population.
Duterte cut short his five-day visit to Moscow following the incidents in Marawi.
Large numbers of people can be seen leaving the affected areas in private and public vehicles with whatever possessions they can bring along, including livestock and pets.
They were being taken to temporary shelters established by the government nearby.
The Third Party Monitoring Team was introduced in 2012. It has overseen a peace progress between the Philippine government and another rebel group in the region, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The Moro revolutionary group signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in March 2014.
