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Tomawis' Story: How Nonviolence Can Break the Cycle of Vengeance

Date: August 30, 2024
A group of community members in the Philippines gathered together in a peace and reconciliation meeting.
Rido, or a traditional clan feud, is a cycle of revenge killings between clans in the Philippines that persist intergenerationally and are entwined with issues like land disputes, political and religious movements, and electoral rivalries.

Absulrahman Tomawis was already a respected leader in his community, holding multiple titles—one of the esteemed sultans of the area, barangay captain of Tugaig, and council member of the Joint Ulama and Municipal Peace and Order Council.

He recognizes that conflict is inevitable, but he firmly believes that communities can be guided to develop empathy and resolve disputes without violence. After collaborating with Nonviolent Peaceforce, Tomawis knew he couldn't pass up the opportunity to serve as an Early Warning/Early Response (EWER) monitor in his community. His passion for helping others was ignited after completing his EWER training in 2022. 

Recently, Tomawis, alongside NP, played a key role in facilitating the peaceful settlement of a rido (clan feud). 

Origins of the Rido Feud

A few years ago, two cousins lived near their hometown of Barangay Poblacion. As members of the armed group, the MILF*, they often patrolled and monitored the streets for safety. One night, while patrolling together, one of the cousins was playing with a rifle when, suddenly, the rifle fired, instantly killing the other cousin, whom he had always admired. 

Understandably, the family of the deceased was devastated by the loss but also furious with the surviving cousin. Tension between the families rose as old feuds resurfaced and ultimately escalated into a larger clan feud that affected the entire municipality. 

*Moro Islamic Liberation Front 

Three people. Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) staff member in the middle, back turned to camera, NP logo visible on his vest as he talks with two women wearing headscarves.

Rebuilding Trust: Turning Rido into Reconciliation 

NP worked with EWER monitors, like Tomawis, to explore solutions to the feud that started with the two cousins. This was personal for Tomawis: not only was his community affected by the violence, but he is blood related with those involved in the clan feud. 

First, the teams put a lot of time into working with local community leaders. Tomawis took one major action: he went to each family independently to hear what their needs and interests were so that he could carry that information to the other. That way, each group could share their positions and communicate while still staying in a safe space until they were ready to speak face to face. 

Four people sitting on chairs. They are wearing headscarves and are engaged in discussion involving some papers at a Nonviolent Peaceforce training.
NP's team worked with community leaders to end the rido in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte,Philippines.

Then, Tomawis, together with NP and fellow EWER monitors in the area, helped the disputing groups reach a settlement through negotiations. By creating a safe space where each party could express their concerns and needs without fear, they ensured that when the groups were ready, they could engage in meaningful dialogue. This safe environment was crucial in facilitating the peaceful resolution of the conflict. 

Together, through this rido settlement, they resolved the conflicts between the warring parties and supported the reinstatement of "Zones of Peace," redeclaring the surrounding areas as gun-free areas. This action was a step toward evaluating future reconciliation efforts between the parties and served as a proactive measure to monitor for early signs of future conflict. 

Since Tomawis became an EWER monitor in Barira in 2022, nearly 14 rido clan feuds have been permanently resolved, preventing what would be the equivalent of 716 acts of violence annually in the BARMM area, as reported by ACLED

Sets of hands/fingers placed on a folded green bandana as two feuding groups come to a peace agreement in the Philippines.

Since Tomawis became an EWER monitor in Barira in 2022, nearly 14 rido clan feuds have been permanently resolved, preventing what would be the equivalent of 716 acts of violence annually in the BARMM area, as reported by ACLED.

* * *

Referring to the Local Government Unit's Zones of Peace of surrounding areas, including Tugaig, Nabalawag, and Poblacion Barira. 

This was made possible by the Accompanying the Transition, Transformation of Conflict, and Advocacy on Social Cohesion in the Normalisation of Bangsamoro (ATTAIN) Project through the support of the European Union (EU). The rido settlement was conducted in partnership with JUMPOC, former Mayor Abdul Radzak Tomawis, Ministry of Public Office and Safety (MPOS), Deputy Minister Jimmy Balitoc, Philippine National Police, Philippine Marines, and other EWER monitors in Barira.  

ATTAIN, or Accompanying the Transition, Transformation of Conflict, and Advocacy on Social Cohesion in the Normalisation of Bangsamoro, is being implemented in BARMM, Regions 9, 10, and 12, to complement the civilian protection component of confidence-building and security measures under the normalisation and to broaden the practice of unarmed strategies in conflict transformation and social cohesion to a wider geographical scope in Mindanao. 

You can protect civilians who are living in or fleeing violent conflict. Your contribution will transform the world's response to conflict.
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