‘Eternal’ Muslim-Christian war feared if peace talks fail

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Jan. 5, 2011—The chairperson of a Muslim non-government organization warned Wednesday of an “eternal” Muslim-Christian war in Mindanao if the Aquino administration fails to achieve a final peace settlement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Islamic Movement for Electoral Reform and Good Government (IMERGG) founding chairperson Hadji Abdullah “Lax” Dalidig also said that the Aquino administration should show sincerity in negotiating peace with the MILF to prevent a “third force” from taking advantage of the lull in the negotiations and sow chaos in Mindanao.

“President Aquino must show sincerity in achieving lasting peace with the MILF by fast tracking the peace negotiations. His government must do something to convince the people of the government’s sincerity to prevent a third force from fueling another all-out war in Mindanao. I fear that once war erupts, it will be an unending, eternal war that might degenerate into a religious Muslim-Christian war,” he told TIGBALITA.

Dalidig disclosed that there are some “military hawks and other bad elements” who are just waiting for the talks to fail so that they can sow chaos and ignite another all-out war in Mindanao.

He said that he has documentary evidence to prove that not all government officials are in favor of a political settlement with the MILF.

“These government officials are the ones pulling the strings of several military hawks to create a scenario that will enflame the Bangsamoro people to rise against the government for their own ends. There is something here in Mindanao that they want so much that they will try to get it no matter the cost,” he said.

He, however, said he will present these documentary evidences in his possession in the proper time.

With the GRP-MILF negotiations still stalled because of the unresolved issue on facilitation, people are beginning to lose hope in the Aquino administration to sign a final peace agreement with the Moro front.

Malacañang had asked the negotiations’ broker Malaysia to replace Datuk Othman bin Abd’Razak as facilitator because he is allegedly in favor of the MILF.

The MILF has been fighting the government for decades to establish a self-rule Muslim state in Mindanao.

Peace talks between the government and the MILF remain stalled since August 2008 following the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD).

Nevertheless, efforts are being undertaken by both sides to revive the talks.

A final peace deal will touch the issues of autonomy and the civil settlement of the rebel group's some 11,800-strong fighters.

Dalidig said the Bangsamoro nation is now disillusioned with the way the Aquino administration is handling the peace talks.

He said the convergence of up to 50,000 Muslims in Marawi City last November 22, 2010 to ventilate their disillusionment with the government is just the tip of the iceberg.

The November Muslim convergence in Marawi was initiated by the Bangsamoro Solidarity Action for Peace and Justice, a multi-sectoral alliance of Muslim mass-based organizations in the Lanao provinces.

In that rally, Aquino was called a liar by the Muslims for his failure to deliver on his promise to convene the peace negotiations after the Ramadhan 2010.

It was also during the November convergence that the Ranao Manifesto was drawn up in which the MILF was urged to “withdraw from the peace negotiations with the GRP and revert to the original aspiration and stand on which the Bangsamoro liberation movement was founded more than four decades ago: The political independence of the Bangsamoro nation from the Philippine state.” (Bong D. Fabe)

Malaysia to replace Othman as facilitator in peace talks

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Jan. 5, 2011—Malaysia will eventually appoint a new facilitator in the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the founding chairman of a Muslim non-government organization disclosed Wednesday.

Islamic Movement for Electoral Reform and Good Government (IMERGG) founding chairman Hadji Abdullah "Lax" Dalidig disclosed to this reporter that Malaysia will replace Datuk Othman bin Abd’Razak as facilitator in the GRP-MILF peace talks.

Dalidig said that President Benigno Aquino III’s peace adviser, Sec. Teresita “Ging” Deles, revealed to him that the Malaysian government had agreed to replace Othman, whom the government peace panel accused of being biased for the MILF.

The Aquino administration had earlier requested Malaysia to replace Othman, despite vehement objection from the MILF which also requested Malaysia to retain Othman as the talk’s facilitator.

“A very high government official told me that Malaysia will appoint another facilitator to move the peace negotiations forward. And I believe the MILF will eventually accept that because they also want the talks to succeed,” Dalidig said without revealing the name of his source. Later, however, he admitted it was Deles who told him of Malaysia’s plan when he had the chance to talk with her a week ago.

Dalidig expressed hope that the new facilitator to be appointed by Malaysia will be acceptable to the government and the MILF so that the negotiations can proceed immediately.

He disclosed that the Bangsamoro nation is beginning to doubt the sincerity of the Aquino administration in achieving lasting peace in Mindanao through a political settlement to the MILF problem because both parties have not returned to the peace negotiating table despite the President’s promise to convene it right after the Ramadhan.

“President Aquino must show sincerity in achieving lasting peace by fast tracking the peace negotiations,” he said.

The key issue that has bogged down the negotiations is Othman, who the government said is in favor of the Moro rebel group.

The MILF has been fighting the government for decades to establish a self-rule Muslim state in Mindanao.

Peace talks between the government and the MILF remain stalled since August 2008 following the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD).

Nevertheless, efforts are being undertaken by both sides to revive the talks.

A final peace deal will touch the issues of autonomy and the civil settlement of the rebel group's some 11,800-strong fighters. (Bong D. Fabe)

Army to work with LGUs, church, NGOs to sustain the gains of peace

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Jan. 4, 2011—The Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division yesterday vowed to pursue its partnership with local government units (LGUs), Local Government Agencies (LGAs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and the church to sustain the gains of peace in its areas of responsibility.

Major Eugenio Julio Osias IV, commander of the Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Battalion of the 4th ID, said that the 4th ID’s partnership with LGUs, NGOs and the church is already a proven strategy in “pacifying” a locality strategy against the inroads of the four-decade old Maoist insurgency.

“The 4ID will work with the LGUs, LGAs, NGOs, church leaders and PNP in securing the people to include all business establishment to help in sustaining the economic gains in the area,” Osias said.

The partnership of the 4th ID, Misamis Oriental LGU and LGAs, peace and development NGO Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI) and the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, have successfully erased any traces of insurgency in the province after the partnership “conquered” the NPA stronghold in Sitio Lantad in the municipality of Balingasag in 2006 without firing a single bullet and bloodshed.

Sitio Lantad, Barangay Kibanban, Balingasag in Misamis Oriental is a former stronghold of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army’s (CPP-NPA) Front Committee 4B, North Central Mindanao.

In the late 80s through the 90s, Maoist insurgents all over Northern Mindanao and Caraga Regions get their logistical supplies from its Lantad stronghold.

The CPP-NPA, led by “Mayor” Conrado Castillo, set up a shadow government in Lantad in 1987. Afterwards, all government services were taken over by the rebels including health and education.

Ninety-five percent of Sitio Lantad’s population is Higaonon.

The NPAs used the Higaonons’ native bush craft and knowledge of the terrain to effectively isolate the sitio from the rest of Misamis Oriental using indigenous booby traps and landmines to make it impregnable to government attacks.

Because of its “isolation,” the administration of Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno identified the sitio as a high-profile target for development the moment he assumed the governorship n 2004.

Helped by BMFI, whose former executive director Ariel C. Hernandez sits as co-chairman of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, and other stakeholders, Moreno realized his dream to conquer Lantad with the reopening of the Kibanban-Lantad provincial road in July 8, 2006.

According to Moreno, Lantad “is a good example of what stakeholders can really do if they only flex their muscle and invest their resources in sustaining peace and development efforts.”

The 4th ID partnership with other stakeholders is just one of the components of what Osias called “community organizing for peace and development (COPD)” strategy to counter the recruitment of the NPAs, “who are being considered as the stumbling block or hindrance for national development.”

While giving a premium on its peace and development effort to win back the hearts and minds of the insurgents and their supporters, the 4th ID also pursues offensive operations against the rebel group in its AOR.

Osias said that they have been directed by 4th ID commander Major Gen. Victor Felix to resume operations against the NPA especially in remote communities in Northern and Eastern Mindanao, which is under the sway of Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, the CPP-NPA-NDF’s Northeastern Mindanao Regional Party Committee leader.

“Major Gen. Victor Felix is committed to stop all the criminal activities of the CPP-NPA who are exploiting the people and the business sector under the 4ID AOR. He ordered the Diamond troopers to resume the military offensive after the ceasefire especially that the CPP-NPA leadership also declared to intensify attacks against government forces and civilian communities,” Osias said.

Felix issued the directive before the expiration of the 19-day “Christmas ceasefire” midnight Monday in anticipation of a renewed offensive to be launched by the NPAs. (Bong D. Fabe)

Church leaders reaffirm commitment to protect M’nao environment to promote peace

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Jan. 4, 2011—Hundreds of Roman Catholic church leaders all over the southern Philippines recently reaffirmed their commitment to protect the integrity of creation in Mindanao as a key issue in the promotion of peace in the island.

Two hundred and thirteen delegates to the 14th Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference held at the Holy Cross Academy in Digos City, reaffirmed in a statement their seven-fold commitment to reverse the effect of the threats to Life and Peace in Mindanao.

These seven-fold commitment are: (1) protect the integrity of the Mother Earth, the Visible Sign of Divine Order and Wisdom as well as the Life in the Mother’s Womb which is the Sign Center and Foundation of God’s Creation and to safeguard the Sacredness of marriage and Family Life; (2) strengthen our dedication and formation of our families, communities, parishes and Local Churches based on the Word of God and the Christian Faith centered on the Holy Eucharist; (3) pursue the formation of Christian Environmental Conscience, Intergenerational Justice and the Promotion of the Culture of Peace as well as to pursue the paths of the New Evangelization using solid catechesis for the care of the Earth and for the creation of Peaceful Environment; (4) undertake concrete measures like Environmental Education and peace Campaigns in all Churches, BECs, Parish Groups, Catholic Schools and Colleges, as well as conduct activities such as tree planting, adopt-a-forest program, setting up of nurseries in all Catholic Facilities and on Church Lands wherever possible; (5) conduct information and education campaigns to the faithful regarding the Alternative Mining Act (AMB), now filed in Congress and is known as National Management of Resources and Stewardship Bill, as alternative to the present Philippine Mining Act of 1995; (6) strengthen the interfaith and inter-religious dialogue for the cause of Integrity of Creation and Peace; and (7) continue dialogue and cooperation with civil society, government and the basic sectors for authentic human Development and peace as well as to uphold the rule of law at all levels.

The delegates, composed of archbishops, bishops, priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful from twenty-one (21) Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions in Mindanao said they “have reflected on and rediscovered the importance of the Word of God in addressing issues and concerns affecting the Environment and Peace.”

“Moved by the goodness and Creative Power of the Word of God we have seen the immensity of our Mission as Local Churches in Mindanao. We are challenged to follow the paths toward the New Evangelization which would transform our context,” they said in the statement, which was signed by Bishop Guillermo D. Afable, D.D., of the Diocese of Digos.

The delegates also condemned in the strongest terms (1) all activities which threaten and devastate Creation: The non-sustainable and irresponsible mining activities particularly open-pit mining, logging activities which denude our forests, toxic agricultural practices, destructive fishing, and all activities contributory to climate change and global warming; (2) any and all forms of aggression against the lives, cultures and livelihood of the Indigenous Communities as well as anomalous encroachments into their ancestral domains; (3) all activities of violence, hatred, vengeance and bloodshed perpetrated by individuals, groups and institutions even as a means of correcting what maybe is wrong; and (4) everything and every act which harms, endangers, destroys and kills life; extra-judicial liquidations, terrorism, drug pushing; artificial contraception, sterilization and abortion; thus everything and every act which prevents the conception and birth of human life.

“We, therefore, condemn in the strongest terms every sin which creates disorder, disrupts peace and harmony in individuals and the society at large,” they said.

The delegates said that “Mindanao is a beautiful land which we love so rich in natural resources the home of good and beautiful people endowed with rich and diversified cultures.”

“But it is also the land damaged by violence, aggression and selfishness,” they said, adding that these all contribute to situations of unpeace in some localities in Mindanao.

“We know that the situations of unpeace are often land-based, and so geographically localized. They are all related to mal-distribution, usurpation, monopoly, misuse and abuse of resources. The corruption of economic and political powers, the distortion of moral and spiritual values, the materialistic culture of amassing wealth for vested interests have very high environmental and social costs,” they added.

Although the situation in Mindanao looks bleak, the delegates see many signs of hope—“a good number of conscientious individuals, groups, and institutions are working untiringly for the Protection of Creation as well as for the Promotion of Peace” whose ranks are “increasing everyday. Many have dedicated their lives for the Call toward the Culture of Peace and Christian Environmental Stewardship.”

The 14th MSPC, held last October 18-2, 2010 at the Holy Cross Academy in Digos City, brought together clergy and religious from the Mindanao region to share on their faith experiences in the light of the word of God.

It was also aimed at reliving the paths towards renewed essential evangelization to regain the lawful dignity of human life in the midst of God’s creation.

With the theme “Word of God in Mindanao, Creation and Peace,” the 14th MSPC was also aimed at helping each arch/diocese, prelature and vicariate create and prepare plans of pastoral actions in harmony with the collective efforts for the resolution of Mindanao problems in agreement with the mission of the Church in Mindanao. (Bong D. Fabe)