Manifesto Of Grave Concern By Moro Professionals

In the light of the unfortunate events that are unfolding before our very eyes, more particularly the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA on AD) and the rekindling of the flames of war by irresponsible Christian political leaders both here in Mindanao and in the highest levels of government, we call on everybody to exercise prudence and urge for a more rational, objective and cool discussion of the real issues.

We encourage everybody to comprehend the Mindanao Problem from all its aspect, especially its socio-historical dimensions. We should never be delimited by legalistic perspective as the problem is truly a political question.

We would like to remind everybody that the root of the problem is the illegal annexation of the Bangsamoro homeland by the then Commonwealth Government of the Philippines.

When the settlers from Luzon and Visayas occupied Bangsamoro homeland, by physical force and illegal titling of lands, there was never any consultation. We were never asked if we agree to the massive, unstoppable influx of settlers who were hungry for lands, even if these were owned already by the Bangsamoros since time immemorial.

Now, after almost a century, the Bangsamoros are only trying to protect whatever is left of their homeland. But even this small homeland that is ours by birthright is still being denied to us and is opposed by the Filipinos through all means available to them. Even the MOA on AD, which gives us some ray of hope, is being opposed vehemently.

We call on the international community, especially the American government and its people, to re-examine their policy in Mindanao and try to rectify the errors of the past.

The Americans were partly blameable for the Mindanao Problem as it did not heed the pleadings of our forebears not to include the Bangsamoro Homeland in the Philippine Republic.

The Americans put us at the disposition of the Filipino settlers, and it was proven that they did not show any mercy towards us. To put an end to the century-old suffering of the Bangsamoros at the hands of the Philippine colonial government, we appeal to the international community to intervene directly for the achievement of a negotiated political settlement of the Mindanao Problem.

As such, we still remain committed to the noble principle that a negotiated political settlement as an offshoot of a dialogue clothed in sincerity in the form of a dignified peace process is the most peaceful means, in the context of a win-win solution, to resolve the age-old Mindanao conflict that has claimed at least 120, 000 precious Moro lives. We further affirm and thereby call on for an ultimate peaceful solution which shall be the most humane and civilized way to resolve sovereignty issue and political differences.

We therefore call on the GRP-MILF Peace Panels to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible to avert any untoward incidents on the ground that shall eventually cause another grave suffering among our people. We thereby call on the Supreme Court to lift its TRO and facilitate the smooth resumption of the GRP-MILF Peace Talks. (Kambayabaya)