Muslims Celebrate Eid As Fighting Rage In Mindanao

Muslim women look out from the Capitol building in the southern Philippine province of Sulu on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008 as they celebrate the Eid Al Fitr. Governor Sakur Tan led the celebration of the Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 30, 2008) – Muslims in the southern Philippine island of Sulu on Tuesday celebrated the Eid al Fitr, which marked the end of the holy Ramadan, Islam’s fasting month.

More than 3,000 people gathered outside the Capitol building in Patikul town, one of several areas of prayer congregations, and listened to mufti as they preached and told Muslims to religiously follow the teachings of the holy Koran.

Sulu Governor Hajji Sakur Tan, clad in his traditional white skull cap and robe, led devout Muslims throughout the one hour prayer.

“The fasting month of Ramadan is very important to us because it cleanses our hearts and mind and reflects on the past. Without God in our heart and mind, we are nothing, and the Eid Al Fitr is the time for us to thank God for the blessings we received in life and this is also the time to share. There is always God and love in our hearts,” he said.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast and participate in pious activities such as charitable giving and peace-making. And at the end of Ramadan, Muslims throughout the world observe a joyous three-day celebration called Eid Al-Fitr of the Festival of Fast-Breaking.

Eid Al-Fitr is a time to give in charity to those in need, and celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy.

But while Sulu celebrates the Eid Al Fitr, fighting was raging in Mindanao between government soldiers and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels.

Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader, said government troops shelled rebel position in the villages of Pagatian and Matia in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao, one of six provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, one of the most restive in the southern Philippines.

“Troops attacked our positions with artilleries and they also torched civilian houses in the villages,” Kabalu said.

But Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, a spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, denied the MILF reports and said rebels were targeting government soldiers in the province. “As a matter of fact, the MILF ambushed our troops on Monday in Datu Piang and this triggered fighting in the area that left a still undetermined number of rebel casualties,” he said.

Sporadic fighting since last month have left more than 300 soldiers and rebels dead, according to both the MILF and the Philippine military. Clashes broke out after rebel forces mounted a series of deadly attacks across Mindanao after the aborted signing of the Muslim homeland deal on August 5.

Because of the attacks, President Gloria Arroyo suspended the peace talks with the MILF and scrapped the territorial deal and she also disbanded the government team negotiating with the rebel group.

The MILF blamed Arroyo for the collapse of the peace talks and warned of a bigger war if Manila continues with its offensive in Mindanao.

Malaysia, which is brokering the peace talks, said it will still support the peace process in Mindanao and so is the influential Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the United States, including Libya, Brunei and Japan which have deployed truce observers in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

Zamboanga Police Beef Up Security As Ramadan Nears End

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 29, 2008) – Police authorities in Zamboanga Peninsula in the Southern Philippines have beefed up its security as Muslims celebrate Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan ends on Wednesday.

Regional police chief Jaime Caringal has ordered policemen to tighten security measures to ensure the Eid celebration would be peaceful. Moro rebels have previously threatened to mount attacks on military targets at the end of the Ramadan.

Zamboanga City is also preparing to celebrate the Feast of the Nuestra Señora Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza, an annual fiesta held every Oct. 12 in honor of the Virgin Mary. (Erico Rosco)

OIC Secretary-General Gives Eid Al Fitr Message

The Message of the OIC Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu on the occasion of the End of holy month of Ramadan and auspicious event of advent of Eid Al Fitr.

In these blessed days, the Muslim world is living through the last week of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayer, and preparing itself to celebrate Eid Al Fitr, which is an occasion of joy and a time to give thanks to God Almighty who helped us fast and worship him.

In these holy days, I wish to express to the Muslim Ummah my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the Eid Al Fitr, praying to God that the coming month will bring us good tidings for a better future, progress and prosperity and usher in a new era when all difficulties and conflicts will come to an end through dialogue and peaceful means.

I also pray to God Almighty to grant us his guidance to reunite our ranks, strengthen our solidarity towards a prosperous and peaceful world, and enable us to safeguard the tenets of our faith from harm and evil.

The month of Ramadan is the month of peace, serenity and security, a month when Muslims particularly make sure to refrain from all forms of wrong-doing as ordained by the tenets and teachings of Islam.

Unfortunately in this holy month, heinous crimes were committed against innocents, leading to the loss of scores of human lives who were brutally murdered in a number of barbaric attacks including those in Islamabad and Sanaa, causing extensive damage and violating the serenity of the holy month and sanctity of human life.

Those two condemned senseless incidents, like previous terrorist attacks in various parts of the Muslim World, have been a source of tremendous amount of pain, grief, and distress. On this occasion our thoughts and prayers go to the departed souls, the wounded ones, the grieving families.

The sanctity of human life is strongly stressed in Islam. Any violation of this assertion should be vehemently condemned. Committing these atrocious sins particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, should make our rejection and condemnation even stronger and more determined.

In light of these tragic events, we would like to reiterate the steady position of the OIC, in condemning terrorism in all its manifestations, including hideous and misguided suicide attacks, irrespective of their motivations or justifications.

OIC Summits and Ministerial Conferences condemned terrorism in the strongest possible terms. No effort should be spared to bring the perpetrators of these barbaric attacks to face justice. On this occasion we reaffirm and reiterate our unyielding determination to combat this scourge by all means in cooperation with the international community.

We call upon the Muslims, the world over, to unite their stand on this issue and help to put an end to this phenomenon which distorts the image of Islam as a religion of peace, compassion and tolerance.

May we all live in a peaceful, just, tolerant and prosperous world where sanctity of human live is respected and dignity and inalienable rights of human being are upheld.