Sarangani villagers march for peace

Villagers gather at the Malapatan municipal park in Sarangani province in the southern Philippines during a pace rally Sunday, June 28, 2009. Citizens say they want peace and progress and rejected violence. One person was killed and 32 others wounded in a recent grenade attack in Sarangani's Maasim town. The military has blamed Moro Islamic Liberation Front for the attack, an accusation strongly denied by the rebel group which is fighting for independence in the troubled South. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion / Text by the Mindanao Examiner)

Civil groups, Sulu officials hold prayer rally for 3 kidnapped Red Cross workers in the Philippines

Members of the Royal Sultanate Force listen to Sulu Sultan Esmail Kiram during a peace and prayer rally on Saturday, February 14, 2009 in the capital town of Jolo in Sulu province. The rally was also attended by Governor Sakur Tan and Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin. The Jolo Rescue Network also condemned the kidnappings of the three Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba.
(Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - It was a day full of hope and promise for the war torn province of Sulu as thousands join a rally calling for peace and condemning the atrocities and violence that have beleaguered the province for decades.

Over a thousand of civilians led by civil society organizations gathered in front of Jolo Municipal Hall around 2 p.m. Sunday to show support to the government's efforts on peace and security as government troops continue to pursue the Abu Sayyaf bandits responsible for crimes, including kidnappings.

A live band welcomed the mammoth crowd gathered at the rally site giving the event a more lively and festive mood.

The atmosphere in the rally was filled with hope that the event could be the turning point for Sulu and would lead to much needed change in the negative mindset of the people when it comes to their involvement in maintaining peace and security in the province.

Organizers said the rally aims to bring Sulu closer to peace and development.

They said the rally is significant because it shows the commitment of the people to change and their willingness to do what is necessary to achieve peace.

The rally was organized by a group of 47 civil society organizations led by Dr. Samsula Adjuh and Isquildo Ishak who have responded to the growing clamor of the people to take a more active role in the peace and security situation in the province.

Likewise, the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo thru its Royal Security Sultanate Forces led by its Crown Prince (Datu Raja Muda) Agbimuddin Kiram is one with the objective of the rally that is to strongly condemn the atrocities committed by the lawless group and called on residents to unite against all forms of evil acts so that the good image of the Tausug will not be tarnished with violence and that "peace will once again reign upon the province and the people can live in tranquility like it was before."

The Crown Prince said that Sulu was once a very famous place where people lived in harmony with dignity and pride.

He said that it is not yet late to regain that lost prestige as long as the people from Sulu will unite towards the betterment of the province.

The rally also aims to present a united front against violence and terrorism with its theme: "Walk in Unity Towards Peace."

It was participated by all sectors including the business, education and religious sectors and was fully supported by the local government units led by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan who was in attendance along with the different municipal mayors.

Tan called for unity and urged the people to support the police, military and government in its effort to bring peace and development in the province.

He also assured the civilians that the government, including the police and the military, is doing its best to eliminate lawlessness in the province.

Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, chief of the Joint Task Force Comet, who was also invited to speak in the rally, said the military has been involved in development projects in Sulu such as the construction of roads, school buildings and water supply.

Sabban cited that development is a major factor in solving the peace and security problem in the province.

He emphasized that education for the children of Sulu is the key for change and towards achieving peace in the long run.

He promised that the military will always provide its services not only in keeping peace and security as well as in development related efforts.

Major Gamal Hayudini, chief of the Armed Forces' 4th Civil Relations Group (CRG), said the military appreciates the support being shown by the people of Sulu through the rally.

Hayudini lauded the civil organizations for coming up with the initiative and acknowledged the local government units particularly the governor and even the Sultanate of Sulu for their concern and support to the said civil organizations.

He condemned the atrocities of the lawless groups as barbaric acts and vowed that the military will not hinder in its effort to neutralize the threat groups. (Teofilo Garcia, Philippine News Agency)

Civilians help authorities secure Sulu, Red Cross hostage rescue halted

Governor Sakur Tan of Sulu province and Mayor Hussin Amin of Jolo town and Marines Major General Juancho Sabban led multi-sectoral rally headed by the Sulu People’s Congress on Saturday, February 14, 2009 in denouncing the atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf group and the kidnappings of three Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba. More than a thousand people attended the rally. Abu Sayyaf terrorists have reportedly demanded as much as $10 million for the safe release of the hostages, who were seized on January 15, 2009 in Sulu's Patikul town. A Sri Lankan peace activist, Umar Jaleel, of the Nonviolent Peaceforce, was also taken by suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists in nearby Basilan province on February 13, 2009. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 15, 2009) – Armed civilians have joined government patrols in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, where Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya terrorists are holding hostage three Red Cross workers.

Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba were kidnapped January 15 after inspecting water and sanitation project at a prison in Patikul town.

Thousands of civilians who now formed part of the police auxiliary force in the province, have been guarding vital government installations across Sulu, especially in the towns of Jolo, Indanan and Patikul, where the Abu Sayyaf had previously launched attacks against civilian and government targets.

“The police auxiliary force is a big help to us. They are helping us patrol the streets at night, guard our community and protect our villages until this hostage crisis is over,” said Mayor Munib Estino, of Panglima Estino town.

Estino, himself, has been leading night patrols in his town and so are the other mayors, including the governor of Sulu, Sakur Tan, who heads a task force trying to obtain the release of the hostages.

“Civilians are fed up with the atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf. They are fed up with all these kidnappings and they are condemning this lawlessness perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf,” Tan said.

Just recently, Abu Sayyaf terrorists burned a garbage truck in the town of Jolo and abducted its driver and his fate is still unknown. “Why do they have to resort to this and abducted the poor driver who takes care our garbage?” asked Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin.

The terrorists previously attacked and burned a school in the village of Timpook in Patikul town after a clash with marine soldiers.

Marine Major General Juancho Sabban, commander of military forces in Sulu, said the burning of the school left hundreds of mostly poor students without education. Sabban’s soldiers had helped build many schools and other development projects in partnership with the provincial government and the US military.

On Saturday, more than a thousand people joined a peace and prayer rally spearheaded by various civic groups, religious and the business sectors and denouncing the kidnappings of the three aid workers.

“This Abu Sayyaf is destroying the image of our beautiful province and brought nothing, but shame to every peace-loving citizen in Sulu. They have no place in Sulu and should be condemned,” said Abbas Ibrahim.

Ibrahim and his two brothers were among hundreds of men who armed themselves and joined the military and police in patrolling the town of Patikul.

Esmail Kiram, the Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, who led a huge contingent to the rally, also denounced the kidnappings. “We are good people and we don’t deserve these atrocities. Islam is peace,” he said.

The protesters, including many local Muslim leaders, waved banners saying “We denounce the Abu Sayyaf” and “Enough is enough, no more kidnappings.” The gathering continued despite rumors and text messages that the Abu Sayyaf would disrupt the prayer rally.

At least 47 civic and religious organizations, including the former rebel group, Moro National Liberation Front, also signed a manifesto at the weekend condemning the Abu Sayyaf kidnappings.

Nur Misuari, leader of the MNLF, also met with Tan in Jolo town and offered to help secure the safe release of the hostages.

The governor has ordered the military against attempts to rescue the hostage being held by the Abu Sayyaf under Albader Parad and Umbra Jumdail, also called Dr Abu Pula by some people because of his purported ability to perform crude treatments on wounded militants and ailing villagers. Both terrorist leaders were former MNLF fighters, according to the military.

But authorities believed that local Muslim scholar Yasser Igasan, said to be the new chieftain of the Abu Sayyaf, and Malaysian Jemaah Islamiya terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, are with the group holding the Red Cross workers.

Tan said: “There should be no rescue because the safety of the hostages is the top concern.” He said military and police forces would continue to block all escape routes for the Abu Sayyaf holding the trio in Indanan town.

Civilians also were helping the soldiers and policemen seal off the area, he said.
On Monday, troops clashed with the kidnappers after a failed attempt to spring the captives. The fighting left 11 soldiers wounded and two of them critically.

The Abu Sayyaf, which has also been linked to the Al-Qaeda terror network, is known for kidnappings and bomb attacks on Christians and foreigners. The latest kidnapping saw a Sri Lankan Muslim peace activist seized in the nearby island of Basilan on February 13. (Mindanao Examiner)

Multi-sectoral groups commit to stop kidnappings in Sulu

Former Moro National Liberation Front rebel chieftain Nur Misuari is flanked by supporters Friday, February 13, 2009, in Jolo won in Sulu province, where Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya terrorists are holding hostage three Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino woman Mary Jean Lacaba. Misuari has volunteered to help negotiate with the terrorists to free the hostages. Devout Muslims also pray Friday at mosque in Sulu. A Sri Lankan peace activist Umar Jaleel was also abducted on Friday in nearby Basilan province by suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists. (Photos contributed by Amil Abubakar)

SULU, Philippines – The provincial government of Sulu got the commitment and support of various groups to put a stop to the un-Islamic activities of lawless elements and to resolve the current crisis the soonest possible time.

Different organizations and concerned individuals of Sulu manifested their commitment and support to the Province through separate statements released to the media.

In a written statement, the Busbus Peace Promoters Organization said that the recent kidnapping of ICRC personnel brought so much sadness among the inhabitants of Sulu, saying that “it is a condemnable act that must be dealt [with] seriously and be stopped from happening again in the history of the province.

The statement recognizes that the Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that has been offering humanitarian and medical services worldwide.

“Their (Red Cross) dedication to help has long been seen and felt even here in Sulu. And most are aware of the fact that it sees no angle, takes no side in extending its services. Their personnel are friends to everyone,” the statement said.

It said the outlaws took advantage of this “kindness of humanitarian workers to achieve their malice ends.”

In a separate statement, the Sabiel Al-Muhtadeen Foundation, Inc.-Sulu, an umbrella organization of the different mosques and madarios, Muslim religious leaders, professionals, women, youth and other economic sectors of Sulu, “strongly condemns all forms of un-Islamic act of violence and terror particularly the recent kidnapping of three ICRC workers and a certain local resident by the name of (Dionghan) Indiong Que.”

The foundation appealed to those “involved in carrying out such criminal activity to put an end to this heinous crime,” saying that the “political and military consequences of which are only bloodshed, destruction of properties and displacement of our very own people.”

Other groups like the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, the Suara Mahardika, Bansag Babai, the JPIC-Jolo, including the municipal mayors of Sului and the 42nd CRU of the 4CRGAFP are signatories to another statement that expressed their “full and undivided support to Sulu Gov. Abdusakur M. Tan, the Task Force ICRC, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to resolve the issue of ICRC kidnapping in the province of Sulu.”

While all of the statements strongly condemn the actions by irresponsible and lawless elements, the groups also called for sobriety and unity among the people of Sulu and exhaust all peaceful means to resolve the crisis. (Philippine Information Office-BASULTA)

Mindanao Rallies Continue; US Military Training Slammed

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Thousands Gather For Peace Rally In South RP

Demonstrators carry placards and streamers in Marawi City in southern Philippines. Muslims are opposing the presence of US soldiers in the region where a series of joint military trainings between the Philippines and the United States would begin this year. (Photos by Hannan Masdoc/CBCS)

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 23, 2008) - It was six thirty in the morning of Tuesday when vehicles begun to lurk the Tomawis arcade at the heart of Marawi City while men, women and children from the various mnicipalities of Lanao del Sur province groom their vehicles getting ready for the 34-km interfaith peace caravan.

Traversing the roads from Marawi City to Iligan City were vehicles swathe with red flags with the inscription “Allahu Akbar!”, which means “Allah is Great” and black banners saying “No to Balikatan in the Bangsamoro homeland!” alongside streamers “vehemently condemning the perpetrator of Fr. Roda’s mutilation”.

Teams of the US elite Special Forces will arrive and in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte starting Feb. 18 as part of the RP-US ‘Balanced Piston’ Balikatan exercisers, Philippine military officials told the Mindanao examiner newspaper.

The director of the Notre Dame of Tabawan and the head o Mission in Tawi-Tawi, Fr. Reynaldo A. Roda, OMI was brutally killed by unidentified armed men inside the chapel after refusing to go with the kidnappers on January 14.

The peace caravan came together with oozing spirits of frustrations from the different non-Moro civil society organizations and students standing with placards at Iligan City Plaza who assembled earlier.

Close to 10,000 people were gathered to shore up support to the continuous call for the resumption of GRP-MILF Peace talks and the sincere implementation of all the peace processes in Mindanao.

“This interfaith peace caravan-rally intends to prevent possible conflict and to show to the parties that the Bangsamoro is in solidarity with the Christians and the Lumads” Lacs Daligdig, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) Ranaw chairman said in his opening message.

The Interfaith Peace Caravan-Rally is an off shoot of the collective efforts of the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) shown on January 9 during the second leg of the series of the peace rallies organized by the CBCS where some 20,000 from all walks of life gathered in a Peace rally in Marawi City.

“If this acts are not enough to catch the attention of the Government, the Interfaith CSOs will organize the walk for peace from Marawi City to Malacañang Palace to show to the Government that we are indeed very serious in our fervor to attain just and lasting peace in Mindanao”, Daligdig said.

The series of peace rallies spearheaded by the CBCS that kicked off in Cotabato City on January 7 followed by Marawi City on January 9, and General Santos City in January 10 gathered more than 100,000 people, Moro and Non-Moro that draw attention and various interpretations of the Media and the General Public.

“If you want war, declare at your own risk! Do not involve the people in Mindanao!,” participants shouted during the rally. This refers to the statement of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno opposing the MILF-GRP peace process and advising the government to prepare for war should the peace talks fail.

Caricatures of Puno holding an M16 automatic rifle and US President George W. Bush were publicized by the demonstrators. Atty. Ibrahim Canama of the Federated Royal Sultanate of the Philippines stated on an appeal of the sultanates for the MILF to return to the negotiating table and for the Government to be sincere in dealing with the Peace processes, from the course of the negotiation to the implementation of the agreements to be signed.

“Our people cannot afford to live in fear,” he concluded. “We are one with the Bangsamoro in the call for lasting peace”, contented Fr. Chito Sugano of the Marawi Catholic church, “After all only those who declared war wins, we are all victims.”

“The Bangsamoro homeland, our bread and butter are happily utilized as battlegrounds, leaving its inhabitants with dime of hope”, Fr. Chito contented further. “How many more lives do we need to sacrifice?” Dared Abulkhair Alibasa, an academe youth representative.

“The consensus points were gained at the expense of the lives of the countless Bangsamoro who died fighting for it,” he said. The reneging of the Government to the agreed consensus points was vied by the academe as an “unprofessional” and is indicative of a sheer betrayal of trust.

”President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, an Iliganon, give us the justice we long for!” “We have suffered enough!” Said Bai Lilang Macarampat, a women representative of Lanao Del Sur.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s maternal parents are from Iligan City in Lanao del Norte. “We strongly condemn war, displacements and the long hardship of the Bangsamoro!” said Maria Jittel Saquilabon, the executive director of the Tri-People’s Forum.

The forum comprises huge number of tri-people organizations in Mindanao that works for human rights and peace-building. “The Bangsamoro have suffered for 469 years!” so give us back the justice that was taken from us!” said Mohammad Tamano of the Iligan League of Students in his speech.

The astonishing span of years was derived from the invasion of Spain in 1521 that lasted for 377 years and the Americans colonization period of 40 years plus the Bangsamoro homeland under the colonial Philippines for 52 years entirely because of one thing-to preserve their Islamic rights and culture.

“Give the Bangsamoro their right to self-determination!” said Cha Lavandero of Duyog Kabataan as a statement of solidarity with the Bangsamoro. “We do not want to lose our parents because of war” she emotionally stated. “What does Puno know regarding Mindanao?”

“We, the Mindanawons are to determine our own future”, she ended. “The Balikatan exercises increases rather than prevent the escalation of conflict” marked Adonna Ontillas of the Lanao Disaster Management Organization. The emergency response team appeals to the GRP not to allow the Balikatan troops to deploy in the provinces of Lanao and other adjacent areas. (Hannan Masdoc/CBCS)

20,000 Muslims, Christians Show Up In Peace Rally In Southern RP

Marchers in General Santos City in southern Philippines. (Photos by Consortium Maulana for the Mindanao Examiner newspaper)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 12, 2008) - Sympathy and frustration reflected in the eyes of some 20,000 people notwithstanding the scorching sun as they participated in an interfaith mass action which started with a march for peace from Queen Tuna Park to the Freedom Park and ended with a prayer here.

The rally was the third leg of a series of peace rallies in Mindanao organized by the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) that kicked off at Cotabato City on January 7 to pressure the government to sincerely engage with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and go back to the negotiating table and sign and eventually implement an final peace agreement, as well as truthfully keep its word with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in implementing the second phase of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.

The March-rally was scheduled to start at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon. However, the trucks that carried participants from the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and South Cotabato started to arrive at 9:00am, making the assembly area at Queen Tuna Park jam-packed even before 12:00 noon.

Some of the people were forced to walk to the much wider Freedom Park earlier than the scheduled march proper to accommodate the large crowd of peace advocates.

General Santos City bombings and other random incidents in SOCSKSARGEN has consistently caught the attention of the media and the general public. The interfaith and peace rally also commemorated the 1st year anniversary of the GenSan Lotto Outlet bombing incident which killed six civilians and injured 36 others.

“We don’t want bombings in SOCSKSARGEN anymore!” said Oscar Solaiman, the CBCS-Rajah Buayan Regional Management Committee (CBCS-RBRMC) Chairmperson.

“SOCSKSARGEN is now a haven of peace” he furthered, attributing mainly this state of peace to three factors, “emergence of strong local leaders, protection from both the police and the military, and the present gains of the peace processes”.

But due to the recently “stalled peace talks, hopes were suddenly replaced by fears”, Solaiman added, referring to the cancellation of the anticipated signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on the issue of ancestral domain between the MILF and the GRP that was supposed to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 15-17, 2007.

Solaiman contended that the clamor of the MNLF to the unaccomplished review the 1996 Final Peace Accord with the Government “adds to the obstacles of the Bangsamoro People to achieve genuine peace”.

“The peaceful lives of the Bangsamoro were shattered by the tremors brought about by the coming of the colonizers” said Sammy Maulana, CBCS Secretary General during his speech.

“We are not begging anything from the Government, we just want to regain our homeland and restore our inalienable rights to self determination, both as people and a nation”.

Most of the misery expressed was focused on the vacillating stance of the GRP in non-conforming to hard-earned consensus points on the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) that was prior agreed upon with the MILF. “The GRP has to demonstrate integrity by honoring the consensus points”, said Anwar Saluwang of the United Youth of the Philippines for Peace in Development (UNYPAD).

The frailty of the Government to bequeath its political will is viewed as the core barrier that impinges the realization of the peace processes in Mindanao.

Pastor Frank Bantilan, a Lumad religious leader from Sarangani Province, together with other B’laans, said that they are distressed by the sudden impasse of the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF. “Muslims and Lumads are more than brothers” “we feel no different pain” he said with conviction.

“Tri-People”, the term commonly associated with SOCSKSARGEN is mainly due to the existence of diverse tribes belonging to the Indigenous People, Christian and Muslims. “This is not a time for war” he uttered calling for stronger unity between the Lumads and Muslims.

In a Position paper, the Moro CSOs and other non-Moro supporters pointed out that “the most civilized and acceptable way to resolve conflict is through negotiation”. And the best way for a negotiation to succeed is “sincerity, honesty and political will”.

These positions were fervently made known by the CSOs: “The real implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the MNLF and Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), the restoration of the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF, and for the Government to bestow its ‘political will’ towards the realization of the peace processes”.

Along with these points is the condemning of bombing incidents and any form of terrorist acts that had taken the lives of many innocent civilians, whether Muslim or Christian, in SOCSKSARGEN.

The rally ended with a plea for the souls of those who died in the bombings that had brought fear to the hearts of SOCSKSARGEN, with the hope that it will never happen again.

The CBCS is now preparing for the next legs of this series of peace rallies in Mindanao within the month in Basilan, Pagadian, Zamboanga and Sulu that is expected to draw together the concerned groups and sectors in these regions to continue the call for genuine peace in Mindanao.(Consortium Maulana)

Muslims March For Peace In Mindanao

Peace advocates march in Marawi City in southern Philippines. (Photos by Consortium Maulana for the Mindanao Examiner newspaper)

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 11, 2008) – About 20,000 people marched in Marawi City as the second leg of a peace rally kicked off in southern Philippines.

The marchers, many chanting “Allahu Akbar” which means “God is Great,” came from the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and converged at the Tomas Cabili Plaza in the village of Banggolo.

They also carried streamers and banners and many wearing shirts printed with the word “Allahu Akbar.”

It was the second leg of the series of Mindanao-wide peace rally led by the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), a network of 164 Moro civil society organizations in Mindanao.

The Ranaw Regional Management Committee of CBCS, led by Aenodin Cali, organized the rally in Marawi.

“The failure of peace agreements in the past can be attributed mainly to the non-participation of the Bangsamoro people, because non-participation means they do not own a peace agreement,” said Abdullah Dalidig, of the Islamic Movement for Electoral Reform and Good Governance (IMERGG) and Muslim Multi-sectoral Movement for Peace and Development (MMMPD).

“As real stakeholders, their collective voice should be basis of authority and the last word in the solution of the problem.”

“The consequences of war in Mindanao have been very painful and costly. More than 150,000 people died and 100,000 were estimated to be injured. Millions were displaced from their homes and several hundred thousands, including more than 200,000 Bangsamoro who sought refuge in the Malaysian State of Sabah have not returned home,” Dalidig said.

Anwar Saluwang, deputy secretary-general of United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), an organization of Muslim youths based in Cotabato City called for the immediate return to the negotiating table of both the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels.

“We the Bangsamoro in Central Mindanao feel exactly what is felt by people in Ranaw. The Government should not wait for the Bangsamoro people to become the Bangsamoro Armed Forces,” he cited. Saluwang was there with the Marawi-based members of UNYPAD.

The first leg of the peace rally was held in Cotabato City and participated by some 30,000 people from Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, and North Cotabato provinces.

“The Bangsamoro does not belong to the MILF or the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) but the MILF and the MNLF belong to the Bangsamoro people,” said Sammy Maulana, Secretary-General of CBCS. The marchers urged the government and MILF peace negotiators to resume negotiations after talks stalled last month over the issue of the Muslim ancestral domain which will constitute a separate homeland in Mindanao. (With a report from Consortium Maulana)

Thousands Join Peace Rally In Southern Philippines

About 30,000 people, mostly Muslims, hold a peace rally Monday, January 07, 2008 in Cotabato city in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner/CBCS photos).

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 07, 2008) – About 30,000 people, mostly Muslims, joined a huge rally Monday in the southern Philippines and urged Manila to peace negotiations with the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The gathering in Cotabato City was part of a series of peace rally in Mindanao, according to the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), a network of Muslim non-government and people’s organizations which helped organized the event.

The group said some 50,000 people have signed to join the month-long peace rally which is expected to end in Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay province. Many of those who participated in the rally came from Shariff Kabunsuan, North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.

The rally was held in response to the “fast changing” peace process in Mindanao that is reshaping the future of the locals, especially the civil society that comprises the greater majority in the grassroots, said Abdulbasit Benito, chairman of the CBCS media committee.

“The current status of the peace process in Mindanao is fast changing and reshaping the future of the ‘Mindanawons’ especially the civil society that comprise the greater majority in the grassroots. The expected signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the MILF and GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) in Kuala Lumpur on the issue of ancestral domain could have been a recompense for the ten-year long negotiation between the MILF and the GRP that commenced in July of 1997,” Benito said.

Benito was referring to the government’s stalled peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“But the stance of the GRP in nonconforming to the agreed consensus points, a clear manifestation of the feebleness of the GRP to bestow strong political will for the realization of the peace accord,” he said.

Benito said the peace rally carried the theme “Uphold the gains of the Peace Processes,” adding that “the initiative came out as a unified response to draw the attention of the ‘gate keepers’ of the peace processes.”

“We, in the civil society is aware of the fact that majority of people in the grassroots desire for a meaningful result of the peace process, not only to put an end to the ravages of war, but to address the longstanding political problem in a non-violent way,” Benito said.

Benito pointed out that the civil society’s unified response can create a desired impact by significantly reducing the possible incidence of conflict exacerbation brought about by the fragile peace confronting Mindanao. “Prerequisite to our yearning for human security, peace and economic progress is the attainment of a negotiated political settlement.”

“The action points generally aims to draw the attention of these ‘gate keepers’ to immediately take necessary actions and muster enough courage to bring about the long awaited peaceful settlement,” he said.

He said the second leg of the rally will be held on Thursday in General Santos City.

Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader, said the rally only showed how important is the peace process to the people in Mindanao. “We are not surprised at all by the huge turnout of people in the peace rally. Mindanao is for peace and we wanted peace also to rule in this homeland of ours,” he told the Mindanao Examiner newspaper.

Last week, Murad Ebrahim, leader of the MILF, appealed for patience over the failure of peace talks.

”The road to freedom is always full of twist and turn and to overcome, we must work, persist, and sacrifice,” Ebrahim said.

It was the second time the MILF appealed to Muslims and rebels for patience over the slow progress of the peace talks. Last month, Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF peace negotiator, also appealed to Muslims to remain calm and patient over the failure of the talks.

Many rebel commanders are getting frustrated and restless over the failure of the seven-year old peace talks with the Arroyo government.

The MILF is fighting for a separate Muslim homeland in the strife-torn, but mineral-rich region of Mindanao. It accused the government of reneging to its commitment after peace talks last month failed in Malaysia, which is brokering the negotiations.

Iqbal said the Philippine panel agreed late last year on the scope of the Muslim ancestral domain, but later reneged on the accord that will constitute a separate homeland for more than 4 million Muslims and indigenous tribes in Mindanao.

Iqbal reiterated his previous statement and said his group is consistent with their demand for a Muslim homeland.

Iqbal previously said that the ugly turn of event in the peace process is taxing the patience of the MILF and the Bangsamoro people, who may be compelled to resort to other means of resolving the Mindanao conflict when they are pushed to the wall and become hopeless in the peace process.

He said the government peace panel must honor its commitment and previous agreement so the talks could resume.

”The government peace panel must honor its commitment to the Bangsamoro people because we wanted peace to reign and end the violence in Mindanao," he said. "We will wait for the government to reconsider its decision.”

The MILF said government negotiators headed by Rodolfo Garcia completely disregarded the agreement on the ancestral domain and insisted again that the granting of homeland to Muslims in Mindanao would solely be through Constitutional process which the rebel group previously opposed.

The Philippine charter prohibits the dismembering of the country.

The ancestral domain which covers the whole of Muslim autonomous region and other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes. And even Palawan Island in central Philippines and the Sulu Archipelago.

President Arroyo has opened up peace talks with the MILF in 2001, but since then no substantial agreements have been signed between the two sides, expect for the cease-fire accord.

The MILF earlier warned that hostilities may erupt in Mindanao if the peace talks fail.

The Philippine military previously demanded MILF rebels to lay down their weapons before peace talks could resume. (With reports from Mark Navales and Norodin Makalay)

Peace Rally Kicks Off In Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 04, 2008) — Some 50,000 people are expected to join the first leg of a series of Mindanao-wide peace rally which will begin here Monday.

Many of those who will participate in the rally are sectoral representatives from the nearby provinces of Shariff Kabunsuan, North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

The rally will be held in response to the “fast changing” peace process in Mindanao that is “reshaping the future of the Mindanawons, especially the civil society that comprise the greater majority in the grassroots,” said Abdulbasit Benito, chair of media committee of the organizer, in an apparent reference to the aborted talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine peace panels which were supposed to have taken place in Kuala Lumpur on December 15-17, 2007.

The rally will be spearheaded by the Cotabato-based regional management committee of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, a network of Moro non-government and peoples organizations with 168 member-organizations Mindanao-wide.

It will start at 9 a.m. from “strategic points” in the city and the three provinces and will end at 3 p.m. at the city plaza. A press conference will be held simultaneously at Hotel Castro Function Hall at 12 p.m.

“The current status of the peace process in Mindanao is fast changing and reshaping the future of the Mindanawons especially the civil society that comprise the greater majority in the grassroots. The expected signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the MILF and GRP in Kuala Lumpur on the issue of ancestral domain could have been a recompense for the ten-year long negotiation between the MILF and the GRP that commenced in July of 1997,” Benito said in a statement.

“But the stance of the GRP in nonconforming to the agreed consensus points, a clear manifestation of the feebleness of the GRP to bestow strong political will for the realization of the peace accord,” he said.

Benito said the peace rally will carry the theme “Uphold the gains of the Peace Processes,” adding that “the initiative came out as a unified response to draw the attention of the ‘gate keepers’ of the peace processes.”

Benito asserted that the “contentious issue” on the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) between the MNLF and the GRP “is viewed to impinge the peace process between the MILF and GRP to pursue.”

He argued that eleven years after the signing of the FPA, “gaps” between positions of the GRP and MNLF on the “genuine implementation” of the FPA widens. “These incidents inevitably make the peace situation fluid, volatile and according to some, can explode anytime.”

“We, in the civil society is aware of the fact that majority of people in the grassroots desire for a meaningful result of the peace process, not only to put an end to the ravages of war, but to address the longstanding political problem in a non-violent way,” Benito said.

Benito pointed out that the civil society’s unified response “can create a desired impact by significantly reducing the possible incidence of conflict exacerbation brought about by the fragile peace confronting our homeland.”

“Prerequisite to our yearning for human security, peace and economic progress is the attainment of a negotiated political settlement,” Benito said.

“The action points generally aims to draw the attention of these ‘gate keepers’ to immediately take necessary actions and muster enough courage to bring about the long awaited peaceful settlement.”

Benito said the “civil society in Mindanao urgently appeal” for “swift and more carefully review the implementation of the GRP-MNLF 1996 peace accord so that gaps are identified, corrective measures are installed, and implementation scheme put into place;” “for the immediate resumption of the GRP-MILF peace talks and for the Government to honor its commitment to the consensus points;” and “for the GRP and the MILF to refrain from any unnecessary actions that may jeopardize the peace talks.”

The second leg of the rally will be held on Jan. 10 in General Santos City and to be participated by sectoral representatives from the city and nearby provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Koronadal City.

The other legs of the rally is yet to be confirmed but on Feb. 7 the same rally will be held in Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Pagadian and Diplog cities and Ipil town. (Norodin Makalay)