Mindanao Militia

Appeal to GMA and MILF to stop war

NEWS RELEASE
6 November 2008


Peace advocates appeal to GMA and MILF to stop war


Peace advocates appeal to government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to stop the armed hostilities in Mindanao after the Supreme Court junked the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) for being unconstitutional.

Alarmed over the gravity of humanitarian crisis and the deteriorating condition of these war-ravaged areas, members of the Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW) wrote President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim to stop the armed conflict of both parties and return to the negotiating table.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians were affected after the Arroyo government ordered the Philippine armed forces for punitive actions against so-called rogue elements of the MILF.

Their appeal letter wrote: "there are now more than half a million internally displaced persons who are bearing the brunt of the ongoing armed conflict."

The advocates further wrote that the staggering figure does not count yet the casualties on both sides of the combatants. Also, this excludes the hidden and long-term effects of the violence on women, children and the youth.

Signatories of the letter asked President Arroyo what happened to her own declaration on the primacy of the peace process as contained in her Executive Order 2003. They appealed for her to immediately declare a suspension of military operations (SOMO) to sober up the situation and allow the mechanisms on the ceasefire agreement with the MILF to work again.

They likewise appealed to Chairman Murad to demonstrate his firm resolve and commitment to peaceful settlement of the Mindanao conflict by reigning in all his forces and constituents and in finding a just resolution on alleged violations of the so-called rogue elements.

The MPW told both Arroyo and Murad that violence committed by any parties in conflict cannot be resolved by another, if not increased form of violence and that such is a never ending cycle that will only bring the country to the brink of destruction.

Hopeful of Arroyo's recent overtures for the resumption of the peace talks, the MPW said that unless this is accompanied by positive gestures of peace such as the immediate declaration of SOMO, they will be compelled to appeal for United Nations intervention to avert a worst humanitarian crisis in Mindanao.

For Murad, they proposed that MILF gives its share in creating an atmosphere for dialogue and the conditions to tread the tedious path to peace.

"War is not an option. As peace advocates we take it upon ourselves to face up to the challenge of building and uniting for peace, especially in light of the surfacing of biases and prejudices among and between peoples of Mindanao and the rest of the citizenry, following the MOA-AD debacle," the letter concluded.

MPW represents a network of peace constituency coming from non-government organizations, academe, religious, human rights groups, peoples organizations and grassroots communities which work for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Mindanao. Among its members are the the AGONG Network, Mindanao Peoples Caucus, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, Mindanao Peace Advocates Conference, Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement, Mindanao Solidarity Network and Peace Advocates Zamboanga, Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Saligan-Mindanaw and Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

Mindanao Truth Commission

MINDANAO TRUTH COMMISSION
LINKING ‘THE THIRD FORCE’ TO THE MYSTERY BOMBINGS


In the USA and Europe, Americans and Europeans are wary of Muslims as potential terrorists.
In Mindanao, the Moros are now wary of Americans also as potential terrorists.


During the height of the bomb attacks that terrorised Mindanao between early 2002 and May 2003, every blast was squarely blamed on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) through trials by publicity. However, since the accusers do not have an iota of evidence, the concerned citizens of the country formed the Mindanao Truth Commission (MTC). The ‘Initiatives for Peace’ in Mindanao (INPEACE-Mindanao) - composed of bishops and nuns, imams and ulama, local executives and peace advocates, were not convinced that the 33 mysterious bombings, which took a toll of 95 killed and 490 wounded all civilians, mostly Muslims, could be the handy work of the MILF or ASG. They proved the accusers wrong, but their findings never absolved the suspects and never brought justice to the victims.

Lead by Dr. Robinson Montalba of “Justice, Not War Coalition” in Davao City, other members of the MTC were: Msgr Rego Monsanto, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City; Bishop Felixberto Calang of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Southern Mindanao Diocese); Mayor V. Emano of Cagayan de Oro City and Professor Maulana Alonto of Institute for Bangsamoro Studies in Marawi City.

Beverly Munsi, a lawyer among the fact-finders, said they had weak links to the MILF and ASG for all the bombings that had occurred since early 2002. Instead, Munsi pointed to a “third force,” that had also been already alluded to by President Gloria M. Arroyo earlier, as the culprit.

The Third Force

In declaring the National Athletic Meet that was to be held in Iligan City on June 14, 2002 cancelled, the president cited the “third force” as the main reason for the N.A.M. cancellation, without categorically absolving the ASG and MILF. When asked for the identity of the “Third Force,” the then National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director Norberto Gonzales butted in, saying “it will be known very soon.” Surprisingly, however, even with all the information and leads available, the government decided to stop the probe or freeze the findings! Among those present during the declaration were Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Soliman, Presidential Peace Process (OPAPP) Adviser Teresita Delez and Secretary Renato de Villa, all cabinet members.

Bomb explode on ‘bomber’

On March 4, 2002, the Davao International Airport was bombed, killing 21 civilians and wounding 124 others. This was followed by the blast at Sasa wharf on April 2, killing 16 and wounding 56, also all civilians. Over at General Santos City, a bomb was detonated at Fitmart Mall on April 8 killing another 16 people and wounding 54.

The mother of all bombs exploded at the Evergreen Hotel room in Davao City on May 16, 2003, seriously wounding the lone occupant identified as Michael Terrence Meiring, an American citizen. The Philippine Graphics magazine described Meiring as a “suspected CIA agent with strong connections.” His own bomb mangled his legs, but Meiring did not succumb to the blast and the injury. Interestingly, before the local police authorities could launch its formal investigation into the blast, on the same day, Meiring was surreptitiously whisked out of the Davao Doctor’s Hospital via a private Jet to an unknown destination that no one has dared to find out for the sake of truth and the bombing victims until today! Since then, however, not a single blast has been heard in like manner, and the general belief was that the May 16 blast must have come from the mother of all bombs that seriously hurt the bomber!

There were insinuations that the US Embassy and FBI or CIA agents in Manila facilitated the unceremonial departure of the terror-suspect. However, in the absence of hard evidence and court proceedings or legal pronouncements to the contrary, anyone can only conjecture! Only Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City was overheard to have fumed his displeasure over the incident in a fit of rage for the trampling of national sovereignty by the American (bomber?) bombing victim. But as the national government did not pursue the matter on constitutional violations by the suspected American terrorist and his sponsors, Mayor Duterte also perhaps decided to keep silent.

The unanswered questions

Just who is Michael Terrence Meiring; aside from being an American citizen, a CIA agent, a tourist or a terrorist? Who facilitated his unceremonious departure without going through immigration clearance and formalities? Why was there no hue and cry from the government of the republic of the Philippines and the vociferous Christian majority over the trampling of the national constitution and prerogatives by a US national, etc.?

A few sixty-four-dollar question hovers, unanswered until today: was Michael Terrence Meiring really the “third force” (terrorist) that President Gloria M. Arroyo alluded to earlier? Did he plant all the 32 other bombs that terrorized the southern Philippines, from Zamboanga City to Cotabato and Davao that killed 95 and wounded 490, mostly Moro civilians? Was the government of the Philippine Republic (GRP) aware of the activities of the “terrorist” as the intelligence community and president’s aides had already identified the “Third Force,” thus indirectly absolving the MILF and ASG of the bombing spree but without declaring it? If affirmative, why did the government stop the probe?

Was it because the "terrorist" was working for the interest of the government and the Filipino majority, while most of the victims are Moros, who they want to edge out or systematically decimate?

Was the GRP an indirect collaborator of the “American terrorist” without admitting its direct involvement, or a silent accomplice for not pursuing legal proceedings against the illegal exit of a suspected criminal, on constitutional grounds? Do foreigners have special privileges in the country more than local citizens, the ASG and MILF members most especially, who remained suspects in the series of bombings perpetrated by the American suspect?

Neither the American suspect cum victim of the last bomb was declared the culprit nor the ASG and MILF declared innocent, with a view to pinpointing who really was the perpetrator of such heinous crimes! It is now safe to say that the Philippine government has always been keen to solve crimes whenever Moros are the suspected perpetrators, but never when they are the victims.

Land for the landless, except Muslims

It must be emphasized that there is double standards of justice where Moro Muslims are concerned in the Philippine “democratic” institutions. First, MILF and ASG had already been put on trial by publicity in the national media as the culprit in the bombing spree by whoever it was. With the GRP not having made public any definite findings or decision on the matter, therefore, anybody can still be a suspect. The MTC may already have its own findings as to who the real culprit is, while absolving the MILF and ASG of the heinous crimes. But as far as the GRP is concerned, both the MILF and ASG remained suspects because it had not found any specific individual or group as the criminal perpetrator of the above-mentioned crimes.

Second is on land ownership. To cite another instance of GRP’s double standards, when the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (C.A.R.P.) issued land titles to applicants in Mindanao involving 1,866,246 hectares between 1987 and 2000, only 7,381 hectares or less than 0.4% were intended for applicants in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Of the 7,381 hectares, not all awardees are Muslims. Could it be construed that Muslims will only be given land titles after all the landless non-Muslims shall have been awarded theirs?

In the civil and military service of the government, hardly can one find a Muslim among officials in the top echelon. In military service, Muslims are promoted to colonels only when they have reached retirement age. So, automatically, they can only become a brigadier general by automatic promotion when they reach the mandatory retirement age.

Therefore, if the Bangsamoro people want justice, fairness and a level playing field, for all intent and purposes, they must look for them outside the territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines and its national constitutional processes.

MoA-Ancestral Domain

The Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) which was already initialed by the GRP and MILF panel of negotiators, after going through seven over years of hard bargaining and unilaterally cancelled by the GRP, is another case of the double standards of the Philippine justice system. It was scheduled to be signed by the government and MILF leaders on August 5, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to be witnessed by international dignitaries, but halted by the temporary restraining order and later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

The MILF had made it known before hand that it does not recognize the Philippine Constitution and, therefore, the modalities of the negotiations must not be subject to its provision. As the GRP accepted the premise, it must bear the responsibility of making the agreements constitutional in the long run. The MoA-AD just happened to be one of the most viable vehicles for peace in Mindanao. But as the Filipino government and people do not want an honourable peace with the Moro people, and the international community cannot find any acceptable solution to resolve the impasse, then there’s no other way but for war to take its course! The Bangsamoro people cannot always be on the defensive, doling out almost everything without receiving anything in return, not even a guarantee for their own protection and well-being, including their remaining ancestral domain which has been eroding by day.

Lately, observers have noticed that some of the areas included in the ancestral domain claimed by the MILF with Muslim majority, are being ‘sanitized’ by the Christian warlords to reverse the demographic composition of those village districts (barangays) they want to be extricated from the MoA-AD. Several ‘landless’ families from North and Central Philippines are being resettled with sustenance and security provided by the government and warlords in these areas. They are armed with rifles as well as ready-made land titles, and are protected by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), its militia units and private armies of the Christian politicians and warlords to ensure they are not easily uprooted by either the Moro or Lumad traditional landowners. With all instrumentalities of the government used in tandem, geared towards the perpetuation of the land-grab schemes, it is already a foregone conclusion the Muslims and Lumads will never succeed in regaining or protecting much of their ancestral domain without any sacrificial endeavour. Apparently, under the circumstance - patience, perseverance and passive peaceful approach will no longer work in the Muslim’s and Lumad’s favour.

Passivity syndrome

The usual passivity syndrome that Muslims and Lumads used to cling to, subsuming Moro rights to the Filipino Constitution, reminiscent of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) approach, in signing the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) without any international guarantee to their remaining interests, should no longer be adhered to now and in any future negotiations. As a result of the FPA, considered to be the lowest level of Moro capitulation in history, the GRP seemed all the more to have totally lost respect for Moro rights and identity as a sovereign people.

With that in mind, the new bred of Moro leaders should devise ways and means to regain that self-respect their proud forebears had handed them down as a legacy for the coming generations to savour and emulate.


FUTURE GLOBAL NETWORK (FGN)
By Zakaria B. Abdullah
Bangsamoro Research Centre

Source: http://camlun.multiply.com/journal/item/78

REVISITING MOA-AD: Mockery of the Century

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Barack Obama's victory speech

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

'Unyeilding support'

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

'Task ahead'

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy, who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep, from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers, from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.

And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

'Spirit of patriotism'

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House – a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity.

Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends ... though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

'Peace and security'

To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

'Common purpose'

At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.

'Fundamental truth'

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace, to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one, that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America."

John McCain's concession speech

"Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening.

We have come to the end of a long journey. American people have spoken and they have spoken clearly.

A little while ago I had the hounour of calling Obama to congratulate him on being elected next president of the country we both love.

His success alone commands my respect ... that he managed to do so by inspiring millions of Americans who once wrongly believed they have little influence in elections is something I admire.

This is a significant election and something I recognise for African-Americans.

I have always believed America offers opportunities to Americans who have the will.

We have come a long way ... the memory of these events has the ability to wound.

A century ago, the invitation to Booker T Washington to dine at the White House was taken as a slight. There is no better indication of the change than the election of an African-American to the White House.

Great achievement

Obama has achieved something great – I applaud him and offer my sympathy for his grandmother’s death.

Obama and I have had and argued over our differences and he has prevailed. No doubt many of these differences remain.

These are different times for our country. We face difficult times ... I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him but offering our next president ways to come together to find compromises to bridge our differences ... defend security in a dangerous world ... leave a better country than what we inherited.

We are fellow Americans, and please believe me when I say no association has meant more to me than that. It’s natural tonight to feel disappointment ... tomorrow we must move forward.

Though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours.

I am so deeply grateful to all of you for your support ... I wish the outcome had been difficult. Your support never wavered. I cannot express how indebted I am to you. I am grateful to my family, mother, old and dear friends who have stood by my side through this campaign.

Campaigns are often harder on a candidates family than on a candidate. That has been true in this campaign. All I can offer is more peaceful years ahead. I am also grateful to governor Palin, one of the best candidates I have ever seen.

One of the best campaigners I have ever seen and an impressive new voice in our party. Her husband Todd and their five beautfiul children, for their dedication to our cause. We can all look forward to her service to the state of Alaska, the Repubublican party, and the country.

Fair hearing

To all my campaign workers who fought vailiantly month after month, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship.

I do not know what more we could have done to win the election. I will not spend a moment regretting what might have been. This campaign will remain the highlight of my life.

I was given a fair hearing before the country decided that Obama and my old friend Biden will have the honour of leading us for the next 4 years.

I have had the extradordinary privilege of serving the country for half a century ... I thank the people of Arizona.

Tonight more than any night, I hold in my heart love for my country and its citizens whether they supported me or Obama, and I wish godspeed to the man who was my opponent.

I call on Americans not to despair about our difficulties - Americans never quit. We never hide from history, we make history.

Thank you and God bless America."

Letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations
KFI Compound, Doña Pilar Street Poblacion IV, Cotabato City 9600, Philippines


Sixth Peace Consultation Series, Davao City, Mindanao
Southern Philippines, October 22-23, 2008

23rd of October 2008


UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
The United Nations General Headquarters
New York

Through: The Honorable Hilario Davide Jr.
Head of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations


His Excellency, the UN Secretary-General:

WE, that constitute the Bangsamoro Civil Society sectors in a series of peace consultations in the Southern Philippines, express our grateful appreciation for the UN Secretary General’s August 13 pronouncement over an emerging humanitarian crisis for which he appealed for greater restraint, protection of all civilians as well as broader provision of access to humanitarian assistance. Along that line, the International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC) has been on a fruitful working cooperation with the Civil Society which is allied to some extent with international programs. Just recently, the Ambassador of the European Union enunciated Europe’s commitment to help rebuild communities ruined by ongoing wars in Central Mindanao.

Towards our collective end of addressing the conflict in the Southern Philippines, we earnestly appeal to the Office of the UN Secretary-General for a continuing support to the Civil Society’s efforts in peace-building, conflict prevention and transformation.

In addition to existing UN Programs on conflict prevention and transformation that have effectively implemented appropriate mechanisms and projects based on collaborative mandates, we do believe that a timely intervention of the UN Department of Political Affairs is reasonably called for in any event of the resumption of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In a statement titled “Fixing Mindanao,” seven former US Ambassadors to the Philippines foretold the Supreme Court’s ruling on October 13: “The Court will soon identify constitutional flaws in the suspended (Memorandum of) agreement (on Ancestral Domain).” “The question now is how to proceed,” said the statement jointly issued on September 30 by Stephen Bosworth, Thomas Hubbard, Richard Murphy, Nicolas Platt, Francis Ricciardone, Richard Solomon and Frank Wisner. (Solomon is the current president of the US Institute for Peace, and two other signatories of the statement—G. Eugene Martin and Ms. Astrid Tuminez—led USIP Facilitation Project which supported the Mindanao Peace Process from 2003 to 2007).

But while the erudite American diplomats and peace experts mentioned foresaw the court’s rejection of the draft accord, they are also of the view that, “Something very much like the recently (shelved) agreement would have to be part of any future settlement.”

It is in this premise and, above all, the suffering of the people in this part of the world that we are appealing to the Office of the UN Secretary General to effect, in the soonest possible time, the intervention of the UN Department of Political Affairs as the most valuable contribution of the international community to our people’s age-old aspiration for peace settlement in the Southern Philippines.

In ending, we quote the motto of the UN Department of Political Affairs: “No task is more fundamental to the United Nations than the prevention and resolution of deadly conflict.”


Most respectfully yours,


GUIAMEL M. ALIM
Kadtuntaya Foundation Inc. (KFI)

SAMMY MAULANA
Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)

BAI OUARDA S. KALIM
Mindanao Women for Active Governance

LIGAYA PAYOPAS
Bangsamoro Women Federation of Peace and Development. Inc.

NORJANAH NORIEL
CDYDO

HAZEL PANUGO
COMVAL-FED

AMOR ANTONIO
UNYPHIL

AISHA RODORA CASILEN
CBSC

ABDUL RASAD SAWAT
LKMF

ANWAR CUDA
UNYPAD

SAMMY M. BUAT
SALAM-DS

HAYRIA MOHAMAD
PDAL-DDS

ABDUL BARRY DANIAL
Peace and Development Advocates League (PDAL)

MOHSIN SAPAC
PDAL

CAMLON C. BUAT
SALAM-DS

NORSALEM B. DISAWIS
PDAL

ALOY A. YATAS
DCATU

HASIM J. MANAMPAD
BYO Davao City

BENCH U. CASILEN
Tagum City Muslims

ABDULKHUDDUS A. GUIAMBLANG
MYRO

HJ. DICK MURAD
Islamic Da’wah

NAIDZ ACASARON
AMOMA

NELSON D. MIRANDA
TCFAE

ZAFRULLAH S. BUDAY
UYNYPHIL

ALIMUDIN N. KANDONG
CIAPDI

AHMAD G. AMPUAN
TMV-MPC

ABDULRAHIM S. CAWANAN
DOISPROM, Davao City

NORHAYA MAMPAO
Rabotaton Misa Cooperative, Inc.

JABRIAL SAM BUAT
Office of Muslim Affairs, Davao Sur

TARHATA A. CASILEN
MWPPDI

GOLDEN LINGAS
SIGAY

HAFIZ SAMUEL
UNYPHIL/ LUPON

JOMAR C. MAYO
UNYPHIL/ MATI

REX MORALA
MDFI

ABDULGAHI JALALAIN
PDAL

TUROM CASSING
UKYPAD

BENJAMIN B. RANAIN
LKMFI/ Compostela Valley

ARNEL PINDURUAN
LKMFI/ Compostela Valley

JORISKIE ONTONG
Youth Leaders League

JANETH CASILEN
CBCS RMC Tagum City

WAHAD TANGAYON
Arabic Teachers’ Federation

ARIEL MACLA
Halal-PRAC. Panabo

JIMYASHIER TALANGTALANG
UNYPHIL

MONTANIER GAWAN
UNYPHIL

ESMAEL M. GONZALES
LIDA-CBCS-DRMC

FAROUK D. MENSAB
LIDA Incorporated

MICHAEL M. MAMUKID
Youth Sector

SITTIE HAYDEE D. LUPAPAK
CBCS/ MATI

War in Mindanao - 18 Sept 2008