Inter-religious groups to Basilan assailants: "choose the human way"

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/17 April) – The Inter-religious Solidarity Movement for Peace and Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ) are urging the perpetrators of the Basilan attacks on April 13 to “choose the human way” as “violence and terrorism is the way of the savages, of impoverished, starved souls.”

This, as the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) said it is “shocked and saddened” over what happened but added that as they analyzed the incident, ”we came to a conclusion that this is not an issue between Muslims and Christians. Rather, it is an issue of who monster-minded it and what is the real motive.”

On April 13, at least 20 armed men disguised as military and police personnel and later alleged to be members of the Abu Sayyaf “struck treacherously and violently in the heart of Isabela City, shot innocent civilians and unready soldiers, killing as many as 15, reports say. They set and exploded bombs, including one that damaged the main Roman Catholic cathedral and wounded churchgoers,” the statement of the Inter-religious Solidarity Movement for Peace and PAZ said.

“This assault in a province plagued by a history of violence and impunity but reveals a further moral deterioration and depravity of the attackers. We condemn this senseless, evil act of barbarism and banditry. We appeal to authorities to take swift and appropriate action to catch and punish the culprits,” the groups said.

“We commiserate and condole with the families of those killed and wounded. We pray that the victims be accorded speedy justice as well as assistance to the victims and their families.. We appeal to their loved ones and the good people of Basilan to harness the ultimately triumphant power of justice in the land,” the statement read.

Addressing the attackers, the groups said: “your atrocities and killings and destruction of properties are irrational and counterproductive. Armed violence always sets back the only true, effective vehicle of human progress, which is a peaceful and democratic process where the citizens regardless of their creeds cooperate and work together for a better life for their families and communities.”

“This peaceful and democratic means, this struggle and journey of and in solidarity, is the way of the truly enlightened and humane; violence and terrorism is the way of the savages, of impoverished, starved souls. We appeal to your conscience to choose the human way instead, whose peaceful struggles test to the limits one’s faith and so enrich in many ways, yes even The materially in the end,” the groups added.

The statement also urged Basilan’s local government leaders “to exert extraordinary efforts to address and put to end the culture of violence and hatred in our midst.”
“Violence diminishes us all - by harnessing the culture of peace and love, of dialogue and journeying together, to reconcile and restore hope to the lost and fallen. This is what we mean when we say: Peace is in our hands, peace is the only way,” the groups added.

CBCS, in its statement calling for sobriety and unity on the crisis in Isabela City, said that as it vehemently condemned “whoever the perpetrators are,” it is also calling on “our political leaders to unite and sit together to address and resolve the Isabela City crisis through peaceful means. We likewise call on the Muslim and Christian populace and their spiritual leaders to share their part in maintaining our peaceful co-existence in our province for the safety and security of the Basileño.”

“As we sympathize with the parents and relatives of the victims of the tragedy, we urge the government to conduct an immediate and impartial investigation to identify the culprits and let the rule of law govern over them,” adding that the group found it “shocking, frightening, and alarming that this happened at the height of our campaign for a Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful (CHAMP) elections towards good governance and responsible leadership.” (MindaNews)