Foreign observers from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and donor community have expressed concern on the instability in the peace process.

More than 100,000 people have already died because of the decades-long armed conflicts in the country.

Civil society organizations called on the international community to help push the peace process forward and to exert pressures to the parties to honor and abide by whatever commitments they have made in the course of their negotiations.

“People aired their resentments against war, letting the world know that they hate war,” said Guiamel Alim, chair of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), the lead convener-organizer of the peace rallies.

“The jubilation was short-lived, dreams were shattered,” said Alim who noted that pronouncements of both parties in the past months were optimistic. “It made a lot of people frustrated but many still keep hoping.”

”President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, you are an Iliganon, give us the justice we long for! We have suffered enough!” said Bai Lilang Macarampat, a women representative from Lanao Del Sur, as she recollected that Mrs. Arroyo’s maternal parents are from Iligan.

The signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain that would have paved the way for a comprehensive peace agreement between the government and the MILF, said Bobby Benito of Bangsamoro Center for Just Peace in the Philippines. “It would have been a recompense for the 10-year long negotiation between the MILF and the GRP that commenced in July of 1997.”

Benito urged the government to pursue peace talks with the MILF by abiding with consensus points agreed upon by both parties.

“The current status of the peace process in Mindanao is fast changing and reshaping the future of the Mindanaoans especially the civil society that comprises the greater majority in the grassroots,” Benito said.

Benito said there is no doubt that the failure of peace talks will lead to violence, chaos and war. “But the people are tired of war. It is anti-people and violates the very core values of all religions and civil society: love, peace, nonviolence.”

“We, in the civil society are 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.

“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 people who sought refuge in the Malaysian State of Sabah have not returned home,” said Abdullah Dalidig, of the Islamic Movement for Electoral Reform and Good Governance (IMERGG) and Muslim Multi-sectoral Movement for Peace and Development (MMMPD).

Demonstrators in Iligan assailed Puno as “the same enemy of peace who has also pushed the Estrada administration into all-out-war 2000.” Caricatures of Puno holding M-16 carried by the demonstrators.

“What does Puno know regarding Mindanao ? We, the Mindanawons are to determine our own future,” said Cha Lavandero of youth leaders organization Duyog Kabataan.

“(The mass actions) intend to prevent possible conflict and to show to the parties that the Bangsamoro (Muslims) is in solidarity with the Christians and the Lumads” said Dalidig.

“If these acts are not enough to catch the attention of the government, the Interfaith CSOs (civil society organizations) 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 ,” Dalidig added.

“We are one with the Bangsamoro in the call for lasting peace. After all only those who declared war win; we are all victims,” said Fr. Chito Sugano of the Marawi Catholic church. “The Bangsamoro homeland, our bread and butter are happily utilized as battlegrounds, leaving its inhabitants with dime of hope.”

Atty. Ibrahim Canama of the Federated Royal Sultanate of the Philippines said the sultanates of Mindanao appeal to 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,” Canama said.

“How many more lives do we need to sacrifice? The consensus points were gained at the expense of the lives of the countless Bangsamoro who died fighting for it,” said Abulkhair Alibasa, an academe youth representative.

“We strongly condemn war, displacements and the long hardship of the Bangsamoro!” shouted Ma. Jittel Saquilabon, the executive director of the Tri-People’s Forum.

Last update : 30-01-2008 15:44

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