Mindanao CSOs back GPH-MILF peace talks, slam 'spoilers'

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 23): Mindanao CSOs back GPH-MILF peace talks, slam 'spoilers'

Mindanao non-government organizations (NGOs)advocating for peace on Friday urged the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)to continue the talks for Mindanao and make it a bit faster.

"We call upon the MILF and the Philippine government to continue the talks for peace in Mindanao,” Dats Magon of the United Youth for Peace and Development, Inc. (UNYPAD) and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Societies (CBCS), made the appeal during the Peace Rally in Davao City’s Freedom Park attended by civil society organizations, peace advocates, religious and, youth and women groups as well as uniformed men and women from the Philippine Navy (PN) and the Task Force Davao (TFD).

Magon condemned the efforts of some “spoilers” who want to derail the GPH-MILF peace process for selfish interests and vowed that the Bangsamoro youth will support and defend the gains of the GPH-MILF peace negotiations.

He said only during the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino that the Muslims and peace advocates of Mindanao feel the government's sincerity in resolving the decades old conflict that have already claimed thousands of lives.

He also said that there are far more constituency who supports the peace process who feels and sees that the resolution of the problems in Mindanao is the “most immediate concern that needs to be addressed."

"We call on the government and the MILF panels not to pay attention to the few groups who want to destroy the peace talks, we are ready to defend, we are ready to stand and even lay down our lives just to save the talks between the government and the MILF. We are not afraid,” Magon added.

"We are calling on all Bangsamoro, we are being used by some selfish groups. Let’s analyze the issue on Sabah, let’s investigate deeper so that we can uncover the underlying interests of the few," Magon urged.

Pastor Dan Pantoja of the Peacebuilders Community, Inc. and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, an organization of 5,000 churches, also urged for support among its members and other stakeholders for the continued peace negotiation between the GPH and the MILF.

"We should not waste what we have already won, what we already gained. We should move forward to the path of peace," Pantoja said.

"Let’s continue the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, let’s also pray for the peaceful solution of the Sabah crisis and let’s also pray for those affected but the Framework Agreement is separate from the Sabah issue. We already sent relief assistance to those affected by the crisis but let us focus on the FAB," he added.

Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, Mindanao People’s Caucus secretary general and one of the lead organizers of the Peace Rally in Davao City, pointed out that the gathering of the different stakeholders shows the firm support of the people towards the peace negotiations between the GPH and the MILF.

She also condemned the groups aiming to derail the ongoing peace process by dragging it to the Sabah crisis.

“We have already seen the solution to inside the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and we should already have started the transition towards our road map for peace but now we have seen some groups trying to drag the peace negotiations towards the Sabah issue. They want us to give up on our peace gains and instead focus on Sabah: It’s not fair! It’s not fair that we leave the peace that we have painstakingly worked together here in Mindanao and instead give support to the conflict in Sabah,” Arnado stressed.

Arnado called on the people to go out and show support to the GPH and the MILF peace panels who unquestionably have shown their commitment and sincerity for the completion of the comprehensive agreement and stop the “self-interests of a selfish few who use the Sabah issue to derail the peace process and advance their self interests," she pointed out.

"Let’s prioritize building peace and development here in Mindanao, this is our home, this is where we live, whatever conflict that happens here, we are directly affected,” Arnado said, challenging the “spoilers” to pool in resources for the peace in Mindanao instead of pouring in resources to sow conflict in Sabah and sufferings of innocent people.

Youth and women sector also participated and showed support and solidarity during the peace rally.

Memen Lauzon-Gatmaytan representing the Women Engaged in Action on UNHCR 1325 said that the comprehensive peace agreement between the GPH and the MILF has huge implications on the peace and security not only in Mindanao but the whole country as well.

Lauzon pointed out that during conflicts; it is the women and the children who are the most vulnerable to sufferings, that is why it is important that they (women) must firmly support the completion of the comprehensive agreement between the GPH and the MILF.

Generation Peace Youth Network representative Elize Baderas led the youth in calling for the continuation of the GPH-MILF peace negotiations pointing out that the negotiations should not be dragged into the Sabah issue.

Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. represented by Elizabeth Yang, also expressed support to the call for the GPH and the MILF panels to continue and finish the Annexes on the FAB and also the tasks of the Transition Commission in drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law adding that what’s happening in Mindanao also affects the whole country.

Gph and MILF peace panels are expected to meet anew in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to continue discussions on the annexes of the Framework Agreement, specifically on power and wealth sharing.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=510024