Officials of an International peacekeeping organization and members of Local Monitoring Team (LMT) expressed their support for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law which could bring peace in
“The
passage of the BBL is the most crucial opportunity,” Georgi Engelbrecht, Head
of Field Office of Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) in South-Central
Mindanao said.
In an
interview, NP Country Director Paul Fraleigh said BBL is very important in
pursuing peace in Mindanao and it should be
acceptable to all.
Datu Ruben
Ampatuan, Chairman of LMT – Sultan Kudarat said the BBL is the best option for
peace. He warned that if BBL will not be realized, there shall be more untoward
incidents that may result to loss of lives.
Ampatuan
hoped the BBL drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission which is now in
Congress for deliberation and ratification will not be diluted.
Julian
Montemayor, Chairman of LMT – Sarangani, cited the importance of BBL in finding
solution for conflict in Mindanao .
However, he
said “BBL is not a guarantee for peace and stakeholders must continue working
for peace even if the BBL will be passed.”
Chairman of
LMT-South Cotabato, Board Member Agustin Demaala Jr. said BBL should be passed
for it embodies a law attuned to the culture of the Muslim Filipinos.
Should BBL
has provisions that are questionable, Demaala proposed it should be ironed out
by the lawmakers for the swift passage of the measure.
Peace
Advocate Jocelyn Lambac-Kanda urged Congress to deal with the Mamasapano
incident and the BBL separately for they are “two different matters.”
She said on
deciding the fate of BBL, the lawmakers must set aside emotions brought by the
Mamasapano debacle where 44 police commandos were killed in clash with the Moro
rebels and other armed groups.
“Our
lawmakers must be objective because BBL is a most appropriate formula that
could bring peace in Mindanao ,” she
stressed.
The LMT
members and representatives from other organizations working for peace and
development in Socsargen gathered at the NP Office in General Santos
NP is a
nonpartisan unarmed peacekeeping organization with the goal to protect
civilians and reduce violence in areas affected by armed conflict.
The group
has deployed internationals to work with local peacekeepers, contribute to
their safety, help to maintain ceasefires and advance the peace process.
Nonviolent
Peaceforce Philippines Project objectives include:
•Enhancing
the work of local peace teams through its presence and by reporting to the
outside world;
•Contributing
to the maintenance of the ceasefire(s) and working to prevent new violence;
•Supporting
human rights reporting mechanisms in remote conflict areas;
•Assisting
and connecting local and international advocacy groups;
•Ensuring
grassroots conflicts are resolved through dialogue at the local level and do
not grow into larger crises
Also
present at the gathering were members of the International Monitoring Team-Team
Site 4 based at Lagao, General Santos City ,
comprised of Indonesian, Brunei
IMT and LMT
has the primary task which is to monitor the ceasefire accord between the
government and MILF. NP is part of the IMT in-charge for the Civilian Protection
Component.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/805-int-l-local-peace-monitors-support-passage-of-bbl
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.