Amid the bleak chance of the proposed Bangsamoro law getting passed in Congress under the current administration, a peace movement in Mindanao is calling for continued discussions on peace and how the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) could be used as an instrument of real change.
The University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC), along with the Al Qalam Institute, both based at the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), are pursuing the project “Peace Conversation,” a regular round table dialogue wherein students and representatives of nongovernment organizations, Muslim groups and government agencies are invited to talk about various issues relating to peace in the south.
Romeo T. Cabarde, Jr., UCEAC chairperson, said in an interview the overall sentiment of stakeholders is to neutralize calls for an “all-out war” and instead push for “all-out peace.”
“Peace Conversation was organized merely to converse. We also encourage the teachers to discuss the issues in the classroom,” he said.
As an offshoot of the Peace Conversation, the #HearMindanao campaign was launched on social media as a venue for telling stories on how difficult it is to live in a situation of constant armed conflict and that peace is achievable.
“Students shared narrative stories on how they relate with the IPs (indigenous peoples). They also shared that it is not impossible to live with the Moros,” Mr. Cabarde said.
The discussions and conversations are documented, collected, and compiled by Al Qalam, an institute for Islamic identities and dialogues at the ADDU.
The compilation is used as basis for formulating activities and programs relating to the peace advocacy.
Mr. Cabarde said their discourse now focuses on the legislative process and their recommendations on the provisions of the BBL.
He added that no matter the BBL’s fate, they will continue to call for the pursuit of peace and a new law that is in line with the agreement signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
As an offshoot of the Peace Conversation, the #HearMindanao campaign was launched on social media as a venue for telling stories on how difficult it is to live in a situation of constant armed conflict and that peace is achievable.
“Students shared narrative stories on how they relate with the IPs (indigenous peoples). They also shared that it is not impossible to live with the Moros,” Mr. Cabarde said.
The discussions and conversations are documented, collected, and compiled by Al Qalam, an institute for Islamic identities and dialogues at the ADDU.
The compilation is used as basis for formulating activities and programs relating to the peace advocacy.
Mr. Cabarde said their discourse now focuses on the legislative process and their recommendations on the provisions of the BBL.
He added that no matter the BBL’s fate, they will continue to call for the pursuit of peace and a new law that is in line with the agreement signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
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