COTABATO CITY — The head of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) bared the role and contributions of their organization to the Bangsamoro peace process in the talk show on Thursday (Oct 23).
Guiamel Alim, Chairman of CBCS, related that the all-out-war in 2000 and continued until 2003 which affected thousands of Bangsamoro people was the reason of the creation of the CBCS.
“It aimed to help the innocent individuals affected by the war,” Alim said. “Gusto namin na magkaroon kami ng maraming alalay o kasangga para matugunan yun mga pakangangailangan ng mga kapatid nating naghihirap dahil sa gyera at panawagan din para ihinto ang ang gyera para magkaroon ng kapayapaan.” (We want to have many supporters or partners to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of the war and also called for an end to the war to have peace.)
Just like other NGOs in the Bangsamoro, he said CBCS advocates peace-building, promotes human rights as well as good governance.
According to Alim, there are more than 100 Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and networks inside and outside BARMM Region have been the partners of the Consortium of which UNYPAD and UNYPhil are some of its member-organizations.
“To sustain the partnership in all its partner organizations, both local and international, CBCS is creating regional platform, stated the various menu with constant communication and consultation that will help in the sustainability of the network.”
He shared the CBCS program such as in human rights, peace, safety and security and initiatives in attainment of Moral Governance.
“Sa usaping Human Rights kami po ay nakikipag ugnayan sa Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission at meron din kaming sariling pinapatakbo na programs sapagkat ang CBCS ay miyembro ng CPC-GPH MILF Peace Panel,” he said. (In terms of Human Rights, we are in contact with the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission and we also have our own programs because CBCS is a member of the CPC Civilian Protection Component) of the GPH MILF Peace Panel.)
On the aspect of peace, safety and security, Alim said they have activities and they also coordinate with the Ministry on Public Order and Safety.
On the advocacy for good governance, he said they continue the campaign to the authority to implement it. “We continue the advocacy and program that is beneficial to everybody,” he added.
The CBCS chief also divulged their support to the AKAP-Bangsamoro or Abot Kaalaman sa Pamilyang Bangsamoro, one of the flagship programs of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE-BARMM).
“CBCS aims to reach out the children especially in the remote areas who cannot afford and no access to study in school,” he said.
“The Spaces for Peace and Save the Children Philippines program aims to protect the children .The protection is essentially promoting the rights of children and engage them in decision making as part of empowering the young people, the youth.”
“These children will shape the kind of society we will have in the future. Importante na mapangalagaan natin at ibigay ang karapatan ng mga kabataan para sila ay maging responsible leaders sa hinaharap,” Alim emphasized. (It is important that we nurture them and give them their rights so they will become responsible leaders in the future.)
Alim also related the launching of Compendium of 44 Child Rights and Islam Sermons, a program of CBCS and UNICEF in partnership with Darul-Ifta, Hay atul- Ulama, Committee on Da’wah and Masajid Affairs, that these he mentioned Religious groups agreed to draft a manuscript stated the importance of Muslim children and this will serve as reference during sermons in Masjid and symposium.
“The CBCS is also engaged in the call for justice to all victims of massacres that happened in Palimbang. Transitional Justice is one of the provision in Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) it aims to reminiscence the Human Rights violation committed to the Bangsamoro people during the Martial Law.”
He cited other massacres in other places like the Manili massacre of which until now, survivors are calling for justice.
Alim underscored the importance of having program to recall and address those massacres and that victims should attain justice.
“So ito po yun isang programa na ginagawa natin sa loob ng isang provision ng normalization yun tinatawag na Transition Justice. At magkaroon ng institutional reform para hindi na maulit yun,” he said. (This is the program that we implement which is one of the provisions of the normalization called Transition Justice.)
“CBCS exerted efforts to the Bangsamoro peace process, they gathered the force of CSO and unite to pressure the MILF and the national government to continue the peace talk. They also asked the support of International Organizations to help continue the negotiation,” he narrated.
On matter related to the efforts of CBCS in Transitional Justice he said the victims of human rights violations particularly during the martial law era are calling for justice and must be served with justice.
Alim said the TJRC (Transition Justice and Reconciliation Commission) who will study on what kind of violation of human rights were committed against the Bangsamoro is in the peace agreement.
“The Civil Society Organization (CSO) plays vital role in the government, they are the 3rd most important Pillar of society,” Alim said.
He explained that right holders should be served and their problems must be identified and it is up to the government or the authorities, known as the duty bearers, how they will act on those problems.
“Empowered community who understand the situation, know how to come up with the action plan. Active participation of the people in the community and unity among them are some of the indicators that CBCS gave positive impact to the lives of the Bangsamoro people,” Alim emphasized.
Acording to Alim, consistency, commitment and partnership are some of the lessons he learned being the Chairman of the Consortium for many years.
“Importante ay matatag ka sa ano yun goals mo, you have to be consistent. Pangalawa ay yung commitment. (It is important to stand firm with your goals, you have to be consistent. Second is commitment.)
Moreover, Alim highlighted in his message the consistency of unity and partnership among the leaders who are running CSO.
He said “The war is not over, until it is over, ibig sabihin may napirmahan na meron na tayong gobyerno pero hindi pa tapos ang gyera, ano yung gyera na yun? Gyera sa kahirapan, gyera sa hindi magagandang patakaraan. Lahat lahat yan dapat natin labanan at ang pinaka importante sa mga NGO’s ay consistent tayo don sa ating role - our role is in partnership and kailangan natin magtutulungan.” (That means we reached an agreement, we have the (regional) government but the war is not over yet. What is that war? It is war against poverty, war against bad procedures. We need to fight against those and what is important is for us, NGOs, is to be consistent with our role – our role is partnership and we need to help one another.)
Lastly, Alim encouraged the Bangsamoro People to continue the work and he said “Ka-Bangsamoro, ka-CBCS, kapamilya tuloy po tayo sa ating trabaho hindi pa tayo tapos, malayo po ang ating tatahakin, at nag uumpisa pa tayo nasa foundation stage pa tayo. Kailangan natin more energy more cooperation. (Co-Bansgamoro, co-CBCS, fellow family members, let us continue our work for we are not done yet. We need to traverse a long track and we are just in the foundation stage. We need more energy and cooperation.)
[Luwaran is the official online publication of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Committee on Information, MILF Central Committee]
https://www.luwaran.com/news/article/2401/_cbcs_bares_role__contributions_to_bangsamoro_peace_process
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.