Soldiers help fix schools in MILF camp

From Rappler (Jun 12): Soldiers help fix schools in MILF camp

The durability of peace in the conflict areas in Mindanao is being tested in Congress, where the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law is being discussed.

[Video report]

LANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines – The durability of peace in the conflict areas in Mindanao is being tested in Congress, where the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law is being discussed. But in a stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Lanao del Norte, soldiers and rebels join hands to help sustain peace in a community.

Voltaire Tupaz reports.



 

This rarely happens in Philippine history. For a day, government forces and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front set aside their firearms.

They troop to schools and lend a hand to teachers and children in Munai town, a stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Lanao del Norte.

ABDUL BASHIT MANISAN, MILF MEMBER: Malaking opportunity namin ito para maipakita sa mga tao, sa lahat ng mga tao rito sa Pilipinas na nagtutulungan yung AFP at Bangsamoro…para maipakita namin yung mga kakayanan namin, yung matutulong namin sa mga bata, sa lahat, para dito na magsimula ang kapayapaan.

(This is an opportunity for us to show the people in the Philippines that the AFP and the BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces) are joining hands to show that we can help the children. This could be beginning of peace.)

In MILF’s Camp Bilal, they build school fences, provide health services, and take pictures with children. Their message: create new memories of a lasting peace for the kids.

MIRIAM FERRER, GOVERNMENT CHIEF PEACE NEGOTIATOR: Dito, ang natatatandaan nila ay yung gyera nung 2000, yung gera nung 2008. 'Yun yung alaala ng mga teacher dito na nakausap natin, sila mismo na naapektuahn ng bahay-bahay na pambobomba at iba pang kaguluhan na nangyari nung panahon na 'yun. At dahil nagkaroon naman tayo ng tuloy-tuloy na ceasefire nung 2010, under this administration, nakita nila, this is what ceasefire can bring.

(Here, they remember the wars of 2000 and 2008. That’s what we’re told by the teachers and those who were affected by the bombings and disorder during that period. But because we’ve had a continuing ceasefire since 2010 under the Aquino administration, they saw what ceasefire can bring.)

Far from the word war between pro and anti BBL legislators, soldiers and rebels show a gesture of unity - helping fix schools in villages inside the MILF’s Camp Bilal.

For them, the education of their children is a weapon to fight poverty and war.

For MILF leader Commander Bravo’s daughter, Aisah, the new generation of Muslims pin their hopes on the success of the peace process.

AISAH SANGGACALA, HEAD TEACHER: Makuha siguro kung ano ang nararapat sa mga katulad naming mga Muslim, kung pinagkaitan po kami ng ano, tulad po nito, i-compare po natin sa mga urban po na area, ‘di ba? Parang kami po ay salat na salat na sa mga development, hindi po ba? So siguro ganoon din po sana kaya nga po, tinutulungan po namin yung mga kabataan. Baka po sila ang maging good shot po ng pagbabago sa aming lugar.

(To get what’s due us Muslims. Compared to urban areas, we have been deprived of development, weren’t we? It seems like development is lacking here. That’s why we’re helping the children. They might be our chance for change.)

The durability of peace in the South is being tested in Congress, where the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law is being discussed. The bill seeks to implement the peace deal between the government and MILF signed in March 2014 after 17 years of negotiations.

It's an imperfect peace, but a chance that may not come again to this land of conflict.

http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/mindanao/96207-soldiers-help-schools-milf-camp