Community stakeholders and members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), MILF Central Committee, GPH and MILF - Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), and local traditional leaders traversed the mountainous part of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat to conduct Peace Advocacy on Anti-Illegal Drugs and Violent Extremism in Sitio Mantisao, Barangay Bual last August 08, 2017.
The participants included members of MILF communities in the area, Barangay Officials, traditional leaders, and other community stakeholders. The said advocacy program was aimed to provide greater awareness among grassroots communities and widely disseminate the joint GPH-MILF advocacy on anti-illegal drugs as well as to discuss the concept and tremendous effects of violent extremism.
Ustadh Abdulkadir Abdullah, Murshid of General Staff delivered inputs about the concept of extremism in the light of Islam. He cited valuable story during the time of Caliph Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) which narrates about he saw people inside a masjid who do not do anything besides worshiping Allah. Due to this extreme way of doing eebadah (worship), he reprimanded them to go outside of the masjid and look for their bounty because it will not come to them instantly without exerting any efforts. Islam teaches balance and moderation between every matter.
Ustadh Abdulkadir also gave emphasis on the fine line about violent extremism. Accordingly, it is an extreme activity that is destructive in nature, and without any authentic basis in Islam. It involves deliberate killings of innocent people, which at any fold, clearly goes out of Islamic context.
For his part, Butch Malang, the Chairman of MILF-CCCH delivered his message which lodged on the conceptualization of the advocacy program. He mentioned that presently, the GPH and MILF work closely together on advocacy on anti-illegal drugs especially in MILF identified areas that was even intensified after the signing of Protocol of Cooperation on Anti-Illegal Drugs Operations and Other Related Activities in MILF Areas/Communities signed between GPH & MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and GPH & MILF CCCH last June 30, 2017 in Davao City.
He elaborated that this protocol contains provisions that give certain roles to the MILF in assisting the government forces during drug operations including but not limited to verification of identified drug personalities subject of warrant, help clear and secure the area of operation in times of serving of warrant, help ensure that no armed confrontation will occur with the GPH forces during conduct of operation and conduct of anti-drug awareness campaign in MILF communities.
He also highlighted the MILF’s effort to mitigate the retaliation of violent extremist groups in the Bangsamoro areas. He stressed that the MILF exerts its utmost effort in stabilizing this problem under the guidance of the Fatwa (Islamic jurisprudence) issued by the Mufti of the Bangsamoro Sheikh Abuhuraira Abdulrahman Udasan dated June 25, 2017.
The IMT-M12 Head of Mission, Datuk Masrani bin Paiman delivered his speech which dwelled on three general points: 1) managing the spoilers of peace; 2) managing the threat to peace; and 3) the end state of the GPH-MILF Peace Process.
On his first point of discussion, he motivated the community stakeholders to please do not involve themselves in any illegal-drugs activity, not do anything that falls into criminality, and to please avoid fighting among themselves (rido). These activities indeed are spoilers of peace that jeopardize the current progress of the implementation of peace process.
Furthermore, on his second point, he focused on the adverse impact of the lawless elements in different parts of the Mindanao including those in Sulu, Lanao, and in Maguindanao. He remarked that what they are doing is a manifestation that they do not care about the peace process, hence he advised the participants to keep away from these extremist groups.
He further added that intervening with these groups mean threatening the humanity at large. Everyone has to cooperate and work closely with the government to mitigate this problem.
On his final point, he discussed about the significance of putting in place the Bangsamoro Government. The passage of the BBL is only a means to reach the long-awaited lasting and dignified peace for the Bangsamoro. He cited similar cases of two foreign countries (South Sudan and Somalia) which actually attained their independence but never had peace until now. Lots of people left these countries to save their lives out of the trouble which rooted from lack of an established recognized government. “Why these two countries failed? It is because their people are divided among themselves, there is no unity in them”, he explained.
With this, the Head of Mission encouraged the participants and told them, “Please be united for the sake of lasting and dignified peace for the Bangsamoro.” He further advised them to always support the leadership in the Bangsamoro – the MILF - for the realization of this ultimate goal. The struggle has been of long years of sacrifice. “I believe you are one of the strongest people, that is why Allah gave you (this) great challenge”, he said.
In conclusion, Eduard Guerra, member of the MILF Central Committee delivered his closing message by encouraging the local leaders and the entire community stakeholders to protect and secure their respective areas from any activity related to illegal drugs and violent extremism. He gave them assurance that with this noble undertaking, the MILF is always at their back to support.
All in all, the program ended successfully with full of encouragements towards achieving the lasting peace in the Bangsamoro through stronger cooperation, together with the communities, in warding off any means of illegal-drugs activities and violent extremism.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/957/milf-conducts-peace-advocacy-on-anti-illegal-drugs-and-violent-extremism-in-isulan--sultan-kudarat-
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