The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), a global civil society led network of peace advocates has reiterated its call to dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflict in Southern Mindanao and in other parts of the world.
In a separate meeting with Sec. Avelino Razon of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) and Government Peace Panel Chair Rafael Seguis, the GPACC delegates led by its chair, Emmanuel Bombande has asked government leaders to make measures to prevent the occurrence of violent conflicts on the ground, and ensure the safety of civilians.
The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), a global civil society led network of peace advocates has reiterated its call to dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflict in Southern Mindanao and in other parts of the world.
In a separate meeting with Sec. Avelino Razon of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) and Government Peace Panel Chair Rafael Seguis, the GPACC delegates led by its chair, Emmanuel Bombande has asked government leaders to make measures to prevent the occurrence of violent conflicts on the ground, and ensure the safety of civilians.
Around 55 GPPAC members joined the International Steering Group Meeting in Davao City which was held on September 30-October 5, 2009. Hosted by the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), the Regional Initiator of GPPAC in Southeast Asia, the delegates had the opportunity to do field visits in Bukidnon, Compostela Valley in Davao del Norte, Davao City and in Cotabato City, Darapanan, Datu Piang in Maguindanao and Pikit, North Cotabato where they interacted with victims of conflict, evacuees, Moro, Lumad and settler communities, peoples organizations, as well as local and national government and military officials.
“There is confidence on the utility of dialogue for conflict prevention, and the connectivity of the IID with people on the ground would make it possible,” David Lord, Executive Director of Peacebuild and an expert on conflict transformation said.
Bombande said that wars and conflict had made civilians, especially women and children more vulnerable to violence, abuse and displacement. “We are move not to only engage in conversations but to do actual work and meaningful action for the victims of conflict, as well as the prevention of renewed conflict,” he said.
GPPAC has offered its services to be part of the International Contact Group (ICG) for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) peace negotiations, in a separate meeting with both peace panels.
“War is not an option and peace is possible no matter how old, deep and vague the root causes of conflict appear,” Gus Miclat, IID Executive Director said. IID had been actively involved in the peacebuilding efforts in Mindanao and Aceh; the democratization campaign in Burma and East Timor and the right to self determination efforts in West Papua and South Thailand.
Bombande reiterated GPPAC’s belief in sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas and promoting indigenous peace mechanisms to achieve lasting peace and the value of dialogue among all relevant actors, including local communities, in conflict situations.
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