We, the Mindanao Peace Weavers- a convergence of seven peace networks in Mindanao- challenges the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to recommit to previous ceasefire agreements and immediately reactivate the ceasefire mechanisms.

There is no other way but for the GRP and the MILF to come together and dialogue for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Mindanao. This is the only way for both sides to be accountable to the protection of civilians who are caught in the cycle of war and impoverishment. War is waged in their name and it is in this same framework which demands that they come together and talk.

Davao City – “We hope it won’t take a little while more for the Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) of the government and the Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to become real,” stated Gus Miclat, Executive Director of the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), on reports that armed clashes had recurred in Central Mindanao recently despite the declaration of SOMO.

During the Roundtable Discussion on the Peace Building Efforts in Pikit, North Cotabato last August 6, 2009 held in Pikit, Alfredo Recana, staff of the OMI Inter-Religious Ministry, stated that incidents of armed conflict persist and had recurred about thrice since July 23. Recana cited the most recent incident happened last Aug. 5. “These incidents still persist, but the residents refuse to tell the media about it,” Recana told IID. IID and other peace networks have welcomed the SOMO and SOMA announcements that is seen to pave the way for the resumption of the stalled peace negotiations in the island.

There is no other path to peace but dialogue.

We welcome the move of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Peace Panels (MILF) to reconvene and reach consensus points on the mechanism on the protection of non combatants in armed conflict, as well as sustain the government’s Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) and the Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) of the MILF.

While it is long overdue, we believe that opening and sustaining the space for dialogue and consensus building will lead to the peaceful resolution of the age old conflict in Mindanao.

The Initiatives for International Dialogue fully support the effort of both the GRP and MILF to sit down and complete the preparation for the resumption of the talks.

ONE crucial step has been taken.

The Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) issued by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the declaration of Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should provide the space for both parties to reflect and reassess their motives in pursuing peace in Mindanao. Some cynics may dismiss these twin moves for varying motives, but we join our weary people in welcoming this respite from war.

Since August 2008, more than 700,000 persons, mostly children and women, have been displaced from their homes and robbed of the equal opportunity to live life free from fear and be able to productively take part in governance. And for them, the SOMO and SOMA may have just given them back their lvies.

Utrecht, The Netherlands- This was the enigmatic analogy of National Democratic Front (NDF) Chief Political Consultant Prof. Jose Maria Sison, of the tedious peace negotiations between the NDF and the Philippine government. Both government and the NDF have separately confirmed the resumption of the 4-year old stalled talks to be held in Oslo, Norway next month.

Sison said that if God had to take a week to build the universe, processes involving mortals specially those as important and tricky as peace negotiations must take even longer.

“God is both a concept and a reality” said Sison who as the alleged founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines is universally presumed to be an atheist.

The violence has to stop.

We, the Mindanao PeaceWeavers (MPW) call on the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to return to the negotiating table for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Mindanao.

We strongly condemn the bombings in Cotabato City and other parts of Mindanao. We urge a thorough and impartial investigation, mindful of the cloud of suspicion around previous bombings, that will lead to truth and justice.

We ask both sides of the GRP and the MILF to be mindful in issuing statements in the light of the recent bombing in Cotabato City which killed 5 civilians and injured 35 others, that could create division by projecting the war in Mindanao as religious in nature, when it is not. For several decades, the Moro, indigenous peoples and settlers in Mindanao have live together harmoniously.

The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent spate of bombings in Mindanao and makes the following calls and clarifications:

That a thorough investigation by a credible independent body be conducted on all incidents of bombing (July 4 in Datu Piang, Maguindanao; July 5 in Cotabato City; July 6 in Lanao del Norte; and July 7 in Jolo and Iligan City) to unmask the truth behind them (who perpetrated/masterminded them, for what motives/reasons, are they related to one another) and bring the culprits to justice;

THE protection of internally displaced persons is basically about promoting respect of the rights of a group of civilians, mostly women and children who have lost their homes, been separated from their families and placed in a very vulnerable situation.

Ten months since the snag in the formal signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain and ten months, since the government launched its pursuit against rogue MILF commanders for their alleged attacks on civilians in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Saranggani, the number of IDPs have reached more than 600,000.

According to the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) April 2009 report, Mindanao’s IDPs was “the biggest new displacement in the world” out of 4.2 million newly displaced in 2008. It is higher than the “massive new displacements” in Sudan (550,000), Kenya (500,000), Democratic Republic of Congo (at least 400,000), Iraq (360,000), Pakistan (over 310,000), Somalia (300,000), Colombia (270,000 to June 2008), Sri Lanka (230,000) and India (over
220,000).

The Initiatives for International Dialogue expresses grave concern over the blatant violation of human rights of the internally displaced persons in Maguindanao who continue to receive the blow in the obsession for a military solution to the conflict in Mindanao. Maguindanao is one of the five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The question on how best to protect civilians from forced displacement continues to be an issue of grave concern to all of us. Apparently, the situation in the conflict affected areas in Mindanao showcases the lack of effective national and international responses to the issue.

We express grave concern on the recent spate of conflict in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which has forced thousands of villagers to flee their homes.

Both sides of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government have accused each other of violating a fragile truce signed in 2001. Today, thousands of people are again cramped in evacuation centers, joining the increasing number of internally displaced persons in Mindanao. Some lost their family members to the war, while most are forced to leave home.

Amid fresh European Union (EU) offer of increased support for the peace process Mindanao, Asian and European inter-faith experts and practitioners will hold a retreat in Davao City next week and will interact with Bishop-Ulama Conference (BUC) leaders in a bid to enrich ongoing peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts here.

Dubbed “Talks on the Hill: The Future of the Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations”, the dialogue will be hosted by the Davao-based regional advocacy institution, Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID). The retreat is an ongoing project organized by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), a long-time IID partner. The dialogue aims to involve Asians and Europeans of different faiths and convictions from a wide range of public and civil society sectors. Organizers chose Mindanao as a venue citing its significance in the upholding of continuous dialogues and conflict-prevention among communities of differing cultural and religious values.

Notable human rights defender K.M. Ruki Fernando visits the Philippines in a mission to tell the Filipino people the current humanitarian tragedy and armed conflict happening in Sri Lanka.

With the support of local Philippine civil society organizations and human rights groups, K.M. Ruki Fernando will hold a press-conference on April 15, Wednesday. 10:30 am at the MAX’s Restaurant inside Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.)