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The powerful and respected OIC—the Organization of
the Islamic Conference—is more or less the equivalent of the
United Nations Organization for Muslim countries. Its aims are to
preserve Islamic social and economic values; promote solidarity
among member states; increase cooperation in social, economic,
cultural, scientific, and political fields; uphold international
peace and security; and advance education, especially in science and
technology.
As far as the OIC is concerned,
the observer representative of the Filipino Muslims who can sit at
general meetings is the head (or his designate) of the Moro National
Liberation Front. But any group of Muslims in the Philippines may
address messages, requests and pleas to the OIC through its
secretary general.
The OIC has been watching
developments in Mindanao. Many of its officials and members are
friendly to the various leaders of the Philippines.
The other day the OIC’s
Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, in a statement, condemned
what he called “illegal acts conducted by wayward elements” of
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). He meant the criminal and
terrorist deeds of MILF Commander Bravo and Commander Ombra Kato and
their men. They killed not only government soldiers but also
civilians. They took hostages, burned down houses, killed farm
animals and committed other atrocities in Mindanao.
Mr. Ihsanoglu’s statement was
meant both for the MILF leadership in the rebel organization’s
central committee as well as the Philippines government.
He also voiced his concern over
reports that the Philippine government now intends to drop the
Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain aspects of the
future “Comprehensive Peace Pact” between the government and the
MILF. He does not want the work of years of negotiations wasted.
For, said Mr. Ihsanoglu in his statement, this MOA-AD document,
which should have been formally signed last August 5 in Malaysia,
“came about as a result of strenuous, long and sincere efforts by
both sides.”
He wants the Philippine
government and the MILF to resume their negotiations. The OIC
secretary-general urges “the parties to the conflict to rapidly
return to the negotiating table and continue working together.” He
finds it “unfortunate to let undisciplined elements from the MILF
determine the course of negotiations or halt the peace process.”
All Filipinos must welcome the
OIC secretary-general’s exhortation.
Similar calls have been heard
from bishops and Muslim religious leaders, singly and together.
The work to make peace reign in
Mindanao, and to make the Muslim Filipinos enjoy the blessings of
prosperity and modernization—as the OIC envisions for all Muslims
in the world—must continue and go unhindered.
We join OIC Secretary General
Ihsanoglu in hoping and praying that the Mindanao peace process that
had its first true bloom in 1996—with the “Final Peace Agreement
Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the
Moro National Liberation Front”—would continue to flourish.
It will be the start of the
Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan after midnight tomorrow. Ramadan is
the month of fasting—sacrifice, abnegation, abstinence, which
should make the faithful more acutely aware of the presence of God,
the Merciful, the Omnipotent and remember to be thankful to Him.
May the MILF people who committed
the atrocities be moved by the spirit of Ramadan to give themselves
up.
Institute for Solidarity’s
call
On Friday, the Institute for
Solidarity in Asia (ISA), which has succeeded in forming a multi-sectoral
coalition for good governance and development issued its Statement
of Solidarity on the Mindanao situation. Here are excerpts from the
statement, which was read by ISA’s founding chairman, Dr. Jesus P.
Estanislao, during the closing ceremony of the ISA Investment Forum:
We call on all sectors of
Philippine society to support and cooperate with one another to keep
our nation whole and our people one.
We anchor all our nation building
initiatives and processes on truth and justice.
We are committed to all-out-peace
and development in all parts of our country and particularly in
Mindanao.
We are all in solidarity with all
sectors, particularly our Armed Forces of the Philippines, in the
campaign to remove all obstacles to the peace and development
process.
We condemn the carnage
perpetuated by lawless groups in Lanao and other provinces of
Mindanao.
We applaud the firm resolve of
the government to hasten the arrest of lawless MILF groups led by
Commanders Kato and Bravo on whose heads a reward of PhP10 million
is on offer.
We support the AFP in dedicating
troops in support of the Philippine National Police in the
maintenance of peace and order in Mindanao.
We make a strong appeal to all
our compatriots to avoid any initiatives such as the creation of
vigilante groups. We should leave to our AFP and PNP the exclusive
duty of securing peace and maintaining order.
We want the peace process to be
brought to a successful conclusion. With transparency and
solidarity, we should all pull together to address problems and
confront criminal actions that are standing on the way of concluding
the peace process.
The Institute for Solidarity in
Asia (ISA) is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization
founded in December 2000. It seeks to improve public governance
through citizen participation.
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