KONSULT MINDANAW
A project commissioned by the Bishops-Ulama ConferenceMulti-sectoral and Cross-regional Community Consultation on the Mindanao Peace Process
A project commissioned by the Bishops-Ulama ConferenceMulti-sectoral and Cross-regional Community Consultation on the Mindanao Peace Process
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON ANSWERS RAISED DURING THE FOCUSSED GROUP DISCUSSIONS
QUESTION NO 1. VISION OF PEACE
What does peace mean to you? When did you experience peace? What is your vision of a peaceful Mindanao? What conditions or situations make up your peaceful Mindanao?
There is an experience of war and awareness of the armed struggle in the various places in SOCSARGEN area such that this basic desire for peace is seen in the participants’ definition of peace as the absence of the currently experienced armed conflict, particularly dominant among Muslim participants’s response is“No to War in Mindanao” for the sake of the children, their education and the future of Mindanao as a whole.
Ang kapayapaan ay makakamit kung matapos ang gyera para sa pagkakaisa at walang gulo! (Muslim-Ulama)
Absence of War, silence of community. Wala ng kailangan ang evacuation center. (Muslim – Women)
Gusto ko wala ng gulo. Ang Muslim at kristiyano mabuo para wala ng gulo. (Muslim – NGO)
Interestingly, although there are responses of “No to War” among the Catholic and Protestant Groups, a good number of visions peace is anchored largely on their religion and the desired values embodied therein. One probable reason for this is that they are not primarily situated in conflict-affected areas.
Result of love and respect and the product of justice. (Protestant – Religious)
Kailangan may total change - change of life, change of mind, ug change of attitude (Protestant – Rural Folks)
QUESTION NO 1. VISION OF PEACE
What does peace mean to you? When did you experience peace? What is your vision of a peaceful Mindanao? What conditions or situations make up your peaceful Mindanao?
There is an experience of war and awareness of the armed struggle in the various places in SOCSARGEN area such that this basic desire for peace is seen in the participants’ definition of peace as the absence of the currently experienced armed conflict, particularly dominant among Muslim participants’s response is“No to War in Mindanao” for the sake of the children, their education and the future of Mindanao as a whole.
Ang kapayapaan ay makakamit kung matapos ang gyera para sa pagkakaisa at walang gulo! (Muslim-Ulama)
Absence of War, silence of community. Wala ng kailangan ang evacuation center. (Muslim – Women)
Gusto ko wala ng gulo. Ang Muslim at kristiyano mabuo para wala ng gulo. (Muslim – NGO)
Interestingly, although there are responses of “No to War” among the Catholic and Protestant Groups, a good number of visions peace is anchored largely on their religion and the desired values embodied therein. One probable reason for this is that they are not primarily situated in conflict-affected areas.
Result of love and respect and the product of justice. (Protestant – Religious)
Kailangan may total change - change of life, change of mind, ug change of attitude (Protestant – Rural Folks)
I just want to add na there is peace if respect reigns in everybody's heart because there is harmonious relationship kasi kung respect nasa ating lahat, regardless of age, regardless of your tribe, I guess nandun talaga yung kapayapaan. (Catholic – Academe)
The desire of the Mindanawons for peace is characterized not only by the absence of war but also of feeling safe and secured, the ability to meet the basic needs of the family, and the longing for a peaceful community. At the personal/individual domain, participants considered availability of food (food on the table), access to basic services (education, health, housing), sustainable source of income as dominant elements of a peaceful life.
“Ang kalinaw kay walang kabalaka o walay kahadlukan. Kay kung hilom lang, dili man na kalinaw. Kay naay hilom na nahadlok ug naay hilom na nabalaka. Ang kalinaw kanang naa basic na panginahanglan sa mga tao, mao na akong pagsabot sa kalinaw “ (Catholic / Farmers)
Almost with the same spiritual/religious context with the other groups in terms of their vision of peace, the Muslim respondents envision peace in Mindanao as largely embodied in the approval of the MOA-AD.
We can't live peacefully in Mindanao, if the government doesn't fulfill the implementation Tripoli Agreement of GRP-MNLF (Muslim - IDP)
For me, for peace, government should grant MILF what they want. (Muslim – Youth)
QUESTION NO 2. ON THE GRP-MILF PEACE TALKS
What are your recommendations on the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF?
The absence of consultation among the stakeholders and the government’s attempt to push on the MOA-AD despite, is largely viewed as a manifestation of the government’s insincerity to the peace process.
For some participants across groups and sectors, the MOA-AD is perceived to be an acceptable instrument towards attaining peace in Mindanao for as long as it is done in good faith as expressed in the following responses:
“Ang akong recomendasyon ani mapagawas nato ang atong tunay na opinion para masabtan nila gyud kung unsa gyud. Kung pabayaan man gud ang MI igiit man nima ilang kagustuhan, lalo na sa MOA. Kinahanglan nga kung unsa man ang maayo sa kanila, ihatag. (Catholic - Women)
“No transparency. We are in the dark about peace process. Wala na pahibalo sa tanan ang provision about MOA. We said that the MOA is unconstitutional, but this is the way to peace.”
(Protestant – Religious)
There are responses from the Muslim participants that they are also part of the solution. A re-examination of their position is expressed in the following lines:
“Ang importante sa bawat isa sa atin, kasi nga nagmamahalan tayo, dapat meron ding pagsasaway. Kung alam natin na ang kasama natin may planong hindi maganda, sawayin/pagsabihan natin. Pagsabihan natin ng maayos. Iniutos yan sa lahat ng Muslim (Sector: Traditional Leaders).
Sinisigaw natin since this morning, kapayapaan. Now papaano natin iyan makakamit? Dahil Muslims marami pa rin masama, marami pa rin ang gumagamit ng druga. So ang Kristiyanos tinitingnan lang tayo na ganyan pala tayo. So kailangan mayroon din tayong solusyon sa mga problemang ito. (Sector: NGOs)
The demand for transparency, careful selection of the GRP peace panel (the inclusion of women, Lumad, religious) are among those which were recommended by the respondents. These responses put into fore the mistrust generated by government’s “way of doing its job” as far as the peace talk is concerned (MOA-AD used as a carrot and stick strategy).
The government’s indecisiveness and its high-handed manner of handling the Mindanao problem is viewed in the context of being unfaithful in its pursuit of a truly lasting peace in Mindanao. The Imperial Manila doesn’t really care. Thus, a general feeling of distrust in the government’s real intention in the resumption of the peace talks. (Were the people of Mindanao given the chance to have a say on who will be in the GRP panel for the resumption of the peacetalk?)
The Lumads were not consulted despite their ancenstral domains being threatened / compromised by the MOA-AD.
Kita nga mga nitibo, gibilin sa atong mga katigulangan , ang yuta natong natawhan, adunay Republic Act 8371, nakabutang sa maong balod nga kita nga mga tribu may dakong katungod sa pag-angkon ug pagkultibar sa atong Ancestral Domain (Lumad – Farmers)
There are also several interesting responses that appeal for some reflections:
1. For me, malapit sa imposible ang pagkakaroon ng peaceful Mindanao dahil kulang sa edukasyon at isa pa kahit mga Muslim mismo di nagkakaisa….mahirap at imposible kasi nga kahit sa teritoryo ng mga Muslim ay di sila nagkakaintindihan dahil nga sa mga datu. (Muslim - Business)
2. Dapat sa ibang Muslim na magkaisa. Sabi ni Allah: hindi ko ibigay ang nais nyo hanggat di kayo magka isa. “Kaya sabi ng gobyerno, di nga kayo nagkakaisa, pano namin kayo matutulungan? (Muslim – Ulama)
3. The one who should lead the Muslims should be a true Muslim. (Muslim – Professionals)
4. Sorry to say but those Muslims who where educated are the very people who fooled their fellow Muslims. (Muslim – Professionals)
5. Kailangan mag-usap muna nang maayos ang MILF at MNLF bago humarap sa peace talk. (Muslim – Professionals)
QUESTION NO 3. ON THE BROADER PEACE PROCESS.
What other steps, activities or programs should be undertaken to achieve peace in Mindanao?
The various recommendations from among the responses included sincere governance, responsible development programs, fair labor policies, and policies justly implemented (walang kinikilingan);
2. Dapat sa ibang Muslim na magkaisa. Sabi ni Allah: hindi ko ibigay ang nais nyo hanggat di kayo magka isa. “Kaya sabi ng gobyerno, di nga kayo nagkakaisa, pano namin kayo matutulungan? (Muslim – Ulama)
3. The one who should lead the Muslims should be a true Muslim. (Muslim – Professionals)
4. Sorry to say but those Muslims who where educated are the very people who fooled their fellow Muslims. (Muslim – Professionals)
5. Kailangan mag-usap muna nang maayos ang MILF at MNLF bago humarap sa peace talk. (Muslim – Professionals)
QUESTION NO 3. ON THE BROADER PEACE PROCESS.
What other steps, activities or programs should be undertaken to achieve peace in Mindanao?
The various recommendations from among the responses included sincere governance, responsible development programs, fair labor policies, and policies justly implemented (walang kinikilingan);
Across groups and sectors, the role of mass media in the area of peacebuilding is considered to be negative. Responses vary from being insensitive, unjust, biased and irresponsible.
Reforms in the education sector is highly desired to effectively compliment the peacebuilding initiatives in Mindanao. Education is viewed as a major aspect in solving the Mindanao problem although much is still desired as far as access, content and educational management are concerned.
There are responses that aspire for an improved economic atmosphere through just implementation of development projects, and a more vigilant approach to corruption in the government line agencies.
QUESTION NO 4. ON PERSONAL COMMITMENT.
What can you personally offer, commit or even sacrifice in order to have meaningful peace in Mindanao? How do you intend to bring it to reality?
Across groups and sectors, the religious orientation of the participants are expressed as an integral component in the attainment of peace in Mindanao.
The participants’ responses are along the line of continuing the various personal and sectoral peace advocacies they are currently engaged in.
Dialogue (Inter-faith and Intra-faith) is perceived as an effective approach in resolving issues.
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