A Call for Sobriety and Coolness in Light of the Basilan Carnage - Statement from Mindanao CSOs
We, leaders of Bangsamoro Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations in South Central Mindanao call on the GPH and the MILF to maintain their maximum coolness and sobriety in the light of the recent Basilan carnage. We agreed that these unfortunate events that resulted to the death of 19 soldiers and 6 BIAF with a more than a dozen of wounded in action (WIA) may have been avoided if there has been a functional mechanism - the Ceasefire agreement that they both signed. For the bereaved families of those killed in action, we condoled and and sympathized with them. For the WIA, we pray for their recovery.
The country is divided on this issue. The majority - the non-Muslims are emotionally upset so they want an immediate retaliation, an ALL OUT WAR. The minority - the Muslims and some sympathetic to the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination want it investigated first. President PNoy himself wants it investigated first before taking and drastic steps. For us in these civil society organizations, we strongly support the President for a conduct of an impartial investigation on the issue. Let us not allow the detractors of peace to overtake our ardent desire for peace. Remember, the Late Deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos who brought all the might of the Martial law in this part of the country in order to contain the Bangsamoro rebellion got nothing but the irk of the international world. Let us remember the all out war of Estrada administration. Was he able to really quell the struggle? If we are to compare it to an illness, what Erap did was just to scatter the viruses in all parts of the body making the patient incurable. Let us think of the war theory of Biazon when he was the Defense secretary. Did all these models become successful? The answer is a very big NO. On the other hand, look at the brilliant West Pointer former president Fidel V. Ramos when he did that peace overture with the MNLF, it succeeded. These are just some of the samples on the effects of war that deserve an in-depth study and appreciation.
Henceforth, the undersigned CSO leaders who are committed to peace, and with all modesty, strongly call to all Filipinos to support the Honorable President in his desire to run his government in peace. The strong front towards peace that he is displaying deserves merit and our staunch support if we all desire for long-lasting peace. His pursuit for finding the cure for peace in this part of the country and his programs to make his administration free from corruption and "Tungo sa Matuwid na Daan" should be credited with our own selfless ways to espouse genuine reforms in our motherland. That is the least we could do as responsible citizens of this country. We equally support the steadfastness of Secretary Ging Deles in pushing for her peace initiatives in this part of the Region, as we believe she is always in the side of peace.
Finally, we hope that the recent happenings staining on the ongoing peace process for the resolution of the Mindanao problem becomes tha last chapter of the Bangsamoro question. We believe that every Filipino must make it their ideology to rally for peace like stranded passengers tenaciously pushing their troubled vehicle in order to continue with their journey and safely come to their destination through concluding a negotiated political settlement that everyone, even our forebears and the next generation may enjoy and gratify in.
Signed:
Duma "Murshid" Mascud
Chairman - CBCS
Kutawato regional Management Committee
Abdulbassit "Bobby" Benito
Executive Director
Bangsamoro Center for Just Peace
Ustadz Rahib Kudto
President
United Youth for Peace and Development
Atty. Aisa Pendinatar
Executive Director
BISC, Inc.
Aladdin Palangalan
Executive Director
MINSED Foundation, Inc.
Samsodin C. Amelia
Executive Director
MAPAD, Inc.
Baina Samayatin
Executive Director
MWDECC, Inc.
Baintan Abdula
Executive Director
Minwag
Laurie Ailynne Benito
Executive Director
MRDC, Inc.
Akmad Ali
ADMO - Mindanao
