Call for Peace and Restraint – let us not talk of war
Basilan is now like a sparkplug that will fuse and would spark another all out war in Mindanao
Both GRP and MILF CCCH just signed and issued a joint resolution last Monday morning to observe “maximum restraint” pending their joint investigation of the July 10 killing in Basilan (Mindanews).
Peace advocates are issuing their own statement like Mindanao Peaceweavers – BASILAN: OF TRAGEDY AND HOPE, CBCS RMC-Sibugay Statement Re: Mutilation of Marine Soldiers, and the collective leadership of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society – A CALL FOR PEACE, SOBRIETY AND RESTRAINT.
A statement from the Provincial Superior of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate regarding the Basilan incident:
A call for patience and restraint
As the tension builds up in Basilan following the death of 14 Marine soldiers in an encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the fate of the ongoing peace process hangs once again on the edge.
The violent conflict between government and the MILF has already taken so many lives—combatants from the government and MILF, and innocent civilians. We abhor the brutality of the death of many of the victims in this conflict, the Marine soldiers and the imam included. There should be no room for such viciousness, on whichever side, in an already cruel war.
Our concern now is that an impartial investigation of the most recent violence in Basilan be given a chance to work, according to the mechanisms of the prevailing ceasefire agreement. We enjoin all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint and patience, while searching for a just resolution, not only to this specific instance of violence, but to the larger issue of conflict in Mindanao. The primacy of the peace process should be held paramount. We cannot risk a bigger conflagration coming from rush judgments and indiscriminate action. We will only be multiplying victims and perpetuating the war.
As we pray for all the victims and their families, we pray even more for those who are working to resolve this conflict peacefully.
Ramon Ma. Bernabe, OMI
Provincial
OMI Philippine Province
This only some and partial list of groups nor individuals calling for peace and restraint regarding the issue.
“Lets call for an investigation by an international human rights body and until the results of such an investigation have come out, let us not talk of war” said by Brother Maulana M. Alonto, Member of the MILF Peace Panel at the Roundtable Discussion Re: the Basilan Encounter Initiated by the Civil Society Organizations of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte held on July 18, 2007 at Patio Alejandra, Iligan City.
I just hope that the leadership of the Philippine Government and heirarchy of AFP will listen to the calls of this groups and individuals working to achieve the elusive peace here in Mindanao. Give the peace agreement mechanism a chance to resolved the issue and not heeds for emotions and vengeful act. Marines are so proud of being a professional soldier and this time they should prove that they are professional enough to react on the issue and not by their emotions.
The war is not the solution. Military operations is not the solution but it’s the negotiation like what happen to Fr.Bossi. He was release by not a military operation but a negotiation.
I joined and share the above statement of this peace workers/advocates and i wish there will no tension like this in the future. Hope AFP will abide with the ceasefire agreement.
Let us not talk of war …. but talk about peace.
Jun,
I wonder why CAN’T the Govt. & the AFP wait to conduct a further investigations? Are they not interested to know the truth? Do they think the time is matured enough to launch an all out war in Mindanao? Or, is there something in need to hide and restraint from further investigations?
@ Amanda – i believe the AFP is hiding something and this war will divert the attention. you can check my blog – http://blog.wyzemoro.com/the-basilan-encounter/ … some details about the basilan war. it’s quite long posts.
prior to July 10 encounter…. theres already a military operation on July 8 and 9. who violated the ceasefire agreement? isnt it a legitimate encounter or an ambush?
if you follow the peace talks between the GRP and MILF … its now stalled and it’s possible that this provocation and then an all out war will put to totally stop the peace negotiation since the AFP really twist the facts infront the media showing MILF as barbaric so the Filipino Govt has reason no to pursue the peace talks with MILF. and also to quote from luwaran.com website regarding the SONA of GMA:
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) watched closely the Seventh State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before the Joint Session of Congress yesterday but noticed that the GRP-MILF Peace Talks and the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao have not been mentioned in her 55-minute speech, a report reaching Luwaran today. “This is indicative of the lukewarm attitude the government is giving to the peace process,” Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, commented.
maybe this is part and plan to derail the peace talks? the Filipino Govt has no more plan to talk peace with MILF?
Listen. Peace Talks are a sham, no better than posting pistoled giards in the Davao malls. The govt. does not tell anyone anything. MILF is armed by elemnts of the military and they exist in symbiotic relationship.
I posted in an 06 thread minutes ago abo9ut the redeployment towards Davao as well as the myth of Sayyaf. IJ has taken alot of of Sayyaf power in the south but it is the MILF in this part of Mindanao who are turning the wheels, make no mistake about it.
Stay safe.