Philippines ceasefire a sign of hope, say aid and mediation groups
-28/05/06
Christian
Philippines ceasefire a sign of hope, say aid and mediation groups
-28/05/06
Christian relief organisations and reconciliation workers have welcomed peace talks between the Philippine government and Muslim rebels to end nearly 40 years of conflict on the southern island of Mindanao.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been fighting for an independent state for the Bangsamoro (Muslim people) on Mindanao for nearly 40 years.
Mindanao has been a contested territory since Spanish colonial rulers sought to subjugate the islanders. The settlement of its lands by Christians from elsewhere in the Philippines is a source of resentment to the present day.
Manila and the Liberation Front signed a ceasefire in 2001 and have held several rounds of talks since then. One of the thorniest issues has been the rebels’ demand for recognition of their ancestral domain.
Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), which helps monitor the ceasefire, said the recent three-day talks in Malaysia had been positive. The group is supported by, among others, the UK-based development charity Christian Aid, which acts ecumenically on behalf of a range of British churches.
ìIt seems that progress was made on resolving the issue of the ancestral domain. Even though a final agreement was not reached, this is a very good step forward,î commented Mary Ann Arnado, IIDís Mindanao coordinator.
The issue of ancestral domain involves deciding which territories in the south would be part of the Bangsamoro peopleís ancestral homeland.
Both sides said they had not fully resolved the ancestral domain issue, but said they had made progress on other issues including the sharing of natural resources such as gold, copper and oil and the form of government within a Bangsamoro homeland.
Ms Arnado declared: ìThere is still a lot of homework to be done on the ground regarding the demarcation, delineation and mapping of areas which are included in the ancestral domain territory.î
She added that ìWhat is positive is that the ceasefire is holding.î
Initiatives for International Dialogue aims to promote transparency in the peace process in Mindanao and encourage the participation of civil society, particularly women and indigenous people.
The longstanding conflict between the army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has claimed 120,000 lives, forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and hampered development.
Despite being rich in resources, Mindanao is now the poorest region in the Philippines. The hope is that a peace settlement may finally bring prosperity to this troubled island.
[Also on Ekklesia: Ecumenical loan fund backs Philippines small businesses; Christian charity says children still illegally imprisoned in the Philippines; Manila bans Da Vinci Code but archbishop dismisses the fuss; Aid workers trek through 38 landslides; Green Cardinal issues an apology to the planet; Catholics to celebrate migrant workers (Filipino group involved); Christian campaigners launch website to expose child killing; Women help to redefine Christian mission; Stay awake to the wider world, British and Irish churches urged by Philippines speaker]
Philippines ceasefire a sign of hope, say aid and mediation groups
-28/05/06
Christian relief organisations and reconciliation workers have welcomed peace talks between the Philippine government and Muslim rebels to end nearly 40 years of conflict on the southern island of Mindanao.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been fighting for an independent state for the Bangsamoro (Muslim people) on Mindanao for nearly 40 years.
Mindanao has been a contested territory since Spanish colonial rulers sought to subjugate the islanders. The settlement of its lands by Christians from elsewhere in the Philippines is a source of resentment to the present day.
Manila and the Liberation Front signed a ceasefire in 2001 and have held several rounds of talks since then. One of the thorniest issues has been the rebels’ demand for recognition of their ancestral domain.
Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), which helps monitor the ceasefire, said the recent three-day talks in Malaysia had been positive. The group is supported by, among others, the UK-based development charity Christian Aid, which acts ecumenically on behalf of a range of British churches.
ìIt seems that progress was made on resolving the issue of the ancestral domain. Even though a final agreement was not reached, this is a very good step forward,î commented Mary Ann Arnado, IIDís Mindanao coordinator.
The issue of ancestral domain involves deciding which territories in the south would be part of the Bangsamoro peopleís ancestral homeland.
Both sides said they had not fully resolved the ancestral domain issue, but said they had made progress on other issues including the sharing of natural resources such as gold, copper and oil and the form of government within a Bangsamoro homeland.
Ms Arnado declared: ìThere is still a lot of homework to be done on the ground regarding the demarcation, delineation and mapping of areas which are included in the ancestral domain territory.î
She added that ìWhat is positive is that the ceasefire is holding.î
Initiatives for International Dialogue aims to promote transparency in the peace process in Mindanao and encourage the participation of civil society, particularly women and indigenous people.
The longstanding conflict between the army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has claimed 120,000 lives, forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and hampered development.
Despite being rich in resources, Mindanao is now the poorest region in the Philippines. The hope is that a peace settlement may finally bring prosperity to this troubled island.
[Also on Ekklesia: Ecumenical loan fund backs Philippines small businesses; Christian charity says children still illegally imprisoned in the Philippines; Manila bans Da Vinci Code but archbishop dismisses the fuss; Aid workers trek through 38 landslides; Green Cardinal issues an apology to the planet; Catholics to celebrate migrant workers (Filipino group involved); Christian campaigners launch website to expose child killing; Women help to redefine Christian mission; Stay awake to the wider world, British and Irish churches urged by Philippines speaker]