Search for peace

The search for peace in Mindanao led President Macapagal-Arroyo to authorize the holding of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with Malaysia as host, and acceptance of the offer of the United States to assist in the rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas in the Mindanao.

Speaking at the opening of the Bishops-Ulama Forum, the President said that four principles govern the government’s search for peace and development in Mindanao. Three of these principles are that peace and development go hand in hand, all actions for peace and development are founded on the imperatives of sovereignty, national integrity, and constitutionality, and a multi-ethnic society such as that of the Philippines can only thrive on the principle of social justice for all and accommodation of ethnic traditions. The fourth is unconditional rejection of terrorism.

The President’s message set the tone for the three-day discussion among ulama (Muslim priests), and Roman Catholic and Protestant bishops on conflict resolution and transformation.

Respected ulama and Christian bishops expressed the imperative of arriving at peace through a culture of dialogue that breaks down the walls of misunderstanding and mistrust. Indeed, the armed conflict and hatred sown in the hearts of Muslims towards Christians and in the hearts of Christians towards Muslims are incompatible with their faiths that call for peace. Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, said the Scriptures talk of Christ being "the author of peace," of peace being a gift from god, of Jesus Christ, son of David, being the Prince of peace.

He spoke of Pope John XXIII’s encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on earth) which suggests that peace is an edifice resting on five pillars – truth, justice, love, freedom and prayer. The 1999 Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, he said, appealed for religious leaders to refuse to allow religions to be used to incite hatred and violence, nor justify discrimination, and to respect the role of religion in society at international, national and local levels.

That dialogue is a prerequisite to peace was the message delivered by Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Sherif, president of the World Mission Call Society of Libya during the conference’s opening program, and at the residence of House Speaker Joe de Venecia, where prominent personalities involved in the peace process were invited, and at the launch of the World Islamic Call Society in the Philippines center in Makati upon the invitation of the WICSP permanent representative Engr. Gamal N. Ahmed.

Two Protestant ministers talked of the participants‚ role to spread the gospel of peace in their conferences. Rev. Carlos D. Iglupas of the Lanao District Conference, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Iligan City, said the Bishops-Ulama conference "has brought a good level of understanding of peace among us participants. The big challenge is disseminating what we have learned to people in the grassroots. This will be a continuing process, and we should not give up, but be patient in order that people will know the value of peace and understanding."

Pastor Arnel Hofer’s church is in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur, where Muslims and Christians live harmoniously. But the fighting between rebel and government forces near the area has inflicted trauma on the population. But while the soldiers are the ones fighting, there exist feelings of animosity between Muslims and Christians, and it is the duty of the ulamas and Christian pastors and lay leaders to help them see that forgiveness and reconciliation can lead to peace in Mindanao.