Ang hiling ng mga taga-Notre Dame

“TAMA na. Gusto na naming bumalik sa mga bayan na aming kinalakhan.’’

Ito ang naging buod ng liham na pinadala nitong linggong ito ng Notre Dame Alumni Association of Davao, Inc. kina government peace panel chief Prof. Marvic Leonen at kay Moro Isamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief peace negotiator Mohaguer Iqbal.

Hinihiling ng mga miyembro ng Notre Dame Alumni Association na madaliin na ang peace process na sana’y malagdaan na ang final peace agreement sa pagitan ng dalawang panig upang makausad na ang mga bayan sa Mindanao na apektado sa patuloy na hidwaan sa mga government forces at ng MILF.

Ito at bigyang-daan ko ang sinasaad ng nasabing liham at nang maintindihan din ng ating mga kababayan ang mga hinaing ng mga kapatid natin sa Mindanao.

"The Notre Dame Alumni Association of Davao, Inc., is an Association of graduates from the Notre Dame schools of the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi, composed of several thousands of graduates who have migrated to Davao City because of the peace and order problems in these provinces. The said alumni association is only one of the many Notre Dame alumni associations in the country. We have left our homes, our properties and our livelihood because we could no longer be assured of the safety of our families which is our primary concern.

We are urgently requesting those who are underta­king the PEACE PROCESS negotiations to expedite the completion and immediate implementation of the PEACE AGREEMENT. so that we can go back to our homes, our farms and livelihood and in one way or another, we are able to contribute to the development of our home provinces. We believe that sustainable development can be possible  only if those living in these provinces are at peace with one another and have agreed to work together in peace and harmony. Delaying the Final Peace Agrement would mean delay of the fulfillment of our hopes and dreams to contribute to the development of these provinces we call home.

As an Association whose desire is the development of these provinces, and the preservation of the best of our cultural heritage,we earnestly request the PEACE PANEL to hasten the PEACE AGREEMENT and once and for all, come up with a PEACE AGREEMENT that is sustainable and practicable and has the benefit of all as its primary and ultimate concern.'

Ang liham na ito ay nilagdaan ng mga opisyales ng nasabing alumni association sa pangunguna ng presidente nito na  si Atty. Doming Duerme, na vice president for Mindanao ng Philippine Airlines.

Alam ng lahat na mahabang paglalakbay pa ang gugugulin sa usaping pangkapayapaan na ito. Ngunit humihingi ang mga mamamayan na mismo na kailangang gawin ng dalawang panig ang lahat na kanilang makakaya upang maisakatuparan na ang matagal nang minimithing kapayapaan.

Ang bola ay nasa kamay na ng dalawang panig, ang MILF at ang pamahalaan.

Dinggin n’yo sana ang bawa’t pakiusap ng mamama­yan na nais nang mamuhay ng payapa at maunlad.