Mindanao peace caravan demands inclusive peoples’ participation

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOSUR (Thursday/Dec 19, 2913) - More than 300 grassroots leaders converge on a peace caravan calling for genuine inclusive peoples’ participation in light of all Mindanao peace processes, the recurrent environmental disasters as well as the onslaught of development aggression such as mining, logging and agri-business plantations that constantly affect the sustainability of their communities.

The peace caravan leads to the 7^th Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Summit in Tubod, Lanao del Norte yesterday that will end on Sunday where they will voice out their issues and concerns to the representatives of the peace panels of the GPH-MILF, GPH-MNLF, GPH-RPMM-RPA and GPH-CPP-NPA-NDF peace processes as well as to the Commissioners of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Climate Change Commission of the Philippines.

The Teduray and Lambangian indigenous peoples of Maguindanao led by their supreme chieftain, Timuay Labi Sonnie Bello said that they join the caravan to assert their right to self-determination and autonomy in the Bangsamoro through their inclusive participation in the GPH-MILF peace process.

Meanwhile, Tanie Suano of the Kilusan ng Maralita sa Kanayunan (Kilos Ka) together with the sustainable agriculture farmers of Zamboanga del Sur demands for the declaration of the Pinukis Mountain Range and Labangan Watershed as protected areas from mining as these provide irrigation to 90 thousand hectares of Ricelands in Pagadian, Labangan, Sindangan and Sibugay areas which is essential to the production of food and in the economic survivability of the farmers.

Along with the rest of the participants are from the CARAGA, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, SoCSKSarGen, Greater Davao Area Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, they will continue their journey until December 22 in dissecting relevant issues, promoting peoples’ struggles and crafting solutions for future action.

The peace caravan and summit are organized by the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement in its pursuit for inclusive right to self-determination in Mindanao.