Tri-people Hold Mindanao Peace Summit

By JULIE GANTES

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Dec.14PFM)—Convergence of the officials and representatives of the tri-people of Mindanao will be held today dubbed as Mindanao Peace Summit 2015 Lumads, Muslims and Christians in pursuit of Peace, Unity and Development to be held today (Dec. 15, 2015 Tuesday) at the Garden Orchid Hotel, this city.

The gathering is sponsored by the World Philosophical Forum (UNESCO) and the International Movement for Peace and Reconciliation.

Shariff Ibrahim Albani, lead convenor and founding chairman of the International Movement said the historic event will be attended by Mindanao multi-sectoral organizations and cause-oriented groups from all walks of life coming from different regions of Mindanao and the NCR. National as well as international guests and dignitaries will also grace the event at the Orchid’s Convention Center at Camins Road.

Albani, who hails from Mindanao said that the summit will be presented by all stakeholders and inhabitants from all different sectors and will reach out to a wide spectrum of society and build a broad-based popular movement for peace, unity and progress.

“Without this involvement from the grassroots component, our socio-economic and political efforts cannot succeed,” Albani disclosed.

He said one way to promote peace and development is to encourage inter-community dialogue and cross-cultural inter-action by the inhabitants of Mindanao.

“We believed that the solemn and keen understanding of religion, culture and tradition as well building mutual respect and cooperation can be formidable instrument in the pursuit of harmony and peace,” Shariff also said.

The Summit is aimed to promote interfaith harmony, respect, cooperation and understanding; identify causes of problems in the different sectors of society which are often economic or political in nature rather than religious issues; to harness mutual cooperation and good social relations among the tri-people; to build trust and confidence; and to break down the barriers and stereotype, which lead to distrust, suspicion and bigotry.

He said Mindanao is rich in natural and human resources as it is strategically located in the heart of Southeast Asia, hence, making the regional economic potential quiet immense and needed to be tapped for  benefits  of its inhabitants.

 “Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Muslims and Christians have an indispensable role to play in the development of the region. However, he emphasized that peace and unity are pre-requisites to the progress and development.

He appealed to the participants to grasp the importance of peace and unity through continuous dialogues and interactions, so that a sustainable if not permanent development can be established in our regions for the sake of the new generation and those that yet to come.

An open forum and signing of manifesto of support and commitments and cooperation to peace and unity will be forged by the participants, according to organizers. (With reports by Bernie Concepcion)