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PREVENT IGNORANCE
AND PREJUDICE FROM SPOILING THE PEACE PROCESS
We, at United Youth
of the Philippines-Women, express our earnest gratitude to the Government of
the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for
nurturing a calm response to Southeast Asia’s longest running internal
conflict. It seems that we are now just 14 steps away from our vision of a
society where justice and peace are the pillars of development and good
governance.
But to reiterate,
the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro is just the foundation
of a comprehensive reconstruction program conceived for our region. To
anticipate a durable solution to the Bangsamoro Question, it is imperative that
the Filipino people, regardless of religion and ethnicity, own and guard the
peace process against spoilers and their scare tactics that might ruin again
what has been established in the negotiating table. Let us depart from the
cultural drama and establish an inter-faith and inter-cultural understanding to
reclaim our linkage as one nation.
While it is
verifiable that there is an overwhelming support on the peace process, there is
also diversity and discrepancy on public perception about the conflict and the
current peace process. It is therefore the urgent task of civil society
organizations and peace advocates of putting forth a common narrative that will
be disseminated to all possible venues, from grassroots to national and
international, and will complement the apparent inadequate awareness to the
roots of the conflict and the tangible solutions to it. Only with a common
understanding about the issue at hand can we bring into the fold all
stakeholders and bystanders and put up a united front that will advocate the
thorough steps of peace building in Muslim Mindanao.
To the Philippine
Government and to the Central Committee of the MILF, we fervently hope that
both parties will be undaunted in their commitment to bring justice, peace, and
development in our region even with the imminent threat of unscrupulous
elements fueling ignorance and prejudice and banking on vicious military
dispute from both parties to advance their egotistical interest to the expense
of the Filipino community.
To other Moro armed
groups, let the Framework Agreement demonstrate its capacity to provide an
enduring solution to the grievances of the Bangsamoro people and to provide
just peace in Mindanao. To the political leaders of our country, let us dispose
our skepticism and work toward enhancing the minutiae of the whole peace
process.
To all our Muslim,
Christian, and Lumad brothers and sisters, let us espouse the validity of a
comprehensive peace agreement in our region. Let us all promote harmony and
uphold the integrity of our Filipino nation.
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