Sowing the Seeds of Peace

MJ Miller & Dexter Evangelista

http://www.lakesidechristian.com/Messages/All-Messages/2007-Messages/James-Just-Live-It/Sowing-Seeds-of-Peace
 

One of the most destructive things we do is to sow seeds of bitter envy and selfish ambition. Such seeds, which are often passed off as God’s wisdom, wreak destruction wherever they are sown. But true wisdom is sown in purity and is peace loving, considerate, submissive, and merciful, produces good fruit, is impartial and is sincere. This fruit produces righteousness. (James 3:13-18)

You may be surprised to hear about this, but conflict is a normal part of human relationships. Wherever two or more people are gathered, inevitably you will find conflict. Conflict is present even in the most intimate of relationships! It is also present and true in the least intimate of relationships.

With the efforts of the multi-sectoral movement towards building a just and lasting peace in Mindanao, a special gathering of crowd transpired at DepEd Complex in Lagao, General Santos City on July 18, 2016. The event was a brainchild of the Catholic Bishops in Mindanao on the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro as support for the newly elected President, Rodrigro Roa-Duterte and was participated by delegates from the entire SOCSKSARGEN Region.

We view with vigilant optimism the announcement of a coming peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as the first steps towards forging “a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.” We believe that continuing consultations with all stakeholders are necessary to bring the peace process forward.

We can recall the rejection in August 2008 of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) due to its lack of transparency and certain provisions that were called unconstitutional. In the agony of that rejection, the movement recall the efforts of the Bishops-Ulama Conference to sponsor a year-long series of multi-sectoral consultations to uncover the underlying factors for promoting a culture of peace in Mindanao.

Konsult Mindanaw, one of the movement promoting peace in Mindanao thus outlined six values that constitute a “people’s platform for Peace in Mindanao.” They repeat these visions and voices for peace coming from Muslim, Lumad, Catholic and Protestant participants in the consultations.

The first value is Sincerity – to eradicate the atmosphere of mistrust and confusion in many communities.  There is a need for policy cohesion among the various agencies of the Philippine Government as well as transparency through public consultation and communication. Previous agreements should be honored and a consistent mandate should be given for the credibility of the peace panels. The Bangsamoro groups should also strive to act with one voice while good governance practices in the present Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao could be highlighted as a prelude to the creation of a new political entity.

Second value is Security. Mindanao has been labeled for a long time as a theatre for war and on and off local conflicts. Fears and insecurities of people have to be addressed. The fast increase of armed groups has to be checked. To enhance security, authorities should intensify humanitarian work and the reintegration program, radically reduce arms and war profiteers, strengthen localized security strategies, and align economic and environmental projects with peace building efforts.

A third value is Sensitivity. Many communities in Mindanao are suffering under layers of hurts and biases as a result of a long history of colonization and conflict.  For some, this has resulted in losing their ancestral domains. Many indigenous people (Lumad) communities feel left out of the peace process.  To counter these negative factors, there is need for respecting the people’s right to self-determination, multi-cultural sensitivity in education, and healing of trauma for internally-displaced persons and communities.

A fourth value is Solidarity. A sense of oneness and conformity among the people of Mindanao can be seen when ordinary people can participate in the building of peace. It is in this sense that information and communication channels could provide people’s participation in the peace process. Mass media, schools for peace and civil society peace movements can all contribute towards forging solidarity. We need to build social infrastructure that connects communities rather than divides them. We should pay special attention to the needs of Indigenous People in most conflict-affected areas.

Spirituality is a fifth value. Konsult Mindanaw participants envision a peaceful Mindanao where Muslims, Lumads, Christians and members of other faith traditions live together in harmony and religious freedom. The religious traditions of both Islam and Christianity as well as of indigenous people can bring about both internal and external peace. Peace. Some concrete measures would be: to integrate peace and religious instruction in schools; to apply Islamic teachings in Muslim society; to promote interreligious and intercultural understanding; and to promote inter-faith dialogue leading to forgiveness and reconciliation. 

 The final value is Sustainability. For the long-term viability and effectiveness of the peace process, government and social institutions have to be harnessed to work for the people. Among the initiatives that need to be institutionalized are the following: Legislate new structures as needed for the peace accord to bear fruit. Mainstream the peace lens in local governance. Professionalize peace efforts. Strengthen the National Council for Indigenous People and the Indigenous People’s Movement. Correct discriminatory practices in the Justice System. Strengthen peace education. Make knowledge and imagination work for human development and social cohesion.

A formal peace agreement is not the end of peace building; rather it is just the beginning of much hard work in concretizing the meaning of Sincerity, Security, Sensitivity, Solidarity, Spirituality, and Sustainability in our various communities in Mindanao. By the help of the present administration, may the two highest values in all our religious traditions—love of God and love of neighbor—be our constant guide in working for reconciliation and building a Culture of a Just and Lasting Peace in Mindanao.

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