THE POWER OF INSURGENCE: Young Muslims call for SC SENSITIVITY on MOA

UPHOLD PEACE FOR OUR GENERATION
A STATEMENT BY THE YOUNG MORO PROFESSIONALS NETWORK INC
Quezon City, Philippines c/o 09204345010

We are concerned citizens of peace, sons and daughters of theBangsamoro, who are grieving over the past weeks' horrific incidentsin Southern Mindanao, and appeal against an all-out war in Mindanao.

We are an international network of more than a hundred Young Muslims - lawyers, doctors, IT and media professionals, businessmen, local chief executives, civil servants, professors, NGO workers - from different cultural groupings and Muslim converts, who are concerned with the future of this nation.

We are gravely concerned with the negative repercussions brought bythe Temporary Restraining order (TRO) of the Supreme Court on the signing of the Memorandum of Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), which forms part of a Comprehensive Peace Pact framework in the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace talks. While we advocate for civil society participation in the peace processes by involvement indiscussions on the MOA drafting, we question the lopsidedone-track , anti-peace talks stance of many of our Senators - to nameMar Roxas, Chiz Esudero,Loren Legarda, Rodolfo Biazon, Juan Ponce Enrile and others. They arestatesmen/women who we feel are not helping the peace process and insteadpromote divisiveness in times of confusion, emotional trauma anduncertainty among our people. We ask the presidentiables among them, withnational ambitions, what is their agenda for the Bangsamoro, if any?Have they gone to the Muslim South and asked the Muslim constituencybefore opposing the MOA or were their positions a product of theirbiases and prejudices?

We also question the inequality of voices in media, majority ofwhich represent rightist sentiments, without appreciation of historicMoro grievances in the country. We are disappointed that 12 years ofpeace negotiations between the MILF and GRP can be swept away byunconcerned so-called national politicians who have never proposed anyconcrete form of governance structures that can respond to the Moroaspiration for right to self-determination. We are aware thattensions aggravated by senseless, unfounded statements of thesesenators , congressmen and politicians opposing the MOA put the gainsof the peace process farther and impact on many of developmentprograms ongoing in the South because of renewed hostilities.

We would like to appeal for more informed judgements , constructivedialogue, an affirmative reaching out by Manila's media andpoliticians to the grassroot populace in the South to understand thesearch for genuine peace.

In deliberating the MOA AD, we call on the Supreme Court to exercisejudgment with dispassion but sensitive to the lives and constituenciesaffected even lost because of frustrations over the TRO on the MOA-AD.

We are deeply concerned with the evacuations in North Cotabato,echoing the cycle of violence manifest in any renewal of hostilities.We affirm our trust in the local and international monitoring teams,the AHJAG and the CCCH to help keep the peace on the ground.

We call for an independent investigation on the attack in Lanao del Norte on villages by armed men affecting children,women and damaging relationships built from decades of interfaithdialogue. These lawless acts are in violation of Islam, internationalhumanitarian laws and conventions protecting children and women fromthe wrath of war. Muslims and Christians are victims alike. Muslimsmust stand up and rise to condemn violence and aggression on theinnocent, We call on our ulama, MNLF, MILF and traditional leaders tohelp bridge the mistrust by reaching out to our Christian brethren ,who were victimized in Norte's attacks. Be the messengers of messagesof non-violence and peace - SALAAM as Khalifas (STEWARDS) who enjoin what is goodand forbid what is wrong (as stated in the Holy Quran).

Let the perpetrators be accountable to local peacekeeping mechanisms. Both the AFP and MILF must be held to answer for any atrocities andviolations of the rules of war.In these times of hardship, we hold hands as one , with ourChristian and Lumad neighbours, in the name of peace, acceptance andjustice. We are committed to a democratic and peaceful resolution ofthe conflict. Do not be afraid of the MOA- AD. Let all stakeholders involve an enlightened discussion of the MOA. To the national public,open your hearts to the Moro grievance.

We all have to link and expand our ranks till the entire country is bound together with the strength and the ardor of our resolve. I do not exaggerate when I say this could be our last chance to save democracy in the Philippines. The darkness thickens and we have to move. - Joaquin "Chino" Roces, 1985

Bobby Kennedy - "Laws can embody standards; governments can enforce laws--but the final task is not a task for government. It is a task for each and every one of us. Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted--when we tolerate what we know to be wrong--when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy, or too frightened-- when we fail to speak up and speak out--we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice."