Lanao people hail reflective dialogue as enlightening

ILIGAN CITY, March 12 (PNA) – The people of Lanao hailed the holding of the reflective dialogue here because they were enlightened of the ticklish issues to be resolved in the peace process.

All of the 421 participants who attended on Tuesday the “Dialogue Mindanao” at the Elena Tower would like to see a peaceful settlement to the decades-old armed conflict in southern Philippines soonest.

It was the second biggest number of participants that attended the series of 13 dialogues conducted by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). The largest was in Jolo where more than 500 attended the first reflective dialogue.

The provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur were the scenes of many fierce clashes between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at the height of the fighting in Mindanao in the past.

“Magandang exercise ito kasi nabigyan kaming lahat ng pagkakataong ibahagi ang aming mga opinyon sa mga isyung may kinalaman sa Mindanao. Naging mas malinaw rin ang lahat para sa amin, nabawasan ang mga biases ang paghihinala. (Having this kind of dialogue is good exercise because we were given an opportunity to share our opinions about the issues in Mindanao. Things have become clearer for us. The dialogue has lessened our biases and our suspicions). This kind of dialogue is the best approach to peace,” said Datu Rolando Soong, speaking in behalf of Lumads.

Similarly, Diana Maguid, a Muslim young woman who was part of the youth sector from Marawi City said, “Naenlighten ako at saka hopeful na sana may magandang patutunguhan yung mga ganitong mga programa na ginagawa ng gobyerno….para naman ma-lessen na yung burden sa future generations. Magandang programa ito at may maitutulong sa peace process kasi maraming pumupunta kahit papano. Marami pa rin ang hopeful. Maraming interesado at maraming gustong matuto (I was enlightened and I am hopeful that a positive outcome may result from this program…so that the burden is eased for the younger generations. This kind of program will be very helpful to the peace process because you see, there are still a lot of people who came, that means they are interested and want to learn).”

Also expressing her optimism was Pilar Bonete of Kauswagan, Kawit Oriental.

Mabuti itong dialgue na ito para malaman namin kung ano talaga ang nangyayari lalo na sa issue ng peacetalks ng GRP at MILF. Para kasi kaming bulag. Hindi namin alam kung ano ang nangyayari at pinaguusapan. Gusto pa sana namin na magkaroon ng ganito pang klase ng dialogue para malaman naming talaga kung ano ang pakay at layunin ng ating gobyerno (The dialogue has informed us about what is really going on, especially on the issue of the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF. We sometimes feel we are blind, we don’t know what is happening and what is being talked about. It would be very helpful if there would be more of these dialogues so that we will know what the government wants to do).”

The reflective dialogue, the tenth out of 13 dialogues undertaken by OPAPP, gathered representatives from various sectors in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Marawi City and Iligan City.

Present at the dialogues were representatives of internally displaced people, local government units, Lumads, religious groups (Christians and Muslims) non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, women’s groups, youth groups, the academe, and indigenous peoples. Also present were some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Annabelle T. Abaya said that reflective dialogue an effective tool in getting the sentiments and opinions of the people about the conflict in Mindanao, particularly the on-going peace negotiation between the Philippine government and the MILF.

It is being done by the government in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling to undertake a nationwide consultation in preparation for the drafting of an agreement between the two parties.

“Kung nag-uusap, walang nag-babarilan (When parties talk, there is no violence)," said Secretary Abaya.

“Kung ang MILF ay mainit na mainit na gustong makipagusap, sino tayo para tumanggi? Kaya naandito tayo ngayon, kaya mayroon tayong ganitong proseso dahil sagrado ang paguusap (Who are we to turn down the MILF if they have expressed their willingness to talk? That is the reason why we are here today, the reason why we have this dialogue with you—because we regard dialogue as a very important part of the process)," she added.

“Dahil dito, malakas ang paniniwala ko na magkakaroon ng kasunduan (I strongly feel that we will reach an agreement),” she further added.

Councilor Moises Dalisay of Iligan said, “We appreciate the efforts of the government, especially of OPAPP in making sure that we are all consulted about an issue that means a lot to us.”

“We also feel that there are issues that need to be addressed urgently if the peace talks are to succeed. These are the issues of ancestral domain and reform of the ARMM in terms of governance and leadership. We hope that these issues will be taken up in a frank and thorough discussion between the GRP and the MILF,” he said.

Speaking for the Bangsamoro youth, Sittie Solaiha Langco Lomangco said: “Gusto namin sana masaksihan ng lahat ng tao ang pagpipirma ng kasunduan ng dalawang panig. (We want to see, we want everyone to see the actual signing of the peace agreement. We want to see that happen).”

Reassuring the participants, Dr. Ronald Adamat, a member of the government negotiating panel with the MILF and one of the resource persons at the dialogue said; “The government is doing all that it can but while it does so, we must remember that it must also operate within the framework of our 1987 constitution, and that all actions to be taken must be compliant to national laws and are guided by the Supreme Court decision on the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD)."

The Supreme Court declared it as unconstitutional in a landmark decision in August 2008.

According to Adamat, the current peace talks are focused on the issues of Bangsamoro identity, bangsamoro homeland, the sharing, control and management of resources of the Autonoumous Region of Muslim Mindanao, and the relationship between ARMM and the central government.

“While the government and the MILF are engaging in formal negotiations, there is still a need for continuous consultations and dialogues with all stakeholders particularly on issues covered by the current talks, hence the conduct of the reflective dialogues,” he said.

For his part, Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ of Konsult Mindanaw said “Peace is too precious to be left alone in the hands of fighting forces.”

“Nagaaway sila para sa mga tao pero hindi naman nila kinukunsulta ang mga tao. Pagkatapos nilang mag-away, mag-uusap sila pero hindi pa rin nila sinasali ang mga tao pero sa huli, ang mga tao pa rin ang naapektuhan (Parties go to war in the name of the people yet they don’t talk to the people they claim to be fighting for. After the war, they engage in talks on behalf of the people and yet they do not let the people speak. In the end, it is still the people who are affected),” he said.

Launched last February 20 in Jolo, Sulu, Dialogue Mindanaw is designed to inform the general public about the ongoing peace process between the government and the MILF and to encourage them to take part in the process by voicing out their concerns, sharing their views about the conflict in Mindanao.

To date, 11 have been conducted for key areas in Mindanao-- Zamboanga Peninsula and Baslian; Davao and Compostela Valley; Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City; South Cotabato, Saranggani, and General Santos City; Cagayan de Oro; Lanao Region and Cagayan Region.

Similar dialogues have also been conducted in Bacolod, Baguio and Metro Manila and are scheduled to take place in Butuan City and Bongao, Tawi-tawi.

The output from of all 13 dialogues will be consolidated and will be presented to the government and MILF negotiating panel. It will be used as basis for a draft agreement between both parties. (PNA)
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