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Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Women's group calls for end to Basilan conflict
By Cheng Ordoņez
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Women leaders in the Asia-Pacific region who joined the International Women's Peace and Solidarity Mission to Basilan condemned the Philippine government's move to send thousand of troops to the province and neighboring Sulu.
Their condemnation was their way of expressing solidarity with the people of Basilan, especially the women, children, and elderly.
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The international group and its local counterparts concluded their solidarity and peace mission to Basilan.
In a statement read during a press conference in Zamboanga City Monday, the group said the Basilan people are "facing the biggest challenge to their collective community life especially to their peace and security condition."
The mission issued on Monday a collective call for the Philippine government and the MILF to resume the stalled peace talks as a significant step in resolving the Basilan crisis.
Government offensives in Basilan started Monday and are aimed insurgents behind the killings of 14 Marines, 10 of whom were beheaded and mutilated, following a clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces in the newly created town of Al-Barka. The MILF said the Marines clashed with its forces but denied the rebel troops were behind the mutilation of the 10 Marines.
The women's group also urged political personalities in the island province to help avert the renewed outbreak of hostilities, which it said would have dire consequences on the Mindanao peace process, by coming together in a spirit of dialogue and reconciliation.
It called on authorities in the judiciary to exercise prudence in producing the list of suspects to be arrested and for media to help avert war and ease tension by avoiding sensationalized coverage.
"Cognizant of our role in helping alleviate the situation in Basilan, we, the mission delegates, commit to spread to our respective countries the real situation and its attendant issues on the ground," Joji Pantosa of the Mennonite Central Committee representing Canada reads from the statement.
The group added it commends non-government organizations in Basilan led by women for their peace-building initiatives and urged a greater role for women in the peace process.
To the media, the group appealed: "Instead of painting the images of war, the media community must help project what the people are doing in order to address the conflict situation." (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (August 14, 2007 issue)
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