DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 October)  – The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations (CBCS) and other peace advocacy groups in Mindanao are appealing to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who will be in Manila for this week’s Global Forum on Migration and Development, to help bring the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) back to the negotiating table as hundreds of thousands of civilians are bearing the brunt of the two-month renewed hostilities.

In a letter dated October 23, coursed through Ambassador Hilario Davide, the Philippines’ Head of Mission to the United Nations, the CBCS commended Ban Ki-moon for his August 13 appeal for “greater restraint, protection of all civilians,  as well as broader provision of access to humanitarian assistance” and, citing the “suffering of the people,” appealed to him “to effect, in the soonest possible time the intervention of the UN Department of Political Affairs as the most valuable contribution of the international community to our people’s age-old aspiration for peace settlement in the Southern Philippines.”

Earlier, on October 14, the Mindanao PeaceWeavers, a network of seven peace advocacy networks, including CBCS, also wrote Ban Ki-moon, seeking his “assistance in preserving the gains of the peace process in Mindanao and explor(ing) possibilities for a UN role in this regard considering the priorities of your office on peace and human security.” 

The MPW’s letter, signed by Gus Miclat, Executive Director of the Initiatives for International Development (IID), said the “urgent letter” was written “in the hope that your visit to the Philippines will be an opportunity for you to once again prevail upon the two parties in conflict in Southern Philippines to immediately halt the hostilities and return to the negotiating table as you have previously called on them to do.”

The MPW also told informed Ban Ki-moon “about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Central Mindanao and other conflict affected areas in Southern Philippines.  With the recent decision of the Philippine Supreme Court on the unconstitutionality of the agreement on ancestral domain between the government and the MILF, the armed conflict is sure to heighten and the urgency of averting further loss of lives and properties is of paramount importance.”

The MPW requested Ban Ki-moon “for an audience with you while you are in Manila, bringing with us our representatives from conflict affected areas in Mindanao for a dialogue-meeting with you to further explore ways of collaboration with your good office.”

The MPW is still awaiting response from Ban Ki-moon’s office.

CBCS comprises at least a hundred Moro organizations, Guiamel Alim, executive director of Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc., and a member of the Council of Elders, said. MindaNews received a copy of the letter containing the names and signatures of at least 50 representatives of the Moro groups.

Other groups also urge the resumption of the peace talks.

Amirah Lidasan, president of the Suara Bangsamoro party-list, told MindaNews she would like Ban Ki-moon “to look into the situation in Mindanao.”

She said they would find a way to give the UN Sec-Gen a copy of the initial findings of the National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission.

“ We also urge him to listen to the plea of the people – Moro, Christian and Lumad – to stop the war and pull-out AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and US troops in our communities and to help push the GRP to revoke its all-out war policy - the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration – and resume peace negotiations, not just with the MIlLF but with the NDF, too,” Lidasan said.

Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga executive director of  the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, said the UN “has to seriously consider intervening in the Mindanao conflict before the humanitarian crisis will take place.”

“The UN secretary general has to send a delegation to assist the GRP and MILF find ways to resume talks,” he said.

MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal said he would like the UN Secretary-General to “help free the Bangsamoro people for their right to self determination” and to “get involved  in the GRP-MILF peace process.”

Dan Pantoja of the Mennonites’ Peacebuilders’ Community, wants Ban Ki-moon to “tell GRP-AFP to keep their checkpoints open for humanitarian aid especially among Muslim communities. Put more resources on peace and reconciliation programs among grassroots communities as implemented by inter-faith CSOs . Visit Mindanaos critical areas for global awareness.”

Zainuddin Malang, executive director of the Center for Moro Law and Policy said, “with all three branches of the state closing its doors on the fruit of 11 years of peace talks, the peace process has little chances of being revived without the intervention of influential foreign governments and international institutions like the United Nations. Only firm pressure from the international community can provide leverage to the voices of peace advocates to offset the influence of powerful vested conservative groups who oppose the peace process who fear that it will lead to a diminuition of their economic and political interests in the conflict-affected areas.”   (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)