IN THE name of Allah, Most Gracious and Most Merciful
We, the representatives and delegates of the Bangsamoro Women, coming
from a cross section of our society and representing organizations
have come together today in this culminating women conferences on
the Peace Process, The Bangsamoro Women Peace Summit, this March 18
2003 in Cotabato City in our commitment to our women agenda and program
of action to make Bangsamoro women both visible and considered in
all matters of Peace and development and to advance the Bangsamoro
People’s quest for genuine democracy and true self-determination.
We acknowledge with deep sadness the continued non-resolution of
festering issues that continue to undermine and erode the gains of
the Peace Process—issues that, time and time again have been
taken up and bannered about by many conferences, consultations and
people’s caucuses and yet deliberately ignored by policy makers;
We realize with despair that while the current national dispensation
and global hegemonic trends are, contrary to our hopes, bent on breaking
the will and crushing the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for
genuine and lasting peace, we are also face to face with the horrible
implications of the growing desperation that war may be the only hope
of survival for an already war-ravaged Bangsamoro people and homeland;
We hold the view that no war is justified as an instrument of building
peace and that the horrible upheaval on innocent people’s lives
is unjust and inhumane;
We, however, have confidence in the capacities of both the National
Government and the Bangsamoro liberation movements for discernment
and action as well as to abide by justice, peace, and progress as
the only principled and sustainable solution to the conflict;
Believing thus in the aforementioned, we hereby firmly assert and
reiterate our call for the resolution of vital issues summarized hereunder
but detailed and broadly echoed in many declarations, manifestos and
statements of other groups, as follows:
WE URGE HER EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO TO PUT
AN END TO THE ONGOING WAR IN MINDANAO.
The rising toll of the war must stop. For every victim that falls
and for every person displaced, there is an equivalent negative impact
on the peace process. War cannot in any way bring peace; it only creates
greater dissension as even the children among the displaced victims/evacuees
of the war know and cry out that peace reigns and their lives return
to normalcy if only the military troops stop coming to their areas.
WE STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST THE DEPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN TROOPS TO MINDANAO
The resistance of the Bangsamoro against foreign invaders is historical.
It would be entirely wrong and ill advised to force foreign war troops
on them because the blood debt of colonizers stay latent in their
memories and they can be fierce in defense and retaliation. Indeed,
at whose interest and for what gains should the tenuous Peace Process
be so sorely strained and tested?
WE REITERATE OUR CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION OF THE PEACE NEGOTIATION
BETWEEN THE GRP AND THE MILF
There is no alternative to principled negotiation in any conflict
resolution. It is the instrument and path to lasting Peace and only
those who have opportunistic gains in maintaining the oppressive imbalance
of powers and privileges in Mindanao call for war, for military operations,
for foreign military troops. They call for the non-continuation of
the peace negotiation. The Government of the Republic of the Philippines
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front must not be derailed by warmongers.
WE REITERATE THE CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF THE MNLF CHAIRMAN NUR MISUARI
Chairman Misuari is the recognized leader and representative of
the Bangsamoro people in the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and his continued
detention imperils the full and genuine implementation of the Peace
Accord. There can be no hope for lasting peace for as long he is held
in captivity by the same agency that signed a peace agreement with
him. Contrary to the seeming complacency and apathy of the Bangsamoro
masses, the resentment created by the unjustified sacrifice of their
leader without having had the chance to fully implement the peace
agreement is growing and finding sympathy, support and strength. This
situation must be remedied.
WE DEMAND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE GRP AND THE MNLF SIGNED IN 1996 AND WITNESSED BY THE ORGANIZATION
OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE
The final Peace Process Agreement, embodied in RA 9054 is a viable
solution to the conflict in Mindanao. However, the non-implementation
of its substantive contents after a considerably long passage of time
justifies renewed resistance. Unless honored in its full implementation,
the peace agreement remains in paper and peace eludes everyone.
WE REITERATE OUR CALL FOR THE UNIFICATION OF ALL BANGSAMORO SECTORS,
ORGANIZATIONS, AND LIBERATION MOVEMENTS TOWARDS A UNIFIED AND COMPREHENSIVE
AGENDA FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT.
It is imperative that the Bangsamoro have a unified perspective,
analysis and program of action on the issues confronting them and
the alternatives open to them for them to truly exercise their right
to self-determination. They must have a united stand to withstand
divisive manipulation of those who seek their continued underdevelopment
and marginalization. They must present a united front and as one,
negotiate for, build and establish peace.
APPROVED in Cotabato City,
18 March 2002
Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex, Cotabato City
---------------
