Inter-religious group to discuss GRP-MILF peace talks issue
text DARWIN T. WEE

THE Inter-Religious Solidarity Movement for Peace (IRSMP) in its monthly meeting on Saturday, April 8, will tackle anew issues related to the ongoing peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The meeting, to be held at its usual venue of Solidarity Center at the ground floor of the Magbasa Kita Foundation building in R.T. Lim Boulevard, will start at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

IRMSP convenor Fr. Angel Calvo said the public is invited to come and listen to or join in the dialogue among the interfaith members.

One or two resource persons are expected to lead the discussions. Among the major points of discussion is the question of ancestral domain, which according to the peace negotiators comprises the last item in their agenda or talking points to be threshed out after which a final peace accord is expected to be signed.

Philippine negotiators led by Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. JesusDureza held a dialogue in the city with political and sectoral leaders of the city and Zamboanga provinces last March 27.

Majority of the local participants expressed their objection to the inclusion of their cities or provinces in any new autonomous government set up that will result from the current talks.

Fr. Calvo noted, however, that the talks and its agenda have not been seriously and thoroughly studied by the local population.

Such objective debate or discussion is needed to help bring about a local concord at – be it through an agreement with the MILF – that will help ensure a just and lasting peace and solutions to socio-economic problems like the massive poverty and high level of illiteracy inMindanao.

He said an automatic and biased rejection of a peace-building accord will lead to the perpetuation of the conflict and violence in the region.

Mindanao, he further noted, has been under a state of war for almost 40 years already.

Mainly because this war, Mindanao has lagged far behind in economic development and the poverty has spawned more violence like terrorism.

Aside from insurgency and terrorism, underdevelopment is also causing such other conditions like high unemployment and prostitution; malnutrition, poor health and diseases; evacuations, homelessness and mendicancy; high school drop-out rate, illiteracy, juvenile delinquency, drug use, high crime rates and salvagings; abuse of human rights particularly of the highlanders; political patronage, vote-buying, other election malpractices and the erosion of democratic institutions; graft and corruption and others. (PAZ)