Fr. Angel Calvo (right), president of the Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ), gestures during a press conference with local reporters. Beside him is Prof. Ali Yacub of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), a member of the Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace. File PhotoThe Peace Advocates of Zamboanga (PAZ) has welcomed as a "positive step" the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral demand between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on August 5 in Malaysia.
Father Angel Calvo, PAZ president, made the remarks at a press conference yesterday in R.T. Lim Boulevard on extortion letters sent recently by the extremist Abu Sayyaf group to residents in Basilan Province, compelling non-Muslims to convert to Islam.
"We consider that this MOA to be signed between the Philippine government and the MILF is a very significant positive step in the pursuit of the peace to solve the problem and the conflict in Mindanao," Calvo told reporters.
However, Calvo stressed that the involvement and the participation of all the people affected and the citizens in matters of public interest are indispensable in the context of transparency and justice for all.
The MOA was initialed by GRP and MILF peace panels last Sunday, a day before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered her State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Congress. It would be signed formally on August 5 in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Both parties agreed the plebiscite would be held a year after the signing of MOA on ancestral domain and the consolidation of all agreements on security, ancestral domain and the political settlement that will be negotiated after the signing.
Also in the MOA, 712 villages in Mindanao are to be included in the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (JDE) and eight villages of Zamboanga City are proposed to be included in the BJE but subject to a plebiscite.
The other villages are in Isabela City, Basilan; Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur; Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay; Lanao del Norte, Iligan City, Bukidnon, Cotabato City, North Cotabato and Palawan.
Although he considers the upcoming GRP-MILF deal as a positive element in the quest for peace in Mindanao, Calvo said this doesn't mean however all the elements and all the provisions in the MOA are already perfect.
When asked whether the ancestral domain document made by the so-called peace negotiators without the benefit of consultation is fair to the people who are affected, Calvo replied indirectly: "We think this is a positive step. We need to find a solution."
He further said that one of the solutions is to clarify the concept of ancestral domain, which is not easy. "But the good point is that we're reaching a consensus, although not perfect." although it is the right of the people of Mindanao to demand a kind of transparency."
On local officials in Mindanao who opposed the Moro homeland accord, Calvo said it is the right of the people of Mindanao to demand a kind of transparency and that they're entitled to discuss and argue for it's part of the process.
Meanwhile, the Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace which composed of the Ulama, Muslim professionals and traditional leaders have declared that Islam is a religion of peace, harmony and compassion.
In a statement, the interreligious group made the declaration after suspected Abu Sayyaf militants sent extortion letters to non-Muslim residents in Basilan Province, compelling them to pay Jizya (Islamic tax) and to convert to Islam.
"We, the silent majority, are saddened and pained every time Islam is painted and portrayed as a religion of the sword and intolerance by those who do not belong to the faith and even by some who proclaim themselves as followers of the faith.
It is disheartening that some people, who want to give a wrong impression of Islam, simply select a few words from the Qur'an, distort them and put them in the wrong context, all in order to show that Islam supports violence and evil motives.
The time has come for the Muslim Ummah to condemn those impostors, who use Islam for their own devilish selfish motives. Islam respects freedom of religion, Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: "There shall be no compulsion in religion. Indeed truth has been made manifest distinct."
Therefore we invite people of peace and good will to join us in our concerted effort to spread the real message of Islam. LET US UNITE TO CONFRONT THE FORCES OF EVIL THAT ONCE AGAIN THREATENS OUR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE."
Father Angel Calvo, PAZ president, made the remarks at a press conference yesterday in R.T. Lim Boulevard on extortion letters sent recently by the extremist Abu Sayyaf group to residents in Basilan Province, compelling non-Muslims to convert to Islam.
"We consider that this MOA to be signed between the Philippine government and the MILF is a very significant positive step in the pursuit of the peace to solve the problem and the conflict in Mindanao," Calvo told reporters.
However, Calvo stressed that the involvement and the participation of all the people affected and the citizens in matters of public interest are indispensable in the context of transparency and justice for all.
The MOA was initialed by GRP and MILF peace panels last Sunday, a day before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered her State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Congress. It would be signed formally on August 5 in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Both parties agreed the plebiscite would be held a year after the signing of MOA on ancestral domain and the consolidation of all agreements on security, ancestral domain and the political settlement that will be negotiated after the signing.
Also in the MOA, 712 villages in Mindanao are to be included in the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (JDE) and eight villages of Zamboanga City are proposed to be included in the BJE but subject to a plebiscite.
The other villages are in Isabela City, Basilan; Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur; Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay; Lanao del Norte, Iligan City, Bukidnon, Cotabato City, North Cotabato and Palawan.
Although he considers the upcoming GRP-MILF deal as a positive element in the quest for peace in Mindanao, Calvo said this doesn't mean however all the elements and all the provisions in the MOA are already perfect.
When asked whether the ancestral domain document made by the so-called peace negotiators without the benefit of consultation is fair to the people who are affected, Calvo replied indirectly: "We think this is a positive step. We need to find a solution."
He further said that one of the solutions is to clarify the concept of ancestral domain, which is not easy. "But the good point is that we're reaching a consensus, although not perfect." although it is the right of the people of Mindanao to demand a kind of transparency."
On local officials in Mindanao who opposed the Moro homeland accord, Calvo said it is the right of the people of Mindanao to demand a kind of transparency and that they're entitled to discuss and argue for it's part of the process.
Meanwhile, the Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace which composed of the Ulama, Muslim professionals and traditional leaders have declared that Islam is a religion of peace, harmony and compassion.
In a statement, the interreligious group made the declaration after suspected Abu Sayyaf militants sent extortion letters to non-Muslim residents in Basilan Province, compelling them to pay Jizya (Islamic tax) and to convert to Islam.
"We, the silent majority, are saddened and pained every time Islam is painted and portrayed as a religion of the sword and intolerance by those who do not belong to the faith and even by some who proclaim themselves as followers of the faith.
It is disheartening that some people, who want to give a wrong impression of Islam, simply select a few words from the Qur'an, distort them and put them in the wrong context, all in order to show that Islam supports violence and evil motives.
The time has come for the Muslim Ummah to condemn those impostors, who use Islam for their own devilish selfish motives. Islam respects freedom of religion, Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: "There shall be no compulsion in religion. Indeed truth has been made manifest distinct."
Therefore we invite people of peace and good will to join us in our concerted effort to spread the real message of Islam. LET US UNITE TO CONFRONT THE FORCES OF EVIL THAT ONCE AGAIN THREATENS OUR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE."
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