[UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 360-Religious leaders call for cease-fire in Philippines

[NewsDesk]

Religious leaders call for cease-fire in Philippines 

Aug. 28, 2008     

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org. 

A UMNS Report 
By Kathy L. Gilbert* 

United Methodist Bishop Leo A. Soriano has joined other religious
leaders in calling for a cease-fire in the southern Philippines between
the government and Muslim rebels known as the Moro Islamic Liberation
Force.

The violence erupted in early August on the island of Mindanao after the
Philippine Supreme Court blocked a deal that would expand an existing
Muslim autonomous zone, according to news reports. The deal had been
opposed by Christian communities.

The clashes have displaced more than 300,000 people, mostly from Muslim
areas, according to relief workers in Mindanao, the second-largest
island in the Philippines.

"Moro issues in Mindanao are legitimate issues of justice and peace that
require honest scrutiny historically, politically, economically and
culturally," said Soriano, who leads the church's Davoa Area in the
Philippines.

"The Philippine government should take this seriously, and negotiations
towards this goal should be done in utmost transparency. While there is
an exigency for resolution, let us be careful in crafting our options.
Military action is not the correct option," he wrote in an Aug. 20
pastoral letter.

Soriano emphasized that differences in religious beliefs are not to
blame for the fighting. The conflict, he said, is due to "economic,
political and cultural injustices."

At a United Methodist-sponsored peace-building gathering last summer for
Muslims and Christians in the Philippines, Soriano said conflict in
Mindanao is not due to religious issues, though "religion can be an
important instrument.

"It is our hope our churches will be one of the pieces that leads to
peace," the bishop said at the July 2007 dialogue in Davao City.

Dialogue participants created and signed a covenant pledging to act
together to bring a peaceful end to human rights violations; continue to
hold peace dialogues; educate members of local churches and masjids,
especially children, about each other's faith; and understand and
respect each other's religious practices.

Recently, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines issued a call
for peace following reports that violence had escalated in Mindanao and
that its victims include civilians and children.

"We counsel all UCCP members to exercise Christ's message of love for
our Muslim brothers and sisters," wrote the Revs. Juliet Solia-Aguilar
and Raymundo P. Gelloagan, national program coordinators of the UCCP.
"... We must resist any temptation to foster prejudice and ill will on
the basis of faith."

InPeace Mindanao, a grassroots movement linking Muslims, indigenous
peoples and Christians, called for the "roots of the armed conflict" to
be addressed. 

"We believe that peace in Moroland can only be achieved when the roots
of armed conflict-economic inequality, political marginalization,
national oppression, and imperialist globalization-are addressed.

"We are saddened, however, that the political machinations of the Arroyo
regime lead to the further minoritization of the Moro people instead of
upholding their right to self-determination." 

In a recent speech, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,
declared that "there is no all-out war. What we are doing," she said,
"we are doing to have all-out peace in Mindanao."

The New York Times reported Arroyo is exerting pressure on the
11,000-strong rebel front that has been fighting for Muslim self-rule
since the 1970s.

Soriano cited the United Methodist law book which states "war is
incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ."

"As a church, we denounce this war because its consequences are
deplorable," he said. "It is lamentable to see innocent civilians, both
Moro and other inhabitants, to flee from their homes with tremendous
fear and anxiety. It is also disheartening to note that when they return
to their homes, their houses and properties are turned into ashes and
are gone."

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service writer based in Nashville,
Tenn. 

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk at umcom.org. 

******************** 

United Methodist News Service 
Photos and stories also available at: 
http://umns.umc.org 




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