Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Zamboanga City (Agenzia Fides) – Learn from painful experience and errors, in order to build a future of reconciliation: this is how PIME missionary Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, founder of the Silsilah movement for dialogue in the southern Philippines , interprets the situation in Mindanao, after incident in Mamasapano where, on 25 January, fighting killed 44 soldiers, 18 guerrilla fighters and 3 civilians.
In a message sent to Fides Fr. D’Ambra writes: “Why should revolutionary groups like Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front allow terrorist groups or individuals have room and offer protection in their areas? Why are they divided if all Muslims have the same objectives ?”. And, remembering the past: “Why the siege at Zamboanga? Why is Abu Sayyaf still present in several areas?”
According to the missionary, “the main reasons are inside factors, such as forms of unresolved questions of injustice and corruption, and external factors such as religious radicalism and geo-political strategies which render the peace process in Mindanao more difficult”.
In this situation, some are quick to add other problems attempting to destabilise the government and divide rebel groups, to cover up corruption with other forms of corruption, to intimidate people who wish to live in peace Mindanao.
The Silsilah movement has suggestions on how to return to the path towards peace: firstly support government and its efforts for conciliation; then it is necessary to “start to recognise mistakes and find appropriate solutions in a spirit of humility and reconciliation”, in particular “on the part of those who have the power to decide the future of peace in Mindanao and among the main Islamic groups”.
“There is still a long way to go to build sincere dialogue and authentic reconciliation” says Fr. D’Ambra stigmatising “a certain ideology of peace, which aims to reach it through violence”, re-proposing instead, “the path of dialogue as the path of peace”, experienced lived by the Silsilah Muslim-Christian movement. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/2/2015)
