Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - Peace in Southern Philippines is not just a matter of "political negotiations," but "requires an effort that involves and considers history, culture, the religion of all social groups present in the area: Christians , Muslims and indigenous Lumad " This is what Fr. Sebastiano D'Ambra says in an interview with Fides, a missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIFM), engaged in interfaith dialogue for 30 years in Southern Philippines
Fr. D'Ambra, founder of the movement for "Sislsilah" dialogue and "Harmony Village", where Christians and Muslims live together, has recently organized a meeting in Zamboanga City to deepen the "multiple perspectives" on the conflict in Mindanao, the largest island in the southern Philippines where the rebellion of Islamist movements have been for more than 30 years.
"Not only the political negotiation between government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Islamic group engaged in peace talks with the government is involved. What needs to be analyzed is the cultural context which should include a political agreement, that contemplates the different positions and local sensitivities and makes progress starting from the lower classes towards peace, " explains the missionary. Fr. D'Ambra notes "a favorable climate and a new wind that blows since the government of president Benigno Aquino has been in power, but underlines the present difficulties:" corruption and the rooted structure of clans that reign in Mindanao can be of serious obstacles. "
The current debate focuses on the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. The vote should be held next August, but the government intends to postpone it to 2013, in two years, to act preventively on phenomena such as corruption, nepotism, vote trading, and the dominion of clans. The postponement, however, is not appreciated by some groups and local authorities.
The key points of the negotiations between Manila and the MILF (the last session was held in Malaysia two months ago, after two years of interruption) are: security, sovereignty over the territory, self-determination, economic development programs in the region. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/01/2011)
