Residents of 3 Mindanao cities call for peace

ILIGAN CITY — "Kalilintad asa ka (Peace where are you)?"

This was the cry of hundreds of peace advocates here the other day as they marched through the main streets to urge the government to stop the war in Mindanao and to protest the US-led impending war against Iraq.

The peace rally was held simultaneously in the cities of Marawi and Cagayan de Oro.

"We are in solidarity with our innocent brothers in Iraq who are now facing an inevitable war," said the Muslim Multisectoral Movement for Peace and Development and the Islamic Movement in Electoral Reform for Good Government.

The Muslim protesters were joined by members of the militant group Sanlakas and other peace advocates. They condemned the military for the escalation of war in Mindanao and called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Effigies of US President George W. Bush and Reyes were burned to highlight the protest.

Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur Vice Gov. Mapupuno Datu Ramos and Marawi City Mayor Omar Solitario Ali expressed grave concern for the plight of the evacuees in North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

In Cagayan de Oro City, Mayor Vicente Emano initiated a peace dialogue and urged the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to go back to the negotiating table and forge a sincere peace agreement.

Muslim and Christian peace advocates joined Emano as he made a broadcast link to at least nine Catholic bishops and Protestant ministers from Iligan, Kidapawan, Cotabato, Bukidnon, Dipolog, Pagadian, Butuan and Marawi. Ulamas (Islamic preachers) and other callers also participated in the dialogue.

"If we cannot stop this fighting in Mindanao, all of us are affected," said Hadja Cabaybay Abubakar of the Moro Women’s Group.