US: Religious affiliation not a factor in Mindanao fighting

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government generally respects religious freedom in law and in practice and religious affiliation is not a relevant factor in attacks, kidnappings and killings by Islamic militants and the communist New People’s Army, the US State Department reported.

But the State Department noted some ethnic, religious and cultural discrimination against Muslims by members of the Christian majority and this, combined with economic disparities, contributed to persistent conflict in certain provinces in Mindanao.

In a 2010 Report on International Religious Freedom released on Tuesday, the State Department said US embassy officials actively encouraged the peace process between the government and the MILF and maintained active outreach with religious leaders and nongovernmental organizations to engage them in interfaith activities.

The report said US development support to Mindanao for fiscal year 2010 totaled $98 million, nearly 70 percent of US foreign assistance to the Philippines.

It said US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs contributed to promoting peace and fostering an environment for greater religious tolerance.

USAID trained more than 6,042 peace advocates, mostly Muslims from areas in Mindanao affected by the conflict and Muslim separatist activities. Thirty-two percent of the trained peace advocates were Muslim women.

The report covers the legal status of religious freedom in more than 190 countries and territories around the world and designates so-called Countries of Particular Concern whose governments have engaged in, or tolerated, systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.

Eight states designated as Countries of Particular Concern are: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in remarks at the release of the 13th Annual Report on International Religious Freedom said religious tolerance was one of the essential elements not only of a sustainable democracy but of a peaceful society that respects the rights and dignity of each individual.

“People who have a voice in how they are governed – no matter what their identity or ethnicity or religion – are more likely to have a stake in both their government’s and their society’s success. That is good for stability, for American national security, and for global security,” she said.