Make peace not war

There are lawmakers and jingoistic media commentators who continue to beat the drums of war with the argument that peace in Mindanao is only possible through more violence and even all out war. They have been joined by elements on the political fringe jumping at any opportunity to undermine the stability of the country.

The so called “Left,” who never joined EDSA People power, are quick to denounce the government’s search for peace in Mindanao. These same leftist forces have not condemned the killings of policemen, soldiers and medical personnel in recent ambushes by the New People’s Army.

But now there are more groups representing responsible sectors of society who are finally coming out publicly to voice opinions based on reason and fact based analysis rather than emotional pandering to the public.

There was a recent interview by a female television commentator of two UP professors — Emmanuel de Dios and Edna Co — on their stand on the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Before the two guests could explain  their stand, the commentator started  telling them that “you are just saying what the President said.” After several attempts to explain and being cut off with the same remark, Prof. de Dios, perhaps out of frustration, simply said: “ Just because the President said it does not make it wrong.”

Those who are  interested in understanding the logic and reason for the current process should read manifestos  from groups who have issued their stand based on well thought out reasoning. There are three particular groups I would like to cite with excerpts from their statements.

Alliance of business organizations

Several business organizations – Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines and two from Mindanao namely, the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mindanao Business Council – recently issued a joint statement.

The group had some blunt views on the current political situation saying:

“In the midst of national mourning, certain sectors and political players have openly called for all out war in Mindanao, branded our brother and sister Muslim Filipinos as terrorists, cast doubt on the Bangsamoro Peace Process and the sincerity of the negotiators, and vigorously demanded the resignation of the President.

… We do not and will not support such calls. WE CALL INSTEAD FOR SOBRIETY, COURAGE AND UNITY.”

The business groups reiterated the economic gains and the credible campaign to restore integrity and good governance under the stewardship of President Aquino. They, therefore, said: “ We must not allow political manipulations to take advantage of legitimate emotion and grief to the point of trumping reason and endangering the gains we have made over the last few years....We reaffirm our support for the Aquino administration and the Bangsamoro Peace Process. There is no other answer to the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people but total and lasting peace. It is in this context that we appeal to the Aquino administration and all parties involved to put the peace process back on truck at the earliest time possible.”

Professors for peace

In their statement on the Mamasapano incident the 32 signatories said they were Filipino academics, teachers, public intellectuals, policy analysts and researchers from the leading institutions that included De La Salle University, University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, Asian Institute of Management, Ateneo de Davao, University of San Carlos, National University of Singapore, Georgetown University (USA) and other schools.

Their statement had two main messages — a call for sobriety and that peace is possible in a just and inclusive society. On sobriety they said: “ We are alarmed by the hatred and bigotry surfacing in both traditional and social media; and we call on all media to pursue more stringent fact based reporting at this critical point in the peace process and the nation’s history.”

In a recent television interview, the editor-in-chief of the Economist magazine was asked for the reason the magazine has lasted close to a century and retained its international credibility. She replied that they make sure their writers’ views are the result of fact based analysis. It is clear that many of our commentators and writers reflect views based solely on opinions or specific agendas.

The Professors for Peace believe that peace is possible and offered a historical perspective. They said that the “ history of all successfully negotiated peace settlements elsewhere, from Northern Ireland to South Africa tell us that it is impossible to right all wrongs committed in the past by both sides. Yet it is still possible to end the vicious cycle of conflict by sparing future generations from war, and by immediately addressing the wide social, economic and other divides that feed the cycle of conflict and underdevelopment so poignantly revealed by the Mamasapano tragedy.”

This message should be addressed to the senators and commentators who equate justice with the maxim “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” The historical perspective may be too deep and far reaching to politicians whose agenda is limited to the 2016 elections and the media commentator who is only interested in viewership and listenership ratings.

The statement ends by urging the nation’s leaders to continue to strengthen the peace process and ends with the hope of giving our youth “ a chance one day to build that cohesive and united society that we all aspire for.”

For all those who are interested in joining their effort for peace, the Professors for Peace Movement invites everyone interested to send an e mail to [email protected]. As they say — may their tribe increase.

Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP)

The CEAP is the organization that represents  more than 1,240 Catholic schools throughout the Philippines. It includes institutions that cater to the more affluent sector of society but also  700 mission schools primarily for the poor.

In terms of tertiary education – colleges and universities — the CEAP has more institutions than the government. In some recent media stories, it has been highlighted that some Catholic clergy and nuns are opposing the government’s stand on the Bangsamoro process for peace. However, the CEAP has come out with its official stand which I have written about .

 Let me just repeat the first statement of their manifesto: “We are profoundly saddened and shocked that the deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Basic Law have been indefinitely suspended.”

In its closing statement, the Catholic educators said: “Let those in the north and south who are charged with leadership walk humbly, calmly and wisely before the God of Peace together. Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. Do not requite evil with evil. Requite evil with good, confusion and rage with wisdom, death with life. Pass a Bangsamoro Basic Law that secures justice and peace.”

The principal officers of the CEAP who signed included Br. Erguiza FSC of La Salle  (president), Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. of Ateneo de Davao (vice president), Fr. Herminio Dagohoy O.P. of UST (treasurer) and other trustees.

Give peace a chance

I join the business groups who said : “ We cannot afford to squander 56 months of institutionalizing reforms, weeding out corruption and solidifying our economic and social foundations.”

We need a new People Power – a people united with sobriety and courage moving forward as one united nation in search of peace and prosperity for future generations.

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Writing class for adults: Warming

Up for Writing One’s Life Story

Memoir Writing: Owning Your Life Story with Mariel N. Francisco, co-author of “The History of the Burgis” and “Ladies’ Lunch and Other Ways to Wholeness,” on March 14 (Saturday, 1-5 pm) at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street. For registration and fee details contact 0917-6240196 or email [email protected]

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Email: [email protected]