|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
 CHRISTIAN
& MUSLIMHEALTH PROFESSIONALS JOIN HANDS FOR PEACE COTABATO CITY -- A joint Christian and Muslim medical-dental mission was held last November 10-12, 2006 to support a peacebuilding movement in Mindanao. Operation Compassion, a ministry of Greenhills Christian Fellowship in Metro Manila, sent 17 health professionals with a generous supply of medicines and vitamins which were dispensed free of charge. Patients were supplied sufficient amount of medicines--from 7 days to 30 days--depending on need. The Manila-based professionals were joined by a group of Muslim professionals and volunteers--mostly belonging to Datu Kharis Baraguir's family--from the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. The local office of the Department of Health also sent medical and nursing students to assist in two of the Cotabato mission sites. Five strategic locations--3 in Cotabato City, 1 in Datu Odin Sinsuat, and 1 in Sultan Kudarat--were chosen as project sites for this mission. Research have shown that these communities are among the most needy in terms of health services. More than 4000 patients were treated during this three-day medical-dental outreach where personal touch and quality care were emphasized. Minor surgeries were also done on site. The team also took notice of those needing major surgeries and plans are being made to take them to Manila for a more advanced medical procedure. Both Muslim ustadzes and Christian pastors were involved in providing spiritual care, including prayers for the holistic health of patients. With the efficient and effective coordination of Joy Raguine, Cotabato-based Al Hayat Foundation and the City Alliance Evangelical Church both helped in connecting with local government officials. They also helped provide volunteers and funds. During the orientation, Peacebuilders Community presented a vision on how medical-dental missions like this can significantly contribute to the peacebuilding movement in Mindanao. |
||
|
THERE IS HOPE IN THE PEACE PROCESS Mindanao People's Caucus We are members of the Grassroots Peace Mission of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) who completed a three-day mission in Manila last October 25-27, 2006. For a change, we return with renewed confidence and hope that peace is indeed possible. We have delivered our message to Malacañang that the grassroots communities in the conflict-affected areas, Muslims, Christians and indigenous peoples collectively desire that the GRP-MILF peace talks to continue. The peace mission was an attempt to reverse history. A history of wars, a history of betrayals, a history of broken promises. If war has been imposed on us for several decades in Mindanao, this time, Mindanao grassroots people dared to stand before national leaders in Manila appealing, nay, telling them to sustain the talks and exert creative, "out-of-the-box" solutions if necessary to break the current impasse. Our mission had earlier met with the MILF peace panel and high command to also deliver the same message. We cannot accept another outbreak of war in our communities anymore. Read more... |
||
|
GOVERNMENT PEACE NEGOTIATING PANEL — DETERMINED TO PURSUE THE PEACE TALKS PBC Team Last Thursday, October 5th, 2006, the Peace Negotiating Panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) met with the representatives of the various peace communities in Mindanao. The people were anxious to hear more about the current impasse in the Peace Talks between the GRP and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Read more... |
||
|
A CALL TO PURSUE THE PEACE TALKS Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches A statement by the Executive Committee of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, September 25, 2006 The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), a national association of Christian denominations, local churches, and organizations, calls on the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to seek all means possible to break their current impasse. As followers of Jesus Christ—the Prince of Peace, the PCEC join hands with our fellow Filipinos in our desire to have genuine and lasting peace in our land. We deeply value what have been attained by both the Government Peace Negotiating Panel and the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel during the talks. It is our desire to preserve those gains... Read the Statement |
||
|
A CALL TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES: PARTICIPATE IN BUILDING PEACE IN OUR LAND! PBC Team During the meeting of Mindanao People's Caucus (MPC) last Saturday, September 23, 2006 in Carmen, North Cotabato, representatives from the Lumads, the Bangsamoros, and the Migrants expressed their deep concern about the current impasse in the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). An MPC elder spoke to us personally and said: "I am deeply bothered by the lack of participation of Christians in this peacebuilding effort. Where are they? We need to hear from them. We need their statements particularly about this impasse in the peace talks. Aren't they concerned about this deadlock in peace talks that could lead to another war in our land?" Read more |
||
|
RESIST THE HAWKS, CONTINUE THE TALKS Mindanao People's Caucus A statement on the current impasse of the GRP-MILF Peace Talks, September 20, 2006 To preserve the gains of the peace negotiations, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) calls on the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to exhaust all means possible to break their current impasse. We appeal to both the Peace Panels to stretch the limits of their ability, patience and wisdom to enable them to overcome the current obstacles and open the windows for renewed confidence and goodwill. We urge you to re-imagine your tasks, your responsibilities and your avowed common dream for a peaceful and prosperous Mindanao. You owe it to the people of Mindanao, to the millions of women, men and children whose hopes for peace and development you have entrusted in your hands... Read the Statement |
||
|
STATEMENT TO PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD OF IRAN Mennonite Central Committee During the Iranian President's meeting with a group of religious leaders in the United States, September 22, 2006 We, at Peacebuilders Community, agree with the prepared statement of Robb Davis, Executive Director of the Mennonite Central Committee, during his participation in a meeting between American religious leaders and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran: BismillahIR rahmanIR, rahiim. In the name of God the merciful, the One who shows mercy, we welcome you here. My name is Robb Davis and I am the Executive Director of the Mennonite Central Committee. We were invited to organize this gathering between you and representatives of the three Abrahamic faiths. Most of us here today are of the Christian faith representing Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Mainline Protestant (Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian) as well as Evangelical churches. We are joined by brothers of the Islamic and Jewish faiths as well... Read more |
||
|
SAVE THE 1996 PEACE AGREEMENT, FREE NUR MISUARI Mindanao PeaceWeavers On the 10th Year Anniversary of the September 10, 1996 Peace Agreement Our friends from Mindanao PeaceWeavers invited us to attend the People's Conversation and Truth-Telling On the 10th Year Anniversary of the Signing of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement. Representatives from various sectors of Mindanao's multicultural population—Bangsamoros, Lumads, and Migrants—shared their stories on how they see the Peace Agreement based on their experiences in the past 10 years. Mindanao PeaceWeavers issued a statement that expresses the sentiments of most peace-loving Mindanaons. We want our larger community to hear what the people, with whom we work, say about this 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement... Read the Statement |
||
|
ON THE KILLINGS OF POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES PBC Team's Statement As a Mennonite peacebuilding team committed to the achievement of justice and the resolution of conflicts through peaceful and non-violent means, we condemn the killings of political activists in our country. While the local human rights group Karapatan reports of more than 700 politically-motivated murders in the Philippines in the last five years, Amnesty International put the number at 114. Either report concerns us deeply for we strongly believe in the intrinsic value of every human life as created in the Image of God regardless of religious belief or political ideology. We approach this current crisis-of-violence from the perspective of our religious convictions, to wit: As followers of Jesus, we participate in his ministry of peace and justice. He has called us to find our blessing in making peace and seeking justice... Read more |
||
|
OUR WIDER COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE HOSTILITIES IN LEBANON by Mennonite Church Canada Robert J. Suderman, the General Secretary of our wider community, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada last July 27, 2006: As a church of the historic and well respected Peace-Church tradition, Mennonite Church Canada is deeply concerned about the escalation of violence that we have recently witnessed in Lebanon, Israel and Gaza. We are distressed to see the actions of combatants on all sides of this conflict that have already destroyed many lives, including civilian families, and permanently marred livelihoods, homes, and vital infrastructure of the nations... Read more |
||
|
MPC, BANTAY-CEASEFIRE APPEAL FOR SUPPORT FOR IDPS AND CEASEFIRE Mindanao People's Caucus We After nine days, the clashes between the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) members identified with Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and members of the MILF 105th Base Command has finally ceased. With much painstaking effort, the International Monitoring Team and the Joint Ceasefire Committee has succeeded in separating the warring parties with a buffer zone that will physically prevent any potential on the ground of an engagement between the contending forces... Read the Statement |
||
|
A CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM PEACEBUILDING PARTNERSHIP BEGINS! by PBC-CIAPDI A partnership agreement between the Community Initiative Assistance for Peace and Development, Inc. (CIAPDI) and Peacebuilders Community (PBC) had been finalized last Saturday, April 29, 2006. The meeting was held in Barangay Dungguan, Municipality of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao Province. Read more... |
||
|
WE HIKED THE BUD DAHU ON A PEACE PILGRIMAGE by Daniel Pantoja Gordon Janzen (Asia Partnership Facilitator, Mennonite Church Canada), Jon Rudy (Asia Peace Resource Director, Mennonite Central Committee), and I (Peacebuilders Community Director) were invited by the Mindanao Peaceweavers to join the Tausug people in commemorating the Bud Dahu Centennial. Read more
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
