MORO GROUPS HOLD INDIGNATION RALLIES

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Written by Samira Ali Gutoc

Monday, 06 October 2003

Rekindling the anger of EIDUL ADHA which jumpstarted the Pikit hostilities, Moro groups, led by the city mayor, Muslimin Sema, rallied Saturday in the city Plaza to protest the Friday bombing of a mosque in Midsayap, Cotabato. Buliok, Maguindanao province, where Cotabato is located, was also the site of hostilities on the eve of the Muslim religious holiday, Eidul Adha last February. Other press conferences and rallies in Manila and Marawi City, led by Mayor Solitario Ali and Muslim civil society groups are scheduled on October 9.

Killed in the Cotabato mosque within the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) compound were NIA Regional Director Macmod Mending and NIA Provincial Director Omarkaiz Mamalac, Imam Ismael Datukali and an unnamed civilian, while performing regular Friday congregational prayers. Two grenade blasts rocked the mosque at about 12:30 pm, injuring 17 others.

See Official Manifesto

The bodies of the four were paraded in the city, while onlookers and rallyists shouting for justice, with placards in the emotion-filled rally stated," Why killing inside us inside our mosque?", "Stop Killing Us," and "We Demand Justice for the Victims." A manifesto issued in the indignation rally condemned said act relating it to past events, "We know that this tragedy is only the latest in the long history of injustices and atrocities committed against the Bangsamoro. From the Jabidah and the Manili Massacres decades ago to the more recent bombing of Buliok were thousands of Bangsamoro were praying this year's Eid'l Adha are all manifestations of long line of deliberate and sustained atrocity against us."

The manifesto also condemned the "dastardly act and terrorist attack in the strongest possible terms." "Islam condemns this inhuman act," said Amor Pendaliday of the MILF's Agency for Youth Affairs (AYA).

In Marawi City, the Coalition of Moro Youth Movements accused government of the bombings, relating it to the previous Davao mosque bombings. ""Bombing mosques has been the practice of the Philippine colonial government especially Marcos, Erap and Gloria." Mindanao State University System Student Regent Mohammad Abbas and chairman of the Bangsamoro Youth Movement said, "We want peace, not genocide."

Muslim leaders in Manila condemned the act seeing it to be timed during the current GRP-MILF peace talks. Our apprehension is that anti-peace elements in our midst have unleashed their diabolic scheme meant to disturb the ongoing peace efforts," said ARMM Social Fund Director Norhata Alonto.

A local official of the Land Transportation Authority (LTO) however attributes the bomber's motives to be "work-related." Mending, an awarded outstanding project manager, heads NIA which is currently involved in land claims with private property owners.

Cotabato civil society groups demanded for "speedy justice" and investigation of the bombings by President Gloria Arroyo and North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Pinol.

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