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STAKING ONE’S PIECE IN THE PEACE TALKS |
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Written by Samira Ali Gutoc
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Friday, 26 December 2003 |
Is peace an impossible dream? asked a lady faculty of the King Faisal Center for Islamic and Arabic Studies (KFCIAS) .
In line with the GRP-MILF peace talks next year, consensus-building among the island’s “stakeholders” particularly the bangsamoro’s religious and academic circles was sought in a symposium on “Islam and Peace Initiatives in Mindanao” held Dec. 14-17 at the Mindanao State University’s (MSU) KFCIAS.
Promoting “peaceful dialogue,” host Mustafa Dimaro, chair of MSU’s International Relations Department says, “it is not enough for warring groups to meet in negotiations under the auspices of peace brokers. We must understand our role in the peace process.”
Muslim religious teachers – ustadzes, aleems, instructors and academicians, and students from General Santos, Basilan, Cotabato, Davao and Marawi City were represented in the symposium, supported by the Asia Foundation. KFCIAS Dean Hamid Barra said the event was an offshoot of a Cebu forum, Experts Opinion for Options of Finding Peace in Mindanao.
“Violence in whatever form doesn’t usher in a culture of peace. Ideas must be presented on the table than imposed unilaterally,” said guest speaker Dr. Datumanong Saranggani, acting president of the MSU system based in Marawi City. Saranggani contextualized the rise of conflicts in the 9-11 aftermath and backlash in Afghanistan. The new war as theorized by “Huntington’s clash of civilizations (cultures)” has social implications, he said. “It is unclear who’s justice is being served,” referring to the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq by the United States to eradicate terrorism and repressive regimes.
While integration is a methodology of “ bringing together different ethnic groups to live together,” Datumanong promoted the tool of research through the institution, MSU to promote “intercultural awareness” through curriculums, centers such as the Southern Philippines Center for Peace Studies and Muslim-Christian Peace Studies and NGOs such as the Bishop Ulama Forum.
“The Bangsamoro are concerned for peace and development,” says Dean Alih Bud of Tawi-Tawi’s Islamic Studies department in his paper, The Role of Islam in the Quest for Bangsamoro Self-Determination, even as he acknowledged that the Bangsamoro “force remains a strong force for the enemy to deal with.”
“Muslims must continually sacrifice to attain hopes and aspirations,” referring to “strength in faith.” He outlined the steps and suggestions in the “ Bangsamoro quest:”
- The Mumin (believer) must be strong. “Without brotherhood, there is no iman (faith). Without victory , without fighting; without fighting, without sacrifice; without sacrifice; without iman (faith).
- Strength in body and soul – in adherence to truth and justice; acceptance of faults
- Spread the Arabic language since it is the language of Islam
- Set up Islamic universities
- Encourage agriculture and commerce to address poverty
- Publish books,pamphlets and all other publications for dawah (propagation)
- Strengthen relationship between ulama and leaders of society
- Translate Holy Quran to different dialects.
- Criticizing tribalism, Bud says “Islam does not believe in the superiority of one group over another.”
Other papers presented were “The Islamic State that Bangsamoro Envisions to Establish” by Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, Executive Director of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, Cotabato City, “The Islamization Process: Towards an Islamic Social Order “ by Dean Hamid Barra, “Constitutional and Legal Constraints in the Establishment of an Independent Bangsamoro Islamic State" by Atty. Soliman Santos, “Political and Socio-Cultural Practices of the Bangsamoro that Serve as Constraints in the Establishment of an Independent Bangsamoro State” by Dr. Macapado Muslim, Chancellor of MSU General Santos, “Towards an Integrated Islamic Education: The case of the Bangsamoro" by Prof. Salipada Tamano, Former Sec. – Department of Educatio n, Culture and Sports-ARMM.
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