Some Clarifications Re: Open Letter to the Pope

The government, through Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, yesterday responded to the open letter to Pope Benedict XVI signed by various Muslim and Christian groups and handed over by Ms. Amina Rasul, lead Convenor of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (www.pcid.org.ph). Dureza said the government is “grateful there is such an initiative from the private sector,” but added: “it is not necessary to go to the Pope because it is the commitment of our President and the government to move forward in our peace process with armed groups.”

Secretary Dureza said the request of the Muslim groups led by Rasul should not send a wrong message to the Pope. “I think they are giving wrong information to the Pope. The government is after those people who committed criminal acts. They destroyed villages and killed people in Lanao del Norte and Central Mindanao. The police and military are not attacking communities, they are after the criminals,” he added.

As one of the many non-Muslims who signed the letter, I think it is important to clarify the nature of the open letter. First, it is difficult to understand why government, while saying it is grateful for private sector initiative, has become so defensive about a letter to the Pope appealing for the end to the crisis in Mindanao and seeking His Holiness’ help in convincing both the GRP and MILF panels to return to the negotiating table.   National leaders, peace advocates and Mindanao civil society organizations have petitioned the UN Secretary General and other international organizations to help bring the peace process back and end the humanitarian crisis in Mindanao.

Second, it is not a letter from Muslims Filipinos only.   In fact, there are more Christians who signed it than Muslims. The open letter is still attracting more signatories.  The interfaith nature of the letter came in the wake of Ms. Rasul’s participation to the 1st Catholic-Muslim Forum in Rome on November 4 to 6. The signatories include Bishop Nathanael Lazaro, chair of National Council of Churches in the Philippines and General Superintendent, Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas; former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, former DILG Sec. Cesar Sarino, former CSC Chair Karina Constantino-David, former senators Santanina Rasul and Vicente Paterno, former Commissioner on Human Rights Atty. Nasser Marohomsalic, Fr. Eliseo Mercado of Kusog Mindanaw,  Ms. Maritess Guingona-Africa of the Peacemakers Circle, Ms. Irene Santiago and Ms. Margie Moran-Florendo of the Mindanao Commission for Women, former UP President now Kalayaan College president Dr. Jose Abueva,  UP Law Dean Atty. Marvic Leonen and Ateneo School of Government Dean Antonio Lavina, Ustadz Esmael Ebrahim of the Darul Ifta Assembly of the Philippines, Professor Clarita Carlos and Ramon Casiple, Institute for Political and Economic Reform, among many.

Third, the government claimed that “wrong information” has been given to the Pope. The letter does not pin blame on one party.  The letter began by saying that “peace and justice have long been denied the minorities of the Philippines – both our Muslim brethren and our indigenous peoples’ communities.” Is this not true?

The letter continued: “Over the last two months, more than 100 have been killed and 600,000 have become refugees. Since the Supreme Court has issued a decision on October 14 that the MOA-AD is unconstitutional, we fear for the resurgence of a war of attrition between the MILF and government.” Even if government contests the number, is there any doubt that lives of innocent people have been lost and disrupted because of the conflict?

The letter then appealed to the Pope thus: “We hope that Your Holiness could help us bring peace and justice to our brothers and sisters in Mindanao by expressing concern about the unfolding humanitarian crisis and appeal for restraint for the protection of all civilians, as well as for the opening of access for the provision of speedy humanitarian assistance to the affected population.” The letter also appealed to the Pope to “help us convince the government of the Republic of the Philippines and MILF to go back to the peace negotiation table as soon as possible. We believe that it is imperative that both government and the MILF share the responsibility (underscoring supplied) for moving the peace process towards a sincere dialogue that reflects heavily the hearts and minds of all people who are affected by the escalating war in Mindanao.” Is government objecting to the letter’s plea for help in terms of ending the conflict and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Mindanao?

The government’s seemingly “defensive” reaction to the letter is truly baffling. We sincerely hope the government does not label this endeavor by well-meaning peace advocates as another destabilization plot—as it often does to anyone who opposes it. Why is government fearful of His Holiness adding his voice to calls for peace in Mindanao?

Finally, government talks about authentic dialog. What authentic dialog with communities can ever transpire if the same communities are under siege? Civil society organizations and community leaders in Mindanao have been appealing to both parties to immediately declare a ceasefire so that the lives of the people can go back to normal and then consultations can proceed.

We can appreciate the role of a government to pursue justice and maintain peace and order; which is the justification of this government in pursuing the MILF commanders. But capturing those commanders cannot be an end in itself. It cannot be the primary objective of any peace policy. One cannot destroy the peace in order to restore it. On the contrary, “there is no way to peace, peace is the way.