Manila (AsiaNews) - In Mindanao, the situation of civilians remains a main concern of the international community. A human rights report released August 25 by Amnesty International shows that more than 750 thousand people have fled their homes during the 17 months of warfare between the army and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The continuation of the clashes, despite the cease-fire agreement signed July 29 between the army and MILF, closely involves over 200 thousand civilians.
"The alert level is high for civilians since August last. Often many of the abuses are not even mentioned by the national media," says the head of Amnesty for the Philippines, Aurora Parong. The head of Amnesty criticizes the central government, a member of the UN Human Rights Commission, blaming it for the abuses committed by the army. Parong also states that " the public must have access to research, especially to the survivors and witnesses, who must be protected from possible new abuses."
In this context, Father Amado Picardal, a Redemptorist expert in interfaith dialogue states that "Muslims, Christians and indigenous Lumad should be encouraged to live together as neighbours, friends and brothers, not enemies”. He continues by saying that in this way "the forty-year battle field can be transformed into a rice field, the tanks may become tractors”.
Father Picardal concludes that "the entire population should take part in the dialogue in Mindanao and make sacrifices for the peace process."
Meanwhile in the main cities of the region members of the "A’immah Pastors Priest Forum" (APPF) have gathered, a group of interfaith dialogue which brings together representatives of the Catholic, Islamic and Protestant faiths. The aim is to prepare “Mindanao Week of Peace”, which will run from 26 November to 2 December. These meetings are the result of work done by the Conference of Bishops and the Ulema (Ulema Conference) who about twenty years ago gave birth to stable group of dialogue for peace in Mindanao (Focus group discussion).