Peace is possible.

As we celebrate the International Day of Peace, today September 21, we continue to hope that the collective action for peace will bring about changes in the lives of the peoples.  Conflict continues to persist in various parts of the world.

In the Philippines, we commemorate the suppression, arrests and detention of those who openly opposed the Marcos dictatorship, 37 years ago when Martial Law was declared.

In Southeast Asia, situations of unpeace and violence persist. The continuing violation of human rights of political prisoners by the military junta and the extension of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrest remain to be one of the key challenges in pushing for a democratic rule of government in Burma.

And while the newest member country of the United Nations, East Timor, which recently celebrated the 10th year anniversary of the referendum vote, a historic and defining moment for the East Timorese people, is enjoying democratic space, still the task of nation building remain daunting as it seeks to strengthen its governance structures as well as restore and heal relationships.  Equally challenging is responding to the justice issue of the families of those who were haplessly slain during the 24 years of violent Indonesian rule in the country.

This is shared by the same families here in the Philippines whose loved ones were tortured, killed at the height of martial rule. To this day, clamor for justice to be served remain strong.

And as our Moro brothers and sisters celebrated Eid’l Fitr as a day of joy, thanksgiving and solidarity, we are hopeful that the same spirit be shared as both the GRP and MILF mutually agreed on the establishment of an International Contact Group (ICG) that will aid both panels in the peace process.  At the same time they have agreed to “sustain both the Government’s Suspension of  Military Offensives (SOMO) and the MILF’s Suspension of Military Actions (SOMA); acknowledgment of MOA-AD as an unsigned and yet initialed document, and commitment by both parties to reframe the consensus points with the end in view of moving towards the comprehensive compact to bring about a negotiated political settlement; and work for a framework agreement on the establishment of a mechanism on the protection of non-combatants in armed conflict.

In Aceh on the other hand, the consolidation of gains of the Memorandum of Understanding in Helsinki  proves to be a potential tension point as there are indications of discontent over the “trickle down effect”, socialization of benefits as stated in the signed agreement.

Amidst all these, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict in Southeast Asia (GPPAC-SEA),join the rest of the global community in celebrating the International Day of Peace today as we renew our commitment to tirelessly pursue efforts to find spaces and opportunities to dialogue, extend solidarity – for us to collectively work and push for the legitimate struggles of our peoples in the region and elsewhere in the world – for their rights to self-governance and democratic governance be recognized and respected.  (30)

Davao City – “We hope it won’t take a little while more for the Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) of the government and the Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to become real,” stated Gus Miclat, Executive Director of the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), on reports that armed clashes had recurred in Central Mindanao recently despite the declaration of SOMO.

During the Roundtable Discussion on the Peace Building Efforts in Pikit, North Cotabato last August 6, 2009 held in Pikit, Alfredo Recana, staff of the OMI Inter-Religious Ministry, stated that incidents of armed conflict persist and had recurred about thrice since July 23. Recana cited the most recent incident happened last Aug. 5. “These incidents still persist, but the residents refuse to tell the media about it,” Recana told IID. IID and other peace networks have welcomed the SOMO and SOMA announcements that is seen to pave the way for the resumption of the stalled peace negotiations in the island.

The locals in the area seem to hold varied opinions. Several confirmed that violent incidents persist but refused to elaborate; many were hesitant to tell; while others claimed lack of knowledge of any violent activity.

“The SOMO and SOMA can be real; not merely a show let alone a myth. Serious observance of the ceasefire mechanisms will gauge the sincerity of the parties in the negotiating table upon resumption of the peace talks. But it is up to the people to guard and ensure that these mechanisms and pronouncements indeed work”, stressed Miclat.

There is no other path to peace but dialogue.

We welcome the move of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Peace Panels (MILF) to reconvene and reach consensus points on the mechanism on the protection of non combatants in armed conflict, as well as sustain the government’s Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) and the Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) of the MILF.

While it is long overdue, we believe that opening and sustaining the space for dialogue and consensus building will lead to the peaceful resolution of the age old conflict in Mindanao.

The Initiatives for International Dialogue fully support the effort of both the GRP and MILF to sit down and complete the preparation for the resumption of the talks.

We also commit to help out the parties concerned in the establishment of an international contact group to facilitate the peace talks. Together with other civil society partners and friends, we offer our allied networks in the island and the region to accompany this process.

As the Southeast Asia initiator of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC ), a global network of peacebuilders composed of 18 regions worldwide, IID commits to continue its effort to mobilize international support for the peace process in Mindanao.

There is nothing to lose in our effort to forge peace.

Yet we believe that it is high time for both the MILF and the GRP to lay aside their prejudices and biases, to be able to find a common ground for peace to flourish.  We also urge that both parties guard against being outflanked by “spoilers” who may also come from their own ranks or constituencies.

This common ground is the civilian community, in whose name war and peace have been waged for ages.   By putting the interest of the common people in the center of the development efforts, and in the framework of their human rights, we believe that the GRP and the MILF will be able to uphold their protection.  Yet it is not enough that the civilians are protected.  They must fully participate in the peace building process. We re-affirm our commitment to help make this so.

We welcome the commitment of the GRP and the MILF to acknowledge the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain which is an expression of the Moro people’s assertion on their right to self determination.

We believe that the effort to reframe the consensus points will bring about a negotiated political settlement to the conflict.

We challenge the GRP and the MILF to take another step towards peace in Mindanao.  Reconvene the peace panels and resume the peace talks now!

*IID is a regional advocacy and solidarity NGO which has been in the forefront of peacebuilding, democratization and self-determination efforts in Mindanao and other parts of Southeast Asia.