Perspectives
Conference Statement
"Unity in the face of empire"
International Muslim-Christian Solidarity Conference for the Philippines,
General Santos City, southeastern Mindanao, Philippines,
August 22-25, 2005.
We, Moro people from ten different organizations, church
leaders from the National Council of Churches in the
Philippines and the Roman Catholic Church, and representatives
of various organizations in nine other countries, gathered for
the International Muslim-Christian Solidarity Conference for
the Philippines in General Santos City, southeastern Mindanao,
Philippines, from August 22-25, 2005.
We celebrate the presence and participation of imams, ulama,
nuns, pastors, priests, bishops, other church people,
professionals, and a significant number of women and youth,
who came in an act of solidarity with the suffering Moro
people in Mindanao.
We rejoice that peoples’ movements continue to thrive in the
Philippines, especially in Mindanao, diligently sowing the
seeds of unity and freedom. We rejoice that there are yet
communities whose hopes for a better nation and a better world
have not been dimmed by the din of conflict and human
degradation. Our dialogue was grounded on the stories of
grassroots representatives along with the experience of
international delegates who made community visits to integrate
and enrich their understanding of the local context. We were
inspired by resource persons, who were all committed
undeniably to the quest for Muslim-Christian unity and peace
and justice. Their presentations sparked lively discussions
which not only placed squarely before the conference the
objective realities that plague the Moro people in Mindanao
but also roused the participants to deeper solidarity and
concrete action.
The Context of the Conference
The suffering of the Moro people in Mindanao has an historical
beginning: from the 300-year Spanish colonial period to the
United States pacification campaigns in the early 1900’s,
until the repression perpetuated today by no less than the
state itself. This is inextricably linked to the Moro
resistance to subjugation and the rapacious desire of
foreigners, supported by state instruments, to exploit the
natural resources in Mindanao without regard to the welfare of
its inhabitants, the sovereignty of this country and the
future generations.
The state’s response to the demand of the Moro people for
respect for self-determination has been one of deception and
betrayal. Worse, the state unleashes its military might to
suppress legitimate dissent with horrendous results:
escalating violence, the dislocation of communities, the
deaths of innocent civilians and numerous violations of human
rights. Equally lamentable is the use of religious concepts,
ideas or differences to sow disunity, confusion and fuel
hatred.
Since September 11, 2001, the plight of the Moro people has
turned for the worse. U.S. President George W. Bush’s all-out
war against “terrorism,” and the declaration of some countries
as “axis of evil” or “second fronts” have exacerbated the
situation in Mindanao. That President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
instantly and unabashedly committed the Philippines to the
“coalition of the willing” meant another nail hammered into
the withered bodies of the Moro people. What has become
obvious in this war against terrorism is the Bush
administration’s unquenchable greed for power. U.S.
unilateralism brought to the fore the truth of its own intent
– control of the world’s resources and hegemony. What is now
true is that President Bush, his multinational corporate
allies, and their cohorts around the world have been unmasked
as the Empire. This empire has become the primary terrorist in
our time, attacking countries under the guise of pre-emptive
strikes and subjecting Muslims to indignity. The Moro people
have felt acutely the demonization of Muslims around the
world.
The presence of U.S. armed forces in Mindanao and elsewhere in
the Philippines under the insidious Visiting Forces Agreement
and other related agreements, not only violate the Philippine
Constitution but also dim chances for genuine peace. The
victims of human rights violations, damage to property and the
disruption of the livelihood activities of the people have
grown dramatically since the government intensified its
military operations.
Our affirmations:
A better Philippines awaits us for as long as the struggle
to live out this hope is done within the context of
resistance to empire.
As people of the Books, we Muslims and Christians are called
to live out the primary command to love and have compassion
for one another, seeing in each other the face of God the
creator.
The war in Mindanao has never been motivated purely on
religious grounds though the warring forces have often been
polarized into Christian and Muslim factions. Unless the
roots of the conflict in Mindanao are properly addressed,
genuine peace and justice shall remain elusive.
We commit ourselves to bridging gaps, breaking religious
barriers and strengthening Christian-Muslim solidarity. We
will strive to create, sustain and expand this solidarity
within our local communities, throughout and beyond the
shores of this republic.
Our Calls:
We are one in calling for a speedy trial of incarcerated
Moro brothers and sisters in many parts of the archipelago
as well as justice to the desaperacidos (forced
disappearences).
We join the people’s demand for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
to resign. At no chapter in Philippine history has the
presidency been so besmirched and lost the people’s trust as
now.
This conference prays and hopes for Christian-Muslim
solidarity in Palestine. We denounce the continuing
occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan by the United States
Armed Forces and join the call for their withdrawal from
these two countries.
In the search and struggle for that better Philippines, we
call for the creation of an international network that shall
embody the aspirations set forth in this conference and build
on the years of tireless grassroots work laid down by
community development and peace advocates in Mindanao. The
network shall seek to implement the resolves of this
conference and take initiatives in attaining the vision of
“Chrislamic” – Christian and Islamic peoples in unity –
communities of genuine love and peace in Mindanao.
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