TUBOD, Lanaod del Norte, February 2, 2009—Lanao del Norte Governor Mohammad Khalid Q. Dimaporo has called on all Muslims and Christians to respect each other, be fair and be united as the most important factors in contributing to meaningful peace in his province and neighboring areas of Mindanao amid the ongoing conflict between government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Dimaporo has made his call at the recent caucus and get-together activity initiated by the Lanao del Norte Public Information Office held at the Mindanao Civic Center, this town and attended by various tri-media personalities, from different local and provincial outfits of Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Misamis Occidental where the governor acknowledges the great task of tri-media in building peace and connecting the bridge of unity between Muslims and Christians.
Dimaporo underscored that tri-media plays an important role in promoting lasting peace in his province and other neighboring areas and in educating the public that Muslims and Christians are not the enemies and that Christianity is not against Islam despite of some differences in practices, traditions and beliefs.
“Let our differences not cause of hatred and strife between us, because Muslims and Christians are not the enemies but our common enemy is the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF),” Dimaporo said.
The Lanao governor has clarified that the terrible incident on August 18, 2008, where the town of Kolambogan was siege by MILF was not a religious war between Muslims and Christians but a war between good and evil.
He further appealed to all Christians not to generalize all Muslims being members of MILF and not to arm themselves against Muslims.
He stressed in the midst of ongoing government-MILF conflict here in Mindanao, Muslims and Christians must unite for mutual cooperation and harmony.
Dimaporo added that tri-media play also an important role in the province of Lanao del Norte and neighboring areas in peace-building at the grassroots level aiming to reject the wrong notion that Christians are against Muslims. (Wendell Talibong)
