DAVAO CITY , February 5, 2009 – Various peace groups here have called on the national government to resume the peace talks as soon as possible.

In a position paper sent to CBCPNews, peace groups who are mostly composed of Muslims said, “we believe that a hundred times of peace talks are better than a day of battle. We call on the newly composed Government Republic of the Philippines (GRP) peace panel to build on the gains of the peace process and pursue in-depth analysis and study of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD).”

“We also call on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to be open to a more thorough and inclusive discourse on the issues surrounding the MoA-AD which should reflect the diverse voices of the many ethnic groups whose identities seek to be recognized in the continuing pursuit of self-determination,” read in the same statement.

“We do not want another all-out war to happen. We seek to sustain the peaceful initiatives that we have collectively woven together.”

“It is a cycle of war and continuous armed conflict which threatens to rip apart our families and communities that we want to stop now. Hear the voices of our women and men, our tribe, our people, our children. Resume peace talks and protect human rights.”

The groups also condemned the continuous violations of human rights experienced by Muslim, Christian and Lumad brothers and sisters. “We condemn the massive displacement, innocent killings of people caught in the crossfire, burning of houses and the irreparable damage wrought upon victims who are crying for peace,” it said.

They also expressed alarm over the growing incidences of kidnappings and harassment of those who sacrifice their lives as they continue to work for humanitarian protection and we urge the authorities to immediately get to the root and act on this problem.

The present conflict between the government and the MILF has displaced more than 700,000 innocent people who continue to suffer in misery, hunger and unsecured lives. The conflict has left millions of people in emotional distress and uncertainty, and has caused damage to properties, structure, investments and previous efforts of communities to rebuild a broken land.

The groups are community-based alliance of peace advocates represented by the Sindaw ko Kalilintad coming from different cultural identities and backgrounds in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat who yearn for peace in Mindanao. (Mark S. Ventura)