Davao City - Ninety religious youth leaders from the Religions for Peace Asia and Pacific Youth Network representing Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian and indigenous communities from 16 Asian countries have gathered here for the Asian Religious Youth Leaders Summit that starts today until the 16th at the Brokenshire Resort and Convention Center.
Aware that the conflict in Mindanao is not religious, the young leaders will discuss the theme, “Youth as Peacemakers: Gathering in Hope, Pledging Common Action.”
The summit will allow the youth leaders to reflect on and strategize how they can “actively engage in the pursuit of peace and specifically how they can contribute to the ongoing peace process between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Philippine government,” a press statement from the group said.
The five-day conference will include a three-day forum at the Brokenshire Convention Center and a one-day exposure to communities in Davao City that are affected by conflict.
On October 15, the youth leaders will discuss with representatives from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and Mindanao-based revolutionary groups.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front will be represented by MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal while the Moro National Liberation Frotn will be represented by Ustadj Murshid Ibrahim, secretary-general, the group`s press statement said.
Representative Satur Ocampo, former spokesperson of the National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panel and at present a member of the Congressional Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, will also be around during the forum.
Press conferences are scheduled on Monday at 12:15 noon to 1:30 pm and on the 16th at 10 a.m. The international youth gathering is co-convened by the World Conference of Religions for Peace, the world`s largest coalition of religious communities dedicated to inter-religious cooperation for conflict transformation, peace building and sustainable development, the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP), the Religions for Peace regional body in Asia, and the Religions for Peace Philippines Youth Network.
“The root causes of the conflict in Mindanao is not unique to the Philippines, and can be found in all parts of the world. Ethnic and religious conflict is on the rise, and left unchecked threatens our shared security. The process of marginalization of the political, economic, cultural and religious identities needs to be exposed and over-turned. Religious youth leaders are convinced that we need to confront this challenge and become peacemakers now. All parties must return to the path for peace before they stray too far off course and lose their way back,” the group`s statement said.
“The youth hope to inspire a renewed dedication to returning to the negotiation table by the Philippine government and the MILF. The international community is paying close attention to the humanitarian crisis in Mindanao of the almost half million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and others affected by the current conflict, and plan to witness this first hand the situation of those affected by the conflict and other concerns in Mindanao,” the statement added.
Religions for Peace has been engaged in various peace initiatives in Mindanao over its history. Its first act of concern for the conflict in Mindanao started as early as 1977 during Martial Law when it made a detailed report and circulated it globally.
In April 2008, senior leaders representing Religions for Peace led by Rev. Kyoichi Sugino and its Asian regional affiliate, ACRP led by Lourdes Mastura met with MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.
Archbishop Fernando Capalla and Bishop Hilario Gomez of the Bishops Ulama Conference (BUC) were invited by Religions for Peace to join the delegation to Cotabato City, Mindanao. The meeting resulted with the MILF chair and Office of the Presidential Advisor to the Peace Process (OPAPP) welcoming the initiative taken by Religions for Peace in the facilitation and mediation in transforming conflict in Mindanao.
At the last Religions for Peace sponsored Summit of Asian Religious Youth Leaders held in Singapore in September 2007, delegates created the "Peace Appeal for Mindanao," focusing on the importance of solidarity and made a call for peace talks capable of generating real and lasting solutions.
The Summit results will be highlighted in the senior religious leaders gathering in Manila from October 17-21, bringing the voice of youth and the situation in Mindanao to 300 participants of the ACRP General Assembly and the President of the Philippines.
Source: http://www.mindanews.com (October 12, 2008)