MPC welcomes SOMA, SOMO; appeals to politicians to support timely truce

By: Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC)

MALACANANG’s order of Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) last July 23, 2009 and the reciprocal declaration by the MILF of Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) last July 25, 2009 signify both parties’ compassion and due consideration to the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had been yearning to safely return home. Both SOMO and SOMA are the IDP’s tickets to return home, rebuild their communities, reopen their schools and resume normal lives.

We thank the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for taking this very crucial and important step towards ending the hostilities in Central Mindanao. As aptly said by Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, “Enough is enough. For the sake of our evacuees and in the name of our one God of Peace, end your war! Go back to the negotiating table. Let the thousands of evacuees return safely to their home. Collaborate with one another towards this objective. Together, rehabilitate their destroyed properties. Give them another chance for a truly human life”.

We also appeal to our national and local politicians who are incidentally gearing up towards the 2010 election to heed the cry of the poorest of the poor in our society. In the context of Central Mindanao, these are the IDPs who badly need our support and cooperation. Let their situation put into real test our sincerity to help uplift the poor, defend the weak and fight for the oppressed. Contrary to the pronouncement of a self-serving politician that the SOMO will trigger more hostilities, the MPC strongly believes that with rebels and soldiers alike silencing their guns, there can be no better condition to end the hostilities and isolate the so called saboteurs, spoilers and war profiteers.

We call on all leaders to support the SOMO and SOMA and let this truce fully ripen into a ceasefire and formal resumption of talks. We also appeal to politicians to avoid any threatening statement that will only weaken this fledgling truce. We appeal for restraint on the part of those who would rather sustain the armed hostilities in Central Mindanao. For the sake of peace, in the name of God and for sake of precious innocent lives of our children, we beg you to give the SOMO and SOMA a real chance to take off and develop into a full-blown operational and functional ceasefire.

No less than Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, acknowledged the government’s SOMO as “the government’s way of showing sincerity on the resumption of peace negotiations with the MILF”. Indeed this “will bring about an environment that is suitable for mutual understanding.” Such faith in the SOMO was expressed by a top ranking officer who personally witnessed the horrors of war and is personally convinced that the military solution will not be able to resolve the root causes of the armed conflict. Even the soldiers in Datu Piang are also happy over the SOMO. At last, they too could go home.

Let us not stop, let us not give up on whatever opening and opportunity to reclaim peace. It is possible. The SOMA and SOMO, came after 11 months and 2 days of untold suffering, loss of loved ones, deaths of the innocents, starvation and violence. Yet, the IDPs did not give up. They did not stop until their cries are heard – after 11 months and 2 days of running, scampering and mourning for every death of a loved one.

The Bakwit Power is a testament to the limitless possibilities that Muslims, Christians and Indigenous Peoples can achieve when we all work together for peace and justice. The power is within us, our strength lies in our unity. More power to the Bakwits!