Defining Peace

By Arvin V. Rodriguez

(Vol. XXVIX No. 9, Editorial Cartoon)

Peace is a one syllable five letter word. It simply means the absence of conflict. But how does one define it for our brothers and sisters in Mindanao?

The 500-year old conflict between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao has not been resolved until now. Peace talks, treaties and other countless solutions aimed at ending this seemingly unending problem has been offered by the government, but to no avail. Some doomsayers proclaim the problem to be unsolvable.

However, some people and organizations are still hopeful that peace and unity will someday be achieved in Mindanao. The Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) is one of those trying to promote peace in Mindanao. They do it through signature campaigns, fun runs, symposia, and the like.

The main objective of the group is to stop the conflict between the Moro Islamic Civic Groups (MICG) and the Government Military troops which has resulted in unnecessary bloodshed. The group also strives to prevent civilians from being caught between the two opposing forces, something that have occurred countless times in the past and which have led to numerous fatalities.

Because or probably in connection with this never ending dispute in Mindanao, extrajudicial killings, kidnap for ransom, murder, and inhumane executions are just some of those reportedly committed by some rebel groups. Though whoever the perpetuators are, they can never be ascertained, it is crystal clear that this conflict has displaced and affected hundreds of thousands of our Mindanao brethren, especially the young ones.

It is really heartbreaking to see that this conflict has forced some of the youth in the affected areas to carry high caliber guns instead of school bags with pens, notebooks, and books in it, forced some very young children to beg and even prostitute themselves on the streets instead of playing in them.

In a press conference, IID calls for Filipinos around the globe and to all Norsunians and all Dumagueteños in particular, to lift their hands and help promote peace in Mindanao. Be a contributor to the one million voices for Peace in the Philippines by being vigilant in what is happening in Mindanao, by joining contests aimed to commence peace, and by writing literary pieces with peace as its theme. The IID believes that through these little initiatives, someday, peace will unite the country.

The NORSUnian joins this call. We encourage all of those who read this paper contribute to any effort that would bring peace to Mindanao. Our efforts may be small and our contributions perhaps insignificant when compared to the size of this conflict. Nevertheless, if we are all united in advocating, helping our brothers and sisters in Mindanao, we might just be able to help them find their own definition of peace.