Philippines: Women peace activists call for renewed talks with MILF
By Veronica Uy

August 13, 2007 - (www.inquirer.net) At the end of their four-day peace and solidarity mission, women peace activists from the Asia-Pacific region on Monday called for the resumption of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Calling the resumption of talks the first significant step towards resolving the so-called Basilan crisis, the International Women's Peace and Solidarity Mission in Basilan and Mindanao said in a statement: “The importance of the resumption of talks between the two parties cannot be over-emphasized as a normalizing and stabilizing factor on the ground, as both parties can effectively address and resolve contentious issues surrounding the July 10 Basilan tragedy at the negotiating table.”

“At the same, we also call for enhancement of the role of women in the peace process and of the need to highlight the women's role in, but not limited to, health, education, and post-conflict reconstruction activities,” said the statement e-mailed to media outfits.

The group, who were in Basilan from August 10 to 13, is composed of: Mary Ellen O'Conner of Pax Christi in New Zealand, Elizabeth de Araujo of Timor Leste Union Aid Apheda, Watchara Yindeelarp of Thailand Peoples’ Empowerment, K. Leeta Shobani Fernando of Sri Lanka Meepura, Arifah Rahmawati, of Indonesia Center for Strategic and Peace Studies, Meredith Joyce of Japan/Australia Peaceboat; and Anna Bowden of Australia Oxford University, England.

The seven Filipinas who joined the mission are: Karen Tañada of GZO Peace Institute, Mary Ann Arnado of Initiatives for International Dialogue, Raissa Jajurie of Saligan, Sr. Vida Cordero, Baileng Mantawil of Mindanao Peoples Caucus, and Memen L. Lauzon-Gatmaytan and Ruby Rose L. Lora, both of the Mindanao Initiatives for International Dialogue.

“We also call on the political personalities in the island province to help avert the renewed outbreak of hostilities, which will have dire consequences to the Mindanao peace process, by coming together in a spirit of dialogue and reconciliation. It cannot be denied that issues related to politics are among the issues that contribute to the deterioration of the peace and security condition in the island province,” the peace activists said.

They also asked judicial authorities to be more careful in producing the list of suspects in the July 10 incident that resulted in the death and beheading of Marines.

“The passion for the rule of law must also be tempered with the desire to avoid miscarriage of justice in the process, for it is utterly dangerous to name suspects who are even dead or not around during the incident, as claimed by many of those we interviewed on the ground,” they said.

Lastly, they asked the media to help avert the war and ease tension “by truth-telling, not just news-telling. Instead of painting the images of war, the media community must help project what the people are doing in order to address the conflict situation.”

“No more widows, no more orphans, no more macho wars. Peace is the braver option… We reiterate our unswerving commitment to the belief that in the face of raging armed conflicts peace remains the braver option,” they said, noting the thousands of civilians who are now displaced by the impending military action.

From:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=82276