MINDANAO WILL NOT LIVE IN FEAR BECAUSE OF THE RECENT BOMBINGS: A REFLECTION

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In 05 August 2013 at 1620H (PHT), a car bomb exploded in a crowded area along Sinsuat Avenue, Cotabato City. There were 8 people killed and 30, mostly innocent people, were seriously wounded. (Photo Courtesy: Zainudin Malang)

July 26. A bomb exploded in Cagayan de Oro City. 8 people were killed; 44 were wounded.

August 05. A car bomb was detonated in Cotabato City, killing 8 people and wounding 30, mostly innocent bystanders.

PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) cries for justice for those who were killed and for those who were wounded because of this barbaric act of crime. Our hearts are with the families of the victims as they adjust to a life without their loved-ones and as they deal with the trauma caused by this senseless violence. We condemn this cowardly act against innocent people and there is no justification whatsoever for this unjust violence.

We call on all authorities, from the national level down to the local level to conduct impartial investigations of all these bombings. We will follow the reports of the authorities as they do their duties and we expect nothing but a just closure of these cases.

How we’re processing the reports we hear:

We appreciate the statement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front through Muhammad Ameen, chair of the MILF Secretariat. The MILF website ‘Luwaran’ expressed condemnation “against this kind of barbarism where civilians are deliberately targeted as means to deliver message for an evil agenda.”

Given the kind of police capabilities and justice system we have, there is general skepticism whether these bombings can really be given closure based on justice. But instead of giving up on hope and allowing fear to paralyze us, it is time to be honest about our anger against injustice. We can harness the energies of this righteous indignation into positive, concerted, active non-violent movements towards justice and peace.

The future of Mindanao is not in the hands of the people behind these bombings. The future of Mindanao belongs to the majority of us who seek justice and peace.

The bottom line in these bombings is to plant fear in our hearts so the real culprits can continue harvesting wealth and power through violence-based economics and corrupt governance.

But fear is behind us. We will not allow fear to enslave our consciousness. We will not allow fear to rule our hearts and minds. We will not allow fear to paralyze us. We will not allow fear to define our identity as Mindanaoans.

We, the people of Mindanao, are determined to live in peace. Peace that is based on justice. Peace that is energizing us in the present. Peace that is the spirit of the future.

And the future is now.

 

POST SCRIPT ON THE GLOBAL AL QAEDA THREAT

The threat to U.S. embassies around the world is real, according to a Washington-based columnist. The solution being considered by the Americans are two-fold: (1) hire the best, though more expensive, security guards (read, ex-soldiers that cannot be absorbed by the employment system of an ailing US economy); and, (2) send more US Marines abroad (mostly recruits from the economically poor American families who are not also absorbed by the employment system of an ailing economy).

They thought that killing Osama bin Laden was the long-term solution for this problem of global terrorism? Now, they seem to be eating their own words!

It’s time for Americans to really review, understand, and evaluate the unjust aspects of their current foreign policies that enslave small nations.

Here’s an old perspective for a long-term solution outside Washington’s current box: Is it time, perhaps, to SOW JUSTICE around the world so that the Americans around the world would also REAP PEACE? “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Gal. 6:7 NIV)

I’m calling for the advancement of active non-violence among all parties involved in any socio-political conflict, locally and globally. Active non-violent approaches to justice would lead to active non-violent approaches to peace.

May God open our hearts and minds!

Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2013/08/mindanao-will-not-live-in-fear-because-of-the-recent-bombings-a-reflection/

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OUR GLOBAL PEACE COMMUNITY

We are sent by Mennonite Church Canada Witness in partnership with our international community.