by AJLPP/ANSWER-LA
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 at 11:53 AM
magsasakapil@hotmail.com 213-241-0906 337 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026
The Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC), yesterday called on the government and the MILF to immediately resume the stalled peace talks.
The BUC made the call in a joint statement it issued during the three-day 35th General Assembly in Jolo, Sulu, which ended Nov. 21.
The joint statement was signed by Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla; Hilario Gomez Jr., bishop emeritus of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP); and Dr. Hamid Barra of the Ulama League of the Philippines.
“We appeal to let the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF continue, in whatever level or means possible, and let peace panels be convened as soon as the situation allows it,” the BUC said.
dsc08156.jpg, image/jpeg, 2048x1536
AJLPP Update
Nov. 20, 2001
Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC) Calls for Peace Talks in the Philippines
Manila-The Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC), yesterday called on the government and the MILF to immediately resume the stalled peace talks.
The BUC made the call in a joint statement it issued during the three-day 35th General Assembly in Jolo, Sulu, which ended Nov. 21.
The joint statement was signed by Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla; Hilario Gomez Jr., bishop emeritus of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP); and Dr. Hamid Barra of the Ulama League of the Philippines.
“We appeal to let the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF continue, in whatever level or means possible, and let peace panels be convened as soon as the situation allows it,” the BUC said.
“We renew our call for the cessation of hostilities in order to create a climate of peace where diverse voices can confidently be expressed and sincerely heard,” it added.
Commenting on the recent violence committed by some rogue MILF groups in some parts of Mindanao, the BUC said: “Let the force of the law be applied with justice that leads to peace.”
As religious leaders, the BUC also vowed to take an active role in promoting community dialogue to achieve peace in the region.
“We are tapping the resources of our social, religious and academic institutions to help in assessing people’s perception of our situation, in drawing out a common vision of peace, in enriching peace education, and in generating new ideas on the broader peace process in our beloved Mindanao,” adding “we shall do this with utmost fairness and transparency,”.
The BUC said while it will continue with its interfaith activities, it will “also pursue authentic intra-faith dialogues among our communities,” hoping “that through this open communication, we will find a way to face our own share in the prolonged problem in Mindanao as well discover how we could go beyond our hurts and biases.”
“Perhaps this holds a key to more creative solutions to the impasse’ in our peace process,” the BUC added, referring to the outbreak of fighting in some areas in central Mindanao. Benjamin B. Pulta, Riza Recio and PNA
