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Pinoy groups in UK gather to discuss peace in Mindanao

by Rose Eclarinal, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, London | 11/13/2009 1:39 PM

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LONDON - Mindanao Peace Initiative-UK (MinPI-UK) invited Pinoy organizations in the United Kingdom, especially those from Mindanao, for a briefing on the developments of the peace process in the conflict areas in the South.
 
Gene Alcantara who has been instrumental in setting up the UK committee, welcomed the attendees at the Philippine Embassy in London.

“We want the conflict to stop. We want the discrimination to stop. We want the displacement to stop. We want resources distributed equitably and we want real peace and development to begin right now. I’m pleased that the friends and leaders of the Filipino community particularly the Muslim community from Mindanao are here to share their thoughts and concerns,” he said.
 
Ambassador to the UK Antonio Lagdameo also reiterated the government’s efforts and determination to find a peace agreement in Mindanao.

“The Philippine government remains fully supportive to achieving a just and lasting peace in Mindanao,” said Lagdameo.

Also present in the dialogue was Massimo Trombin, president of the International Relief Friendship Foundation and International Director of Field Operations of the Global Peace Festival.

Trombin, who has been active in the peace efforts in Mindanao since 2006, was involved in the relief projects in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina during the conflict in the Balkans region. He was also involved in the rehabilitation of rebels in Uganda. He was given a chance to discuss the vision of MinPI which is to have ‘a peaceful island-region with an integrated and globally competitive economy, where the benefits of sustainable development are equitably shared by empowered and united Mindanaoans.’ He also outlined the many projects lined up by the group to achieve its goal.

During the dialogue, Trombin was asked of his understanding of the problem in Mindanao which affects in varying degrees Christians and Muslims alike in the Philippines. He said in a nutshell that poverty is till the root cause of the conflict in Mindanao.

Dr. Raheem Khan, a founding member of the Muslim Council of Britain and Trustee of the Universal Peace Foundation reiterated in his comment that Islam is a religion of peace.