By PJTremedal,BNDMisOCC/CIB-OCM
Davao City – Let’s talk peace for Mindanao. Again and again the Filipinos, Muslims and Christians and the Lumads alike want to stop the problems of Mindanao with the efforts from various sectors to find lasting peace in order to achieve development and progress.
This November 5 to 7, Media practitioners from all over Mindanao once again converge for the 6th Mindanao Media Forum that will focus on this year’s theme, “Mindanao 2020: Moving Forward”. Hosted by the MindaNews Foundation and other avid supporters to the cause, the forum will be held at the Garden Oases Resort and Convention Center in this city.
On its opening day (Nov 5), Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio will welcome the participants after a Press Conference with key government officials and MindaNews about the media summit how to go about it and what will be the participant’s reactions towards moving Mindanao forward by 2020.
As keynote speaker in the opening program, Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process will brief the media participants on updates of her office and the government views on achieving peace for the Filipinos.
Secretary Deles was appointed by his Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to take charge in the peace process of the government. After her message, MindaNews will tackle what happen and what are results of the previous regional conference conducted last year and this year in different regions in Mindanao.
On the following day, the talks will begin where Atty Marvin Leonen, Chairman of the GRP Peace panel will start the day rolling on the GRP-MILF Peace Process moving forward as it has been decades now peace with the MILF and other organizations has not achieve. Atty Leonen who is a brilliant lawyer of U.P. will discuss how the new administration will tackle the peace process.
As a response, Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the MILF Peace panel will also discuss with the participants on MILF’s act for peace.
It may be recalled, that during the Arroyo’s administration, the peace talks collapses after the infamous Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain was not signed and eventually Supreme Court decided MOA-AD was unconstitutional.
It triggers another war, in Kolambugan, Lanao Del Norte and Central Mindanao erupted like another Mt. Pinatubo, casualties of war increased, people misplace as they evacuated, women and children suffers while men were dead. With the administration of President-elect P-Noy again decided to reshuffle the GRP Peace Panel that will talk peace for Mindanao.
In the middle of the 2nd day of the media summit, Peace Talks Mechanisms will be discussed by Dr. Steven Rood of the Asia Foundation as one International Contact Group (ICG), and will be followed by Major General Datuk Baharom bin Hamzah, Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT)-6.
While, Ms. Zen Malang will discuss on the Civilian Protection Component, Ms. Mary Ann Arnado on All-Women CPC, Major Carlos Sol of the GRP and Rashid Lidasan of the MILF will discuss on the CCCH and to discuss on AHJAG updates by BGen Jose Viscarra for the GRP and Atty. Abdul Dataya for the MILF.
After each discussion, media participants are allowed to ask questions to each discussants after which another topic will be discuss. This time, (tentatively) Initiatives for International Dialogue-Mindanao Peaceweavers (IDD-MP) will be discussing on the realization of peace thru Peace building tools.
After lunch of day 2, Secretary Luwalhati Antonino of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will give updates to the participants on the Role of MinDA in Mindanao’s Peace and Development.
In the 6th Mindanao Media Forum, media role and responsibilities will also be tackled and thoroughly discussed. Firstly, Peace Journalism Update focusing on the US Military presence in Mindanao will be presented by Ms. Frencie Carreon of the PhilSouth Angle candidate for PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies of Sydney University.
Ms. Luz Rimban of the VERA Files will discuss on Social Journalism while Ms. Yvonne Chua of VERA Files will talk on Media Ethics, Safety and Security afterwards a workshop for the media practitioner’s will follow.
On the media summit last day (Nov 7), His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is expected to grace the closing rites of the 6th Mindanao Media Forum and deliver his message for Mindanao of which after his message, the summit participants will also present the Mindanao Media Statement to his Excellency.
Mindanao media had been moving to become peacemakers against all odds, “This time we have to cross our fingers to achieve peace and development for and in Mindanao” Mr. Tony Abejo, Publisher of the Malindang Tribune said.
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