Moro women leaders oppose warlordism, want role in peace process

DAVAO CITY— Around 100 Muslim women religious leaders participating in a three-day regional peace conference in the city voiced opposition to “warlordism" in the country, even as they assert their right to take part in the peace processes in Mindanao. On the first day of the January 25-27 Regional Conference on Women and Peace Advocates (RCWPA), participating Muslim women religious scholars (Aleemat) declared their opposition to warlordism saying that Islam does not tolerate it. Dr. Charina Isahac, a dentist from Jolo town in Sulu, said that at a province-wide consultation, the women in her province voiced opposition to the presence Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO), which she said were armed by politicians. Moreover, she said women opposed the move to organize and recruit Women Police Auxiliary Unit (PAU) in Sulu, adding that those being recruited “are identified with political leaders." “We asked them (government officials) to dismantle the PAU. We are genuinely concerned about that," Isahac said. Aside from opposing warlordism, the Aleemat also lamented that women are not represented in the peace processes in Mindanao, arguing that they (women) are in the best position to advance peace. “There had been no women named to whatever posts in any of the peace-process panel. We the women nurture life and are therefore the best peace builders and advocates," said former Senator Santanina Rasul, who was in the women conference. Rasul also said that the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration has no more time to change the members of the peace panel for Mindanao. She said they would rather wait for the next administration with whom they would lobby for Moro women membership to the negotiating panel, adding that she would discuss the matter with Secretary Anabelle Abaya, who will be joining in the ongoing regional peace conference on Monday. Maguindanao massacre The massacre Ampatuan town in Maguindanao last November 23 has sparked outrage against warlordism in the country. In the carnage, 57 people were killed, many of them women. Five days after the massacre, the government placed the province under martial law, saying it was necessary to effect the arrest of some members of Ampatuan clan suspected to be behind the killings. Acting Maguindanao Governor Nariman Ambolodto, who was one of the leaders that organized the three-day conference sponsored by Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy, claimed she has already slowly “normalized" the situation in the province. While Ambolodto did not elaborate if all the members of the private armies of the Ampatuan clan were already neutralized, she reported that government “employees have already reported to their respective offices and foreign donors are already coming back." Before the November massacre, a number of foreign-funded organizations were in Maguindanao province to address the humanitarian needs of some 300,000 internally displaced. In 2008, displacement in Mindanao reached a peak of 700,000 people. The RCWPA which bannered the theme “Empowering Women as Peace Advocates," was co-organized by the Magbassa Kita Foundation, Japan Foundation and The One Woman Initiatives. - LBG, GMANews.TV