Interfaith dialogue kicks off; IP group urges RP to be ‘sincere’

Addressing a conference of over 200 countries, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said interfaith dialogue has always been a reality for the country as it struggles towards fostering peace. The President spoke on Wednesday before representatives of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member-countries who gathered in Manila for a two-day Special NAM Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development (SNAMMM). In her keynote address before 129 foreign delegations on the first day of the interfaith dialogue, Arroyo said the Philippines is a “living witness to the importance of intercultural and interfaith tolerance, understanding, respect and dialogue for peace and developments." "Interfaith dialogue for the Philippines is not a theory for us. For a long time now it has been a reality," Arroyo said in a release posted on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs. She added the Philippines looks at intercultural and interfaith dialogue policy framework as a basis for the union of the country's different cultures and faiths, within an environment of peace, security and development. ‘Build more avenues’ For his part, DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo, also the chair of the SNAMMM urged member countries to build more avenues for interfaith dialogue and cooperation to achieve peace. “Peace in our lifetime is achievable if pursued through interfaith dialogue," Romulo’s message read. The Philippines is hosting the SNAMMM to address challenges to the promotion of a culture of peace and development among NAM's 118 member states. The NAM is an intergovernmental alliance for the promotion and protection of the principles of respect for cultural and religious diversity, tolerance and understanding. Apart from member-countries, participants in the affair include observer countries and organizations. Indigenous party-list group But Katribu, an indigenous peoples’ party-list group, believes that the President's words are mere “lip service" lacking in sincerity. Katribu Party-list president Beverly Longid said actual practices of the government especially in resolving armed conflicts prove otherwise. “They will claim that dialogues are necessary but that’s not the main policy of the government especially in Mindanao. It’s still military operations, which does not address the roots of armed conflict," Longid said in an interview with GMANews.TV. She cited the case of indigenous peoples especially in the far-flung areas, such as the Cordillera peoples, the Mangyans in Mindoro and the Dumagats in Rizal, who according to her are constantly harassed and branded by the Armed Forces and police as terrorists. “Indigenous territories are one of the most militarized areas because of their resistance to government projects like dams and mining operations which displace them," she said. Longid, who is the party-list group’s nominee in the coming May 10 elections, urged the government to give up its policy of militarization. “We should really be engaging in dialogues but they should be done with sincerity. They are talking about interfaith and intercultural dialogues but they are bombing our villages and harassing our people," she lamented. She added peace can be achieved through cooperation, but expressed doubts it will happen under the Arroyo administration given its policies that lead to more human rights abuses. The groups cited the recent arrest of 13 Lumad members of Katribu in Monkayo in Compostela Valley, including two female minors. A release posted on the group's website stated that the indigenous farmers were illegally detained for more than 36 hours and accused as members of the rebel New People’s Army.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV