National politicians, including presidential wannabes, have a superficial understanding of the Mindanao peace and development problem.
This was the lament of the Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao, Inc. (Afrim), a Davao-based non-government research and advocacy institution.
During their recent trips to Davao City, presidentiables like Chiz Escudero and Loren Legarda cited poverty as the root cause of the Mindanao conflict and proposed more socio-economic projects, skills training and livelihood assistance. Another proposal was to invite more investments to venture in the island.
“The presidentiables’ views indicate that they perceive the Mindanao conflict situation as merely a consequence of lack of economic development. Such perspective suggests that the Mindanao problem has not been fully understood from its historical context,” Maria Lisa Alano, Afrim executive director said.
Alano said national leaders should understand that the Mindanao conflict is mainly an issue of access and control over resources which could not be addressed by economic development programs alone.
The growing consciousness of Mindanaoans who have been marginalized and deprived for decades urge them to further their struggle for ownership over their ancestral domains including their right to be in charge of their resources, said the NGO head in a press statement..
In the Mindanao-wide consultations conducted by Afrim, various Bangsamoro and indigenous peoples groups, women, religious leaders, academe, farmers, and farmworkers asserted that a people-centered peace and development for Mindanao can be attained through an endogenous, participatory and inclusive process wherein all sectors of society, particularly the grassroots – and not only the leaders – must be involved in defining their problems as well as the needed solutions. It should also be based on mutual respect, understanding and genuine concern for the welfare of the community.
Likewise, they affirmed that sustainability of development efforts are better ensured when targeted project beneficiaries nd communities have developed sense of ownership.
Presidential candidates and national leaders should recognize that the Mindanaoans’ definition of a genuine peace and sustainable development is beyond the common notion of merely economic development or an absence of war; but rather, a development that encompasses the different aspects of human development – cultural, social, political, economic and spiritual.
It should be guided by the elements of good governance, recognition of each people’s identity, socio-economic well-being, and peace constituency. Furthermore, these elements must be founded on human rights, justice, gender responsiveness and the integrity of all creation. Indeed, the solution to the Mindanao problem entails addressing the holistic development of the Mindanao populace.
Hence the forthcoming 2010 national elections must challenge every Mindanaoan to cast votes for leaders who truly understand the context of the Mindanao problem, who sincerely uphold the marginalized peoples’ aspirations and carry on a genuine peace and development agenda for island, Alano said.
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