June 6, 2011 - The Generation Peace Youth Network or GenPeace led by its head secretariat and Program Coordinator Nikki Delfin of Gazton Z. Ortigas Peace Institute and Mirma Mae C. Tica, Program Coordinator Center for Peace Education Miriam College, paid a courtesy call on June 5 on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Vice-Chairman for Political Affairs GhazaliJaafar at his office in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat.
Also included in the meeting was the local partners of GenPeace in Cotabato City and Maguindanao such as the United Youth for Peace and Development, TiyakapKawagib- community based human rights defenders and Bangsamoro Youth Assembly.
The visit to Vice Chairman Jaafar is part of the courtesy and respect of GenPeace to the leadership of the MILF in its continuing struggle for the right to self-determination and freedom of the Bangsamoro People.
During the discussion, Ghazi Jaafar made his prelude by sharing the Bangsamoro history prior the coming of Spaniards. He specifically mentioned the book authored by Vic Hurley, the Swish of the Kris, that specifically dealt with the insurrection of the fearless Moro warriors in the Southern portion of the Philippines. Jaafar shared the narration of the author of the resistance by the Moros armed only with bladed weapons known as kalis or kris "as one of the most terrible offensive weapon developed by man.
Vic Hurley settled in Mindanao during the Spanish and American occupations of the country, principally in the provinces of Cotabato and Zamboanga, for seven years.
The meeting revolved mainly on the discussions concerning the forthcoming peace talks slated on June 27-28, 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ARMM election, Moro political detainees and the role of women in the sub-state proposal.
When asked what will happen to the peace process if the counter proposal of the government is very far from the demand of the MILF, Jaafar quickly replied, “we are a legitimate and strong revolutionary organization and always prepared for any eventuality”. He confided, the MILF continuously conducting series of consultation to its forty provincial committees all over Mindanao.
He reiterated the proposal submitted to the government is the result of numerous consultations with the Bangsamoro people after shifting its position from independence to full autonomy.
Peace is only attained in Mindanao if Bangsamoro issue resolve, Jaafar stressed.
The meeting lasted for over an hour and GenPeace is thankful for the candid reaction of Vice Chairman Jaafar and looked forward to further its contribution for the peace advocacy and promoting culture of peace to younger generation particularly to the non-Moro sectors.
GenPeace is a network of organizations and individuals engaging for a youth-led advocacy towards a just and sustainable peace in the Philippines particularly in Mindanao. It was formed in 2006 after the need for a more coherent youth peace advocacy and youth peace agenda.
Currently, GenPeace is constantly engaging around 40 different networks and organizations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao with core leaders coming from 10 different organizations and networks with expertise in various fields such as Advocacy and Campaigns, Human Rights, Development, International Humanitarian Law and Peace Education among others.
To date, GenPeace has linkages with International Alert, Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the United Network of Young Peacebuilders, UN Development Programme – Conflict Prevention and PeacebuildingProgramme, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Manindigansa Peace Talks, and the Mindanao Solidarity Network.
The successful meeting of GenPeace with MILF Vice Chairman was made possible thru the facilitation of the Bangsamoro Center for JustPeace (BCJP).
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