Some 400 representatives of various people’s and nongovernment organizations, including the church sector, formally opened yesterday, December 12 the 5th Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Summit (5MPPS) at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City . The 5th MPPS will be conducted until December 16.
Mindanao ’s tri-people (Katawhang Lumad, the Bangsamoro and the Mindanao Migrants/Descendants) organized the 5th MPPS to assert aspirations for lasting peace in Mindanao . The Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM), main Summit organizer, has conducted the MPPS every two years since 2000.
Anchored on the theme “Advancing the Democratic Options for Peace in Mindanao”, the 5th MPPS focuses on the current situation and on the proposal for a United Nations-supervised/managed/facilitated referendum for peace in Mindanao .
This has been advocated by MPPM since the second Peace Summit at Southern Christian College in Midsayap, Cotabato in December 2002.
Aside from peoples and nongovernment leaders, the 5th MPPS will have as resource persons representatives from the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front and the National Democratic Front on December 14.
Thematic workshops will be done on December 15 to connect peace in Mindanao to general and specific development issues concerning ecology, migration and development, women and youth and the global financial meltdown.
Participants will also conduct tri-people caucuses to choose the MPPM Council of Peoples’ Representatives until the 6th Summit in December 2010 and the MPPM General Assembly that decides on the general direction and thrusts of MPPM.
The 5th MPPS was preceded by a Peace Caravan from three converging points: Iligan City ; Cotabato City ; and Midsayap, Cotabato.
The 1st MPPS was held in Davao City (2000), 2nd MPPS in Southern Christian College in Midsayap, Cotabato in 2002; 3nd MPPS in Lake Sebu , South Cotabato in 2004; and the 4th MPPS in Lamitan, Basilan in 2006.
For Reference:
ALVARO O. SENTURIAS, JR.
Chairperson
Mobile 0928-552-2446
AMABELLA L. CARUMBA
Secretary General
Mobile 0920-506-5235
Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM)
Sarip Auliya St., Block 3, Bagua 2
9600 Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines
telefax: +63 64 4211358
e-mail: mppm4peace yahoo.com
website: www.mppm.info