Gov. Taliño-Mendoza sends participant to ASEAN peace-building process seminar

Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza sent Cotabato Council Tribal of Elders representative Timuey Lito S. Palma to the ASEAN International Seminar on Religion and Peace-building Process last September 17-19, 2012 at Bangkok, Thailand.

The peace-building seminar was aimed at paving ways to formulate broader areas of co-operation, opportunities, learning activities, exchanges of religious and cultural information and experiences among member states of the ASEAN community. It was attended by around 200 participants from various religious leaders and practitioners from ASEAN member states, Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council of Thailand, working staff and peace scholars in Thailand.

This religious peace initiative was organized by the Muslim World League, together with the Religions for Peace Inter-Religious Council of Thailand, Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC), the Ministry of Culture, the Office of Shaikhul Islam, the Religions for Peace International, the Religions for Peace Inter-religious council of Thailand, the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies of Mahidol University and the Assalam Institute of Yala Islamic University.

Timuey Palma on his return related his discussions with other participants on the issues and concerns experienced by the indigenous people of Cotabato Province, particularly in the aspects of protection rights of the ethnic and religious minorities and their rights of citizenship. He also urged the ASEAN governments to protect the same rights and include them into their respective development and growth programs.

During his tour at the southern border provinces of Thailand, he witnessed how conflicts affected the communities in the area. “I could figure out the reality of those conflicts because I could easily relate with them. Exactly the same case that happened in Cotabato province when remote communities were harassed by many armed men,” he stated while sharing his experience.

Meanwhile, Governor Taliño-Mendoza expressed her support to peace initiatives like this amid ongoing conflicts in Cotabato Province which sometimes create mistrust among Cotabateños. She still believes that learning from the ASEAN partners will help the government forge a closer relationship between and among religious leaders and develop a network of councils to share the best practices of managing different types of related conflicts.

Other participants from the Philippines who attended the same seminar were Dr. Lilian Sison of the Graduate School of the University of Sto. Tomas and the Secretary General of the Religions for Peace – Philippines; Archbishop Fernando Capalla – Chairman on Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs of the Federation of Asian Bishop’s Conference; and Mr. Pablito Baybado – member of the board of Religions for Peace – Philippines.sgjh