|
Let Us Make Every Effort that Leads to Peace
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace.” (Romans 14:19)
Peacemaking is at the core of the mission of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. We firmly believe that God’s call to peace is a call for justice. So, therefore, there can be no peace when there is no justice, and that there can never be justice if there is no peace.
The Iglesia Filipina Independiente has long been an advocate of a just and lasting peace amidst an armed conflict that has torn our nation for decades. We have been pushing, in concert with others, for the resolution of this vicious war that has caused a heavy toll on innocent victims, and has taken thousands of precious lives. We are deeply aware that the raging armed conflict is fueled by the continuing political oppression as well as the social and economic injustices in the country, realities that the Filipino people have strongly stood up against.
We highly commend the Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines for resuming the peace talks. We believe that through this process the roots of injustice are addressed and the peoples’ demand for social, economic and political reforms are discussed with human civility and without the need for bloodshed.
Nonetheless, we see the continuous illegal detention of political prisoners under the government of President Benigno Aquino III as a serious stumbling block to the peace talks and, consequently, to the decisive resolution of the armed conflict. In the interest of peace, it is imperative for President Aquino to order the release of all political prisoners throughout the country.
The continuous detention of political prisoners can only indicate that state terrorism, repression of democratic rights and disrespect to human rights continue to exist in the Philippines. A country where its people are put into prison for their political beliefs denotes a despotic government that despises democracy and rules with tyranny. The peace talks cannot fully progress if President Aquino would ignore his constitutional duty to protect the peoples’ democratic rights and respect their political persuasions.
President Aquino must realize that the peace talks is much more important than keeping political prisoners behind bars and criminalizing them for their political beliefs. The Iglesia Filipina Independiente, therefore, strongly calls on President Aquino to grant unconditional release to all political prisoners for the peace talks to proceed. If he sincerely desires peace then he must courageously work for justice, for only justice can remove the obstacles to peace.
Pro Deo et Patria,
† The Most RevD Ephraim S. Fajutagana
Obispo Maximo 20th September 2011 |
|
|