Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Zamboanga (Agenzia Fides) - The ideology and the violent proposal of the Islamic State (IS), the group that operates in Iraq, have arrived in the southern Philippines and is trying to attact converts, thanks to substantial foreign funding: this was confirmed to Fides Agency by Sebastiano D'Ambra, PIME, who talks about the delicate situation on the island of Mindanao, where a part of the Philippine population of about six million Muslims lives.
In Zamboanga, in particular, explains Fr. D'Ambra, "the wounds are still evident in the severe attack of the rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which took place in September 2013: Many families are still displaced and inter-religious atmosphere has been affected".
Meanwhile, the government has presented a draft peace agreement which is before Parliament: "It is an effort that should be encouraged, but the agreement presents critical issues such as the fact of being limited to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and not to include all the Muslim formations in the South", the missionary said.
In addition, "some violent groups and terrorists continue to oppose any suggestion of peace and to make violent propaganda: groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have proclaimed their support to IS that operates in Iraq", he continues. The phenomenon is worrying "because the fundamentalist Islamic ideology is well-defined with the social and economic dissatisfaction of the local population, and poverty is a fertile ground for the membership of young people: every new militant is rewarded with a lot of money coming from abroad", says D'Ambra.
In this context, the mission of the Center for Muslim-Christian dialogue "Silsilah" ("chain") continues, founded on the initiative of Fr. D'Ambra. In addition to training programs and awareness-raising in schools, universities, religious leaders, after 30 years since its foundation, in 1984, the movement intends to strengthen its presence in the media and start a radio that, concludes D'Ambra, "aims at being both the voice of dialogue and to promote the values of harmony, friendship, respect, collaboration between Christians and Muslims". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/10/2014)
