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Cotabato (Agenzia Fides) - Humanitarian crisis looms as thousands flee Mindanao conflict, in southern Philippines. Therefore a ceasefire is what a forum of non-governmental organizations and local associations call for, in a note sent Fides, reporting how the Philippine army offensive in the province of Maguindanao and Cotabato continues against militants of the "Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters" (BIFF). The warning comes after a year since the peace agreement was signed by the government with the "Moro Islamic Liberation Front", on March 27, 2014, and a proposed law has also been submitted in the Philippine congress. The army offensive is the response to the massacre of 25 January in Mamasapano, where 44 policemen were killed.
In about a month of intense fighting, 139 militants of the BIFF have been killed. But there are serious consequences for civilians: there are more than 125,000 displaced people, many of them without any humanitarian assistance, while 63 schools have directly been affected.
With regards to the political landscape, public opinion is currently divided. According to President Benigno Aquino, "the country is at a crossroads". The Basic Law establishing the new Muslim autonomous region "is the result of seventeen years of intense negotiations" and "the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for peace would be useless if Congress does not approve". Cardinal Orlando Quevedo also recently published an open letter to the senators and members of the House of Representatives to encourage them to vote "yes" to the text of the law, defined as "the most significant hope to achieve just and lasting peace in Mindanao". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/03/2014)
