Muslim Sariah Press Statement June 12, 2000 MUSLIM STATE WORKERS CALL FOR
UNDERSTANDING AND TODAY, we the Muslim government employees are launching the MUSLIM SARIAH, which means Muslim March to freedom, justice and peace. We believe that the time has come for us to join our brothers and sisters in a determined struggle for our inalienable right to self-determination. To this end, we declare the following stand and position on the issues and concerns now confronting the Muslims and the crisis in Mindanao: We condemn, as we call upon the Estrada administration to stop its all-out war policy in Mindanao. This demonstrates the objective of the government for the annihilation of the rebels, which is rooted on its failure to understand and resolve the economic, political and social bases of the rebellion being represented by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other rebel groups. For us who are children of the Moro-Muslim struggle and hoping for its resolution, the renewed military aggression in Mindanao is indeed frustrating. Many of us may not be currently living in Mindanao but we have families, friends and fellow government workers who are now suffering as war victims where not only lives and properties are being destroyed. These efforts of the government to win the war also include psywar tactics resulting to anti-Muslim sentiments. The hate campaign against us has far-reaching and deeper effects that are aggravating the consciousness of discrimination. As government employees we believe that the government is unconscionably wasting meager public resources for a war that can only result to destruction that will negate past and future development efforts. The over a billion budget spent and now another PhP1.4 billion allocated for military costs in Mindanao is unimaginable for a government to spend amidst lack of funds for public and basic social services. This amount could have also alleviated the sorry state of the salaries and benefits of public sector workers. Likewise, as Muslim state workers we do not begrudge the Filipino soldiers who are now waging the war in Mindanao for thinking that they are simply following orders. But we call upon them to rethink as we despise their officers and this government for using the military machinery against its own people. State workers are meant to serve the people not destroy them, for like us, these soldiers are in the same constant dilemma of discerning the correct from the wrong policies and programs; and personal interests and whims of government officials. We thank our Christian brothers and sisters who understand the lingering pains of injustice and discrimination in our hearts as Muslims, as we call upon them to bear more. Together, we must exert efforts to approach the problem in Mindanao more comprehensively. The assistance you extended in calling for an end in bloodshed is very much appreciated while your concrete help for relief and rehabilitation efforts for hundreds of thousands civilian victims will not be forgotten. Our special appeal, especially to the media practitioners is for the healing of the consciousness of discrimination. We believe that the media can largely contribute in developing a friendlier environment for us even at this very critical moment of a raging war in Mindanao. # Note: SARIAH is an Arabic word for March. MUSLIM SARIAH means Muslim March to freedom, justice and peace. |
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