CAIRO — Joining hands for peace in the troubled south, Filipino Muslim and Christian expatriates in Hong Kong will team up Sunday, December 12, to run and fast for peace in the restive Mindanao province. “We need to ‘run’ to act fast for peace, faster than those who want war," Fr. Roberto Reyes of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) told Philippines broadcaster GMA News.
"We should not only look outside but most urgently within to see and remove the roots of violence."
Organized by the Muslim-Christian Community of Hong Kong (MCC-HK), the event will start with a marathon at Chater Road in the capital Victoria.
After the marathon, the Muslim and Christian participants will fast together for peace to prevail in the province.
"We need to fast, to purify our bodies, minds and spirits,” said Reyes.
“We need to learn how to control and discipline our passions.
"We need to rediscover silence, to pray, discern and follow God’s will. And finally, we need to act consistently, courageously and prophetically."
Sunday’s event is the latest in a series of activities by the Filipino community in Hong Kong to press for peace in Mindanao.
MCC-HK was formed last year after the re-eruption of clashes between government forces and Muslim groups in Mindanao.
It consists of Muslim and Christian Filipinos from Mindanao and Protestant and Catholic organizations.
Act Swiftly
The Filipino expatriates are demanding the government to take a swift action to end the conflict in the Muslim-majority province.
"The pain of one part, no matter how small affects the whole,” said Madeenah Medina, a Filipina Muslim expatriate.
“The image of the Philippines has been suffering.
"Something has to be done by government and people to save the fast deteriorating image of the Philippines."
The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country’s biggest Muslim group, resumed talks in Malaysia on Tuesday, December 8, to build peace in Mindanao.
The move came 16 months after Manila junked peacemaking with MILF after the suspension of a peace agreement with the group over Christian protests.
MILF has been struggling for an independent state in the mineral-rich southern region for some three decades now.
More than 120,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in the late 1960s
Mindanao, the birthplace of Islam in the Philippines, is home to more than 5 million Muslims.
Source: IslamOnline
"We should not only look outside but most urgently within to see and remove the roots of violence."
Organized by the Muslim-Christian Community of Hong Kong (MCC-HK), the event will start with a marathon at Chater Road in the capital Victoria.
After the marathon, the Muslim and Christian participants will fast together for peace to prevail in the province.
"We need to fast, to purify our bodies, minds and spirits,” said Reyes.
“We need to learn how to control and discipline our passions.
"We need to rediscover silence, to pray, discern and follow God’s will. And finally, we need to act consistently, courageously and prophetically."
Sunday’s event is the latest in a series of activities by the Filipino community in Hong Kong to press for peace in Mindanao.
MCC-HK was formed last year after the re-eruption of clashes between government forces and Muslim groups in Mindanao.
It consists of Muslim and Christian Filipinos from Mindanao and Protestant and Catholic organizations.
Act Swiftly
The Filipino expatriates are demanding the government to take a swift action to end the conflict in the Muslim-majority province.
"The pain of one part, no matter how small affects the whole,” said Madeenah Medina, a Filipina Muslim expatriate.
“The image of the Philippines has been suffering.
"Something has to be done by government and people to save the fast deteriorating image of the Philippines."
The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country’s biggest Muslim group, resumed talks in Malaysia on Tuesday, December 8, to build peace in Mindanao.
The move came 16 months after Manila junked peacemaking with MILF after the suspension of a peace agreement with the group over Christian protests.
MILF has been struggling for an independent state in the mineral-rich southern region for some three decades now.
More than 120,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in the late 1960s
Mindanao, the birthplace of Islam in the Philippines, is home to more than 5 million Muslims.
Source: IslamOnline
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