Suprovat Sydney - HWPL Civilian Peace Agreement Creates an
Atmosphere of Peace in Mindanao
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On 24 January 2014, Heavenly Culture,
World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) gave testament to their sincerity in
peace work through mediating the Mindanao peace agreement. Today, even after
the pivotal agreement, HWPL continues to strive for sustainable peace through
peace education and peace cultural activities. This article will cover the
course of HWPL’s civilian peace agreement and its aftermath.
Since the peace
agreement in 2014,
a culture of
peace has been fostered in Mindanao, Philippines, a land that has been torn by
severe armed conflict for decades. The peace agreement that was signed on 24
January was civilian led, raising awareness for peace among the residents and
kickstarting the progression of a peace agreement between the government of the
Philippines and the local Moro people.
HWPL and Peace in Mindanao
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) has held various
events and activities in the Philippines since June 2013, including bringing
relief for the slums, holding conversations with religious leaders for
interfaith harmony, and establishing a youth network for peace. In light of
these efforts, the head of HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee was invited to Mindanao by
H.E. Antonio J. Ledesma, Archbishop of Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, to
facilitate the local religious conflict between the Muslims and Catholics.
At the time, Mindanao was a war zone
rife with gunfire. It was not an easy decision for Chairman Lee Man-hee, an
84-year-old man, to risk his life entering a region of armed conflict. However,
Chairman Lee thought to himself, “I cannot deny this request when I was asked to come
for peace as a peace activist,” and agreed to travel to Mindanao despite the
circumstances and risks.
Chairman Lee
hosted the
first peace walk in January 2014 in Mindanao, General Santos, Philippines. Over
1,000 people, including believers from both Islam and Catholicism, students
from the Mindanao State University, and members of the International Peace Youth Group, participated. After the
peace walk, Chairman Lee
spoke about
the necessity of peace to Catholic and Muslim leaders, youth groups, and university
professors at a hotel in General Santos.
“God’s will is peace, not war,”
Chairman Lee emphasized. He then
asked the attendees, “Do you want peace, or do you want war?” and had them
raise their hand if they wanted peace. When all the attendees raised their
hand, Chairman Lee called the Catholic and Islamic representatives to the stage
saying,
“
Then sign the peace agreement.
”
On that very day, H.E. Fernado Robles Capalla, D.D, Archbishop Emeritus of Archdiocese of
Davao, and Esmael G. Mangudadatu, Governor of Maguindanao, signed an agreement
for the start of peace and the cessation of war as the respective
representatives of Catholicism and Islam.
The Mindanao peace agreement mediated
by HWPL proposed a “civilian-centered” approach to promote peace. In line with
this approach, HWPL has furthered peace activities across the Philippines,
including Mindanao, to raise public awareness on the universal principles of
peace—mutual understanding, respect, and harmony.
Currently, HWPL is also carrying out peace initiatives centered around
civil society, including education, religion, youth, and women, in order to
eliminate factors that cause conflict and to strengthen the core values for
peaceful and sustainable development.
#HWPL #DPCW_1038 #PEACE_MOVEMENT #PHILIPPINES
#DPCW_1038 #PEACE_WALK
This is truly beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteMany heads of state - both existing and former - have publicly declared their support for HWPL's Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), citing it as the only solution to ceasing all conflict and achieving peace on a global scale.
In the words of H.E. Viktor Yushchenko, former President of Ukraine: “The DPCW is a perfect and balanced document that can be the basis of solidarity for peacekeeping in all countries of the world. I think all the leaders of the countries should support the DPCW.”
May peace prevail not only in Mindanao, but throughout the world!✌