Zamboanga: Whist war prevails, who gains from lack of peace?

  Photo credit: Agence France Presse http://news.yahoo.com/heavy-fighting-rebel-besieged-philippine-city-044823485.html

The war must stop at once in Zamboanga.

At all costs, there must be a settlement, for there to be peace. See related article here.

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Social loss

To those that gave their lives in the conflict in Zamboanga, we take this time to meditate and pray for their passing. To those that were hurt we pray that they will recover swiftly and go back to where they left off from.

The passage of loved ones during a cataclysm often does not portray the extent of the loss. Most of the pain only starts coming later. This is the same for all, whether in the high or lowly stations of life, the dawning of the loss just comes in different forms and shapes.

Further, to the victims of the siege in the City, the portent of worsening illnesses, or coming death is not as less a loss than that of those who have to bear the passing of their beloved. In the days to come, it is hoped that first, the both parties to the conflict will end and all those affected will return to the lives they left behind.

Raising stakes

The MNLF allegedly recently took into custody the Chief of Police of Zamboanga City.

This raises the ante in the conflict in the peninsula. Whether this is correct or not, whether Sr. Supt. Jose Malayo is just not on unofficial leave or had willingly surrendered to MNLF to avoid armed confrontation, will affect the current situation.

Photo credit: Zamboanga Today Online

International Committee of the Red Cross

The ICRC provided the information that the combined ICRC and the local chapter, Philippine National Red Cross suffered casualties in the fighting in Zamboanga City. No less than ten volunteers were injured, with some sustaining very serious injuries during the exchange of fire and explosions at the vicinity of the running battle between government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front.

ICRC-PNRC has actively provided relief, assisted in giving shelter and comfort to more than 9,000 refugees in the beleaguered City,

ICRC-PNRC also has the mandate to undertake facilitation and intermediation leading towards the settlement of disputes, but will not take part in actual negotiations and bargaining between hostile parties.

This is a salute to all the volunteers of the various organizations, private, charitable, local and foreign that are now painstakingly laboring at the risk of life and limb in the zones of non security and great hazards in Zamboanga City.

We urge the parties to this conflict to stop fighting and allow the people of the beautiful City of Zamboanga to taste the air of peace and calm once more.