Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Mindanao Garden of Peace

41^st Jabidah Massacre Commemoration

March 18, 2009

Kindley Airstrip, Corregidor Island

Today, March 18, 2009, we gather again, here at the very site where, 41 years ago, at least 26 young Muslim men were massacred, their cries awakening the Bangsamoro People, their blood, fueling the struggle for Justice, for Freedom, for the Right to Self-Detremination.

            Forty one years passed, but these valiant young men has not seen justice. Worst, some sectors of society have maliciously reduced this most significant day of our History as a myth.

            Just like the Jabidah Massacre, the struggle it inspired, continue to grope in darkness. Peace processes between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines with the two Moro liberation movements - the Final Peace Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front, and the foiled Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, still has to deliver the Peace that it promised. All-out Wars, Human Rights violations, Massive displacement of Moro communities, Discrimination and Prejudices continue to haunt the BangsaMoro People.

            But we continue to hope. We continue to believe. The Jabidah Massacre, in all its tragedy, became a reason for unity, not just among the Moro people but for all disciples of truth and justice. The story of the lone survivor, Jibin Arula, who was rescued and embraced by the people of Cavite; to researchers, journalists, historians who documented and proved the incident; to Mindanao peace advocates who never tire of educating the public; to every one of us who continue to commemorate March 18 of every year.

            Forty one years ago, this very site witnessed the tragedy that claimed the lives of our young Moro men. We stand here today, to remember that fateful day, to pay tribute to our Moro heroes, to commemorate their execution. But today, we hear their cries not as an awakening but as a pause for contemplation – for acceptance, for respect, for forgiveness, and their blood not to fuel a struggle, but to water and nourish a Garden of Peace.

            Soon, on this historic place, in this historic island, will develop a Mindanao Garden of Peace, in memory of the victims of the Jabidah Massacre, whose execution awakened and united the Bangsamoro People forty one years ago and forty one years after, shall now grow the seed for lasting Peace.

By Julie Alipala
Mindanao Bureau

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Six homemade bombs were separately discovered in two villages here Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Two homemade bombs were recovered along the Buenbrazo Drive near the residence of Anak Mindanao Party-list Representative Mujiv Hataman in the village of Guiwan at around 2 p.m., said Senior Superintendent Mario Yanga, city police chief.

Two hours later, four more bombs were recovered near the Anak Mindanao Youth Center in Lanzones Drive in Barangay Culianan.

"Allah is Great. God never allowed the innocent to be victims," Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman, the lawmaker's wife, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Representative Hataman said the two bombs were recovered along the road "where we usually used to pass by when leaving our house."

"I believe it was intended for us," he added.

The bombs were reportedly discovered by street sweepers.

ANAK MINDANAO Representative Mujiv Hataman strongly support and endorse the World March for Peace and Nonviolence which is to begin in New Zealand on October 2, 2009, coinciding with the United Nation’s International Day of Non-Violence. Said March will last 90 days, passing through 90 countries.

Mr. Osbi Santillan of the World Without Wars, convenor of the World March and Willa Tecson of Ang Komunidad, visited Rep. Hataman in his office at the House of Representatives last March 3, 2009.

In his statement of support, the solon said, “Mula sa kaibuturan ng aking puso at mula sa Anak Mindanao Party List, kami po'y nakikiisa sa Pandaigdigang Martsa para sa Kapayapaan at Walang Karahasan! Ang mamayan ng Mindanao ay matagal na naghahangad ng Kapayapaan at Katarungan, and. together with the peoples of other war-torn areas and countries in the world, we join hands and raise our voices for this global call. We must all work towards a culture of non-violence and dialogue to achieve true peace!"

The Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia to be visited by the World March. Rep. Hataman committed to lead and help bring the World March to Mindanao, in coordination with other peace groups in the Region and the World March Philippine Promotion Team.