Dear Friends,

It was indeed a privilege to be a part of the Waitangi Regional Interfaith Dialogue Conference at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

I would also like to share with you my own insights on our unexpected side “event” where our attention was also drawn intermittently by a small noisy crowd that protested the conference there. A protest handout (attached) was passed on to some of the participants but this did not reach the Philippine delegation. I requested a copy by email . In my opinion, by trying to listen to what detractors wanted to convey, we may learn more about ourselves and how best we can address genuine concerns of others.

The comments (in italics) are purely my own but I wish to invite fellow Waitangi participants and PENPHIL members into a constructive discussion that we can translate into action. It is my hope that we can influence government to resume long stalled peace talks between our government and the CPP/NDF/NPA. While much of the attention is given to the ethnic conflict in the South and in the small but significant successes in the GRP-MILF peace process, it is in this other major armed conflict that so little has been achieved. I believe the conflict has even degenerated. The violence and killings that has caught the attention of the international community may have direct bearing on this other major armed conflict. By pursuing a peace agenda here, perhaps we can put an end to extra-judicial killings and move closer towards transforming and constructively resolving the armed insurgency. I honestly believe that respect and appreciation of religious diversity is interconnected and interrelated to the respect and appreciation for ideological and philosophical differences. Please join the discussions.

Peace, Justice, Forgiveness, Reconciliation!

Chito
Co-director
Interfaith Center for a Culture of Nonviolence

P.S. The Waitangi Protest Handout with my comments will follow.