Due Diligence and GMS at TAF

YMPers -- Shan (Chairperson & Women & Children Convenor) Jane (Treasurer & Moro Fund Convenor), Ras (Secretary & Secretariat Convenor), Sam (Membership Convenor), Gadi (DawahConvenor), and Jal (Member) -- attended The Asia Foundation's Due Diligence and Grant Management Fund Seminar in preparation for the possible handling of a series of YMPN Peace Process Adocacies.

YMPN and TAF are hoping to have a long term partnership. If TAF will award YMPN with the Grant for the series of YMPN Peace Process Advocacies, it will be YMPN's 3rd engagement with TAF.

So far so good.

Justice with a Muslim Justice!

The long struggle for recognition by minorities will continue. Whether in politics, business, media and development, we need to HARNESS the qualified and competent from among them, particularly the Muslims, so that they will rise above their poverty.

Let us give due honor to the spirit and law of past peace agreements. The test of sincerity by government is to give the concluded pact's provisions due course. For instance, government representation of Muslims in its highest branches will address some of the inequities working against Muslims . Appointing a Muslim to the SC is in consonance with several laws and treaties tied with government’s bid to achieve peace in Mindanao.
These are the 1996 Peace Agreement, Republic Act 6743, Republic Act 9054 and the 1976 Tripoli Agreement.

These pacts and laws contain provisions making it mandatory, “as far as practicable” the appointment of Muslims to key positions in government, including the Court of Appeals and the High Court.

Before us is Justice Hakim Abdulwahid who is nominated to the Supreme Court. His untarnished reputation is well-known in the judiciary. At a time of crisis in trust against government, we need leaders who can inspire and lead in moral governance.

The first time and the only time that a Muslim became a Justice of the SC was during the aministration of then President Aquino when she appointed SC Justice Abdulwahid Bidin . After Bidin was appointed in 1987 by President Aquino, no Muslim Justice was able to sit in the high court and give the Muslims representation there.

His appointment could end the 15-year drought of Muslims to the High Tribunal.

Young Moro professionals are in need of role models in Muslim society. They feel good leaders should be supported.

While airtime is given to crime , showbiz and metropolitan development, there are a FEW VOICES of Muslim leadership in our midst. Give the best minds from the Minorities a CHANCE!

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After having texted more than 15 of our YMPs and getting some 10 yesses, i drafted the following as a support to the nomination of JUSTICE ABDULWAHID to the Supreme Court (now he is at the SHORT LIST of the Judicial and Bar Council).

Kindly disseminate for signatures.

Samira Gutoc
25 March 2009

YMPN Supports ICRC’s Call for the Release of Hostages

Young Moro Professionals Network, Inc.’s Statement on Sulu Kidnapping

The Young Moro Professionals Network, organized exclusively for charitable, socio-cultural and educational purposes by empowering the Moro youth professionals so they could contribute to the development and enhancement of the quality of life of the Bangsamoro people, joins the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in their plea for the safe release of Andreas Notter, Eugenio Vagni and Mary Jean Lacaba.

The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Movement in situations of conflict. It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. (ICRC Mission Statement)

The Moros have benefited from ICRC activities in our areas.

While we do sympathize with the concern raised by the Abu Sayyaf for demilitarization of and development for Moro Regions, we strongly condemn the January 15, 2009 kidnapping and hostage taking by the Abu Sayyaf, who are also young indviduals. The methods of the Abu Sayyaf are detrimental to the image and development of the Moros and Filipino Muslims in general.

We condemn those who victimize people who only wish to help the victims of the conflict in the Bangsamoro.

We equally condemn atrocities regardless of who the victims are and who the perpetrators are.

We especially condemn the victimization of humanitarian aid workers.

The kidnapping of aid workers will only hurt our people who desperately need the help of the outside community.

Any act of banditry against aid workers can only serve the interests of the enemies of the Bangsamoro. Any act of banditry is un-Islamic.

We strongly support the ICRC and urge the immediate and safe release of the hostages.