What kind of peace are they talking about?

In the aftermath of the plebiscite on January 21 for the proposed expanded Muslim autonomous territory and regional government which was reported to have given substantial approval to the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), many government officials, politicians, military officials, journalists and columnists were also reported to have said that Mindanao will at last experience lasting peace.

I ask, what kind of peace are they talking about? No more conflicts? No more war? No more bombings?

The strong negative and ominous answer came 6 days later! Two bombs blasted the Mount Carmel Cathedral before Mass last Sunday, January 27, 2019.

I call these reports negative and ominous because they are a negation and an omen of a wrong and dangerous understanding of peace.

To those in government, politics and media, peace is an agreement on paper like the BOL. To the military, peace is the absence of conflicts, bombings, war after the defeat of the rebels. The government has, in the past, made many peace accords, written documents on paper, with the rebel groups — communist and Moro. Yet, no real peace has come about. Why? What should be real peace to these people, Muslim and non-Muslim?

Real, authentic, genuine peace is a result of humane relationship characterized by restorative justice and sincere respect. This was not the experience of the peace negotiators and the lawmakers and their constituencies BEFORE they crafted the Republic Act 11054 creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, BARMM, supposedly an expansion of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, ARMM.

For, how could a piece of paper creating structures of power, security and autonomous governance when the Governing Officials and those to be Governed have not experienced just and humane relationships? How can historical justice be restored and humane relations be promoted when the social and psychological wounds are still deep and wide? How can BOL be implemented when it is not credible because it is easily open to abuse?

Real, authentic and genuine peace is called SHALOM and will be discussed in the next Shalom column.