Mindanao, Once the Worst Conflict Zone in Asia Shows the Possibility of Resolving Global Disputes

The war between Ukraine and Russia killed over 3,000 people and is lasting nearly 4 months since the day the war broke out. There are no signs of ending the shootings in parts of the world. While coping with the new normal, the international community faces new concerns over the risk of armed conflict increasing in various places including their own country. The emergence of a new conflict structure requires a new approach to problem-solving.

In this reality, the achievements of the international peace organization Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), at the private level present a ‘new model of peace’ to the global community. Chairman Lee Man-hee of HWPL is a Korean War veteran who experienced the horrors of the war, discharged from his military service because of a gunshot wound. He is a peace activist who works to achieve the common goal of cessation of war and world peace. His representative achievement in leading the HWPL was his contribution to peace in Mindanao.

If you want to know about conflict in Mindanao, read this article.

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On January 24, 2014, a Peace Walk was held at General Santos City attended by more than 1,000 people including students from Mindanao State University and members of the International Peace Youth Group. After the Peace Walk, Chairman Lee called to stop any acts that might encourage conflict in the name of religion and stressed that “The will of the creator is not war, but peace.” He asked the attendees, “Do you want peace or war? If you want peace, please raise your hands.” Seeing everyone with raised hands, Chairman Lee asked Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla and then Governor Esmael Mangudadatu to sign a peace agreement.

Succeedingly, the government and MILF agreed on the final annex of the Preliminary Peace Agreement on January 25, 2014. The agreement is to recognize Muslim autonomy and gradually disarm the MILF. It is considered the biggest progress in the 18-year negotiation process between the two sides. In May of that year, the Philippines began to enter the Bangsamoro Basic Law into the legislative process, and the civil war of Mindanao was over when then President Rodrigo Duterte finally signed this Law last August 2018.

Regarding future activities in Mindanao, John Rommel Garces, Chief Branch Manager of HWPL Philippines, said, “The core value of the Mindanao Peace Agreement is an approach of ‘citizen-centered awareness improvement and action’ for peace. According to this approach, HWPL will carry out peace projects based on civil society such as education, religion, youth and women.”