History

InPeace Mindanao was conceived during the 48-hour ultimatum given by the United States on Iraq on February 20, 2003.  At this time, Mindanao religious leaders had started consulting each other on how they could respond to the inevitable war declaration. The war in Pikit town in Central Mindanao had already affected more than 100,000 people who were forced to evacuate due to the heightening tension.  Weeks later, on March 2 and April 2, 2003, the bombings at the Davao International Airport and Seaport occurred, killing more than 50 people, and prodded the Mindanao leaders to issue a condemnation. INPEACE MINDANAO circulated a Manifesto for Peace to denounce the war on Iraq and raise concern about the war in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, a parallel effort was being made by Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano through his Dialogue for Peace On-Air, a Mindanao-wide radio-forum simulcast.  Several bishops and Mindanao leaders, including representatives from the NDF and the MILF participated in the forum.  INPEACE supported the subsequent simulcasts and saw the need to draw in more Mindanao leaders to discuss urgent peace issues on the island such as  the “mystery bombings,” the plight of evacuees, and the US-Philipines joint military exercises.

InPeace launched the Mindanao Leaders Peace Conference on May 13-14 2003 in Cagayan de Oro City.  The Conference tasked INPEACE to hold an independent Mindanao Fact-Finding Mission on the “mystery” bombings in Mindanao and the human rights violations on the island ensuing from militarization. The Conference also resolved to hold Mindanao Peace Forums, along with other peace actions.