The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Philippines handed over a batch of weapons to be decommissioned, marking the first step of a peace process agreement with the government.
Seventy-five weapons will be decommissioned, as part of what MILF said is a gesture of their commitment to the peace deal, which will see the establishment of a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said the weapons, and the decommissioning of 145 fighters, however, was not a sign of surrender.
"As I look at the faces of each of our 145 brothers here this morning, I see 145 stories of struggle, of pain, of hopelessness and even of death,” he said. “Yet I also see 145 stories of hope and faith that indeed peace is near and that all the sacrifices have been worth it."
"I see not only their stories but my story as well and the stories of all the mujahideen that have given their lives, their intelligence, their talents to the struggle to protect the Bangsamoro people,” added Mr Ebrahim. “What we have today are not the stories of only 145 fighters. What we have today are the stories of the whole Bangsamoro: oppression, tyranny, and yes, liberation."
Filipino President Benigno Aquino, who also attended the ceremony, hailed the move and called for the peace process to continue.
"This is the truth: Our brothers in the Bangsamoro are not asking for much,” said Mr Aquino.
“What they desire is a decent and peaceful way of life, like any other Filipino. We should also admit that we've neglected each other. But there's nothing written in our religion and our laws that says we have to perpetuate the mistakes of the past. So here we are now. We are being given an opportunity to correct what's wrong. Will we turn our backs on it?"
Seventy-five weapons will be decommissioned, as part of what MILF said is a gesture of their commitment to the peace deal, which will see the establishment of a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said the weapons, and the decommissioning of 145 fighters, however, was not a sign of surrender.
"As I look at the faces of each of our 145 brothers here this morning, I see 145 stories of struggle, of pain, of hopelessness and even of death,” he said. “Yet I also see 145 stories of hope and faith that indeed peace is near and that all the sacrifices have been worth it."
"I see not only their stories but my story as well and the stories of all the mujahideen that have given their lives, their intelligence, their talents to the struggle to protect the Bangsamoro people,” added Mr Ebrahim. “What we have today are not the stories of only 145 fighters. What we have today are the stories of the whole Bangsamoro: oppression, tyranny, and yes, liberation."
Filipino President Benigno Aquino, who also attended the ceremony, hailed the move and called for the peace process to continue.
"This is the truth: Our brothers in the Bangsamoro are not asking for much,” said Mr Aquino.
“What they desire is a decent and peaceful way of life, like any other Filipino. We should also admit that we've neglected each other. But there's nothing written in our religion and our laws that says we have to perpetuate the mistakes of the past. So here we are now. We are being given an opportunity to correct what's wrong. Will we turn our backs on it?"