Muslim scholars' summit to focus on Mindanao peace process

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Mindanao peace process, along with poverty alleviation and good governance in the autonomous Muslim region, will take center stage during the largest gathering of ulama, or Muslim scholars, and religious leaders in Manila on Monday. Participating ulama will also discuss human rights, particularly the rights of Muslim women in the three-day Second National Summit of Ulama in the Philippines, which will be held at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila. As part of good governance, Muslim religious leaders will also touch on the topic on how to improve the conduct of elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. "The event will be attended by more than 200 of the leading ulama in the country, representing over 100 community-based and regional ulama organizations. Thirty aleemat [Muslim women religious scholars] will also attend. The delegates are expected to approve their bylaws and launch the historic first federation of ulama organizations," said Amina Rasul-Bernardo, director of the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy (PCID). Council spokesman Reynald B. Trillana said the first national summit of ulama, which was participated by 185 ulama, already drafted a charter for the proposed organization. "In 2008, six regional consultations were held to discuss the draft charter with the ulama participants," he said. Invited speakers during the summit are Dr. Endang Turmudi, secretary-general of Nadhlatul Ulama of Indonesia, the largest Muslim organization in the world with 40 million members; Dr. Anwar Abbas of Muhammadiyah a Muslim organization with more than 35 million members also based in Indonesia; Prof. Dr. Abdullah Saeed of the University of Melbourne; and Dr. Hisham A. Hellyer, a principal fellow at the International Institute of Advance Islamic Studies. Other guest speakers namely, Ambassador Rafael Seguis, the newly appointed government’s chief negotiator; Commissioner Rene Sarmiento of the Commissions on Elections (Comelec); Atty. Leila de Lima of the Commission on Human Rights; Ambassador Henrietta de Villa of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting; Atty. Mehol Sadain, former Commissioner of the Comelec; and Atty. Nasser Marohomsalic, former Human Rights commissioner, will respectively give their own topics during the summit. Former President Fidel V. Ramos will deliver the keynote address and preside over the oath-taking ceremonies of the newly elected officers. - Darwin T. Wee, BusinessWorld