Aid from Muslim nations sought for Mindanao

Manila: A senior lawmaker proposed that the government solicit the help of rich Arab countries in a bid to bring peace and jumpstart development in the impoverished regions in Southern Philippines.

In a statement, House Speaker Prospero Nograles said the salvation of millions of Filipino Muslims from the clutches of continuing poverty could lie in the hands of Arab investors willing to put money in Southern Philippines.

"Mindanao can be extricated from its present 'chicken and egg' situation - where peace is impossible to achieve with widespread poverty and poverty is impossible to solve without peace - if only the government could invite Arab investments that would generate jobs and jumpstart development in the region," Nograles, leader of the country's 238 seat House of Representatives said.

Safe operations

Nograles believes that investments from rich Islamic countries can safely operate in Mindanao because they enjoy the trust and respect of the Filipino Muslims, including the insurgents.

"No Muslim would blow up an Arab investment," Nograles, who represents the congressional district of Davao City in Congress, surmised, adding that nearly all of the major mosques in the country were built from money coming from member-states of the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

According to Nograles, Mindanao is trapped in a situation where investments and infrastructure development that would generate jobs and provide livelihood to the Muslims and Christians cannot be put in place because of the volatile peace and order situation in the area.

Appeal: Red Cross fears for civilians in the region

A Red Cross official appealed yesterday to government troops and Muslim separatist rebels not to harm civilians as they battle each other in the worst fighting in the southern Philippines in five years.

Dominik Stillhart, International Red Cross deputy director of operations, urged both sides to comply with international humanitarian law "to spare civilian communities and allow delivery of relief assistance."

Stillhart said that the Red Cross is increasing its relief operations in the southern Mindanao region, which he said was suffering from its worst clashes since 2003.

The Philippine government's disaster agency says more than half a million people in the region have been displaced or have lost their homes and livelihoods since violence erupted last month following an aborted peace accord between the government and rebels.

- AP