By Nash Acan

July 8,2012: Formally, today marks another milestone in the history of the Bangsamoro nation as around a million of people parade to Camp Darapanan, Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao to attend the 4-day Bangsamoro Leaders’ Assembly scheduled from July 6-9.

Moros from different places in the Southern Philippines even in Metro Manila regardless of tribes, political affiliations, and other diversities converge once again to demonstrate their oneness for the common goal – as exemplified by their ancestors during those early days in defending their place, belief, culture, and religion against oppressors.

Vice chairman for Political Affairs Ghazali Jaafar did the opening salvo of the messages which will be expected to be delivered by the distinguished guests of the program for today. He cited some footnotes of the Bangsamoro in the early times. He said that Moros were an independent Nation as Spain din not able to conquer neither evangelize them.

The Moro people represented by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have been struggling to regain their freedom in their own land for more than 35 years, a longest struggle in the history of this kind, Jaapar said. But sad to say that instead of political settlement, the government waged the all-out-war which they spent millions of money for it. Besides, massacres to the Bangsamoros took place in this span of years of struggle.

In 1996, the government of the Republic of the Philippines forged the Final Peace Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front which led to the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but this, according to Jaapar, did not work as it is not accepted to the majority of the Bangsamoro. Thus, the struggle being led by HadjiMurad Ibrahim, the Chairman of the MILF, continues to attain just and lasting peace.

Speeches of guests holding government or non-government positions are now taking place expressing overwhelming support to the Bangsamoro Leaders’ Assembly. Several international dignitaries are also expected to give messages.