September 27, 2012 News: His Excellency Ambassador Guy Ledoux of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines led the unveiling of peace murals at Awang Airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao yesterday.

The peace murals were the winning paintings of elementary pupils from conflict affected communities in Maguindanao during the Let’s Paint for Peace Competition sponsored by the EU in collaboration with the International Monitoring Team (IMT), Department of Education (Dep-Ed) and the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Negotiating Panels.

“This occasion is our way of celebration of the month of peace which I joined the launch at Malacanang Palace with President Benigno Aquino,” Ambassador Ledoux said.

The murals were conspicuous placed at the entrance and exit of the Airport, making them vividly visible and inspiring spectacles of peace vocations drawn from the children’s lenses.

Joining Ambassador Ledoux were Said Shiek, MILF CCCH Chairman, His Excellency BGen Dato’ Zulkaple Bin Moh’d Noord, IMT Deputy Head of Mission, MGen Rey Ardo of the 6th Infantry Division Philippine Army, officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), IMT officials representing the government of Norway, Brunei, Malaysia and EU, and officials from ARMM and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Indeed, the unveiling of the peace billboard and mural augurs well with the progress of the ongoing peace talks between the GPH and MILF with both parties expressing cautious optimism in forging a framework agreement soon, which is a being dubbed as decisive instrument in realizing a negotiated settlement of the decades-old conflict between the government and the Bangsamoro people.

“In the spirit of the month of peace, it is now the responsibility of the adults to follow the example given by the children of Mindanao to ultimately make peace a reality,” Ledoux stressed.

Ledoux commended both the government and MILF in keeping strong resolve to achieve peace despite all the challenges along the way, particularly in rejecting the attempts of some elements to spoil the peace process last month of August.

“The time is ripe now for a peacefully negotiated settlement and we share the energy and determination of both parties in realizing that framework agreement,” he said.

Ambassador Ledoux reiterated the full support of EU to the government and MILF peace process and to the implementation of agreements between the two parties.