By the Rev. Richenda Fairhurst
This last week more than 150 United Methodists 10 Annual Conferences gathered in Portland. They gathered to attend “Rise Up!”, a Western Methodist Justice Movement sponsored training event designed to bring many voices from within our Western Jurisdiction together to listen, share, and build action teams responsive to justice concerns throughout the jurisdiction.
During the conference participants shared many stories as they encouraged each other to take meaningful and faithful action for change. During one time of workshopping, Rev. Marma Urbano, who has served in UCC and UMC churches and is on staff with the Cal-Nev Philippine Solidarity Task Force as an advocate in Washington D.C., began her story with a simple plea, “We are so scared,” she said. “Killings are happening [in the Philippines], again. We need voices from the church to call for the [Peace] Talks to continue.”
This article is a call to action.
The country of the Philippines is no stranger to conflict. Rich in natural resources, it has long been a country where the effects of colonization and capitalization have resulted in displacement of indigenous people, degradation of the environment, and tremendous wealth inequality. Its history shares many of the qualities of other resource rich regions in Latin America, Costa Rica, and parts of Africa.
The Philippine people are resilient and hard working. But the rule of dictators have only increased the distress caused by an unequal economic system that especially hurts the working poor.
To add to this is the desperation of armed rebels and the crisis of climate change. The changing climate resulted in the failure of the rice crop for two years in a row. This strained resource and supply for this basic food. Farmers were promised 15,000 sacks of rice from the government granaries. That rice never came.
During a late evening presentation, Jean Reynolds, a member of the UMC Cal-Nev Solidarity Task Force for the Philippines, explained what happened, “Two of their rice crops failed and there was famine. Representatives of the farmers kept asking for rice. The government refused to release it. Possibly [due to corruption] the rice no longer existed.” In April of last year, the farmers took action to demand relief. Between 3,000 and 6,000 farmers gathered in the city of Kidapawan and blocked the highway demanding rice.
The Philippine army deployed to break up the protest. The farmers linked arms and reportedly threw stones and sticks. The army responded with gunfire. Three Filipinos were killed, almost 100 wounded, and 80+ children went missing. The farmers and their families ran to the closest place of refuge, the Spottswood United Methodist Church and compound near where they had been protesting.
Ms. Urbano also shared her story during that late evening session. She introduced videos depicting the escalation of violence as well as interviews with activists who had been imprisoned and were recently re-arrested.
Especially, Urbano shared that the Filipino people had invested real hope into renewed peace talks with Duterte’s Government that had begun in August in Oslo, Norway. This hope made it all the harder when those talks broke down and the cease fire collapsed. “Over the last 2 weeks, nine people have been arrested and there are many military operations,” Urbano said. “Why are our villages being militarized while the Peace Talks are going on?” There have been arrests and killings. It is especially difficult to deal with the recent deaths, Urbano said, “when we were hoping these Peace Talks would really succeed.”
What can you do?
Rhondalei Gabuat, spokesperson for Gabriela Seattle, is a member at the Beacon United Methodist Church, an historically Filipino church in Seattle. On Sundays, Gabuat leads a prayer vigil lifting up the people of the Philippines and the peace process.
Gabuat was among those who gathered during the conference to share the stories of recent events in the Philippines. She and others called on their brothers and sisters in faith to stand in solidarity with them as they worked to bring pressure on Duterte and the Philippine Government to stop the killings and arrests and to resume the Peace Talks.
We as United Methodists can help. Our voices and our witness matters for the work of Justice. We can listen and speak to the stories of those who are struggling to keep the peace and improve the conditions for the people of the Philippines. We can participate in mission groups and support those already serving in mission. Sign up with JustPeacePH to learn more.
Richenda Fairhurst serves as pastor of Camas United Methodist Church and is the Peace with Justice Coordinator for the PNW Conference Board of Church and Society.
Thank you, Richenda, for your very informative, well written article about the Philippines and the significant challenges there for peacefull resolution. A concerted effort by the Western Jurisdiction would seem a positive next step to offer supportive engagement to bring about peace. What guidance might the Filipino bishops offer for collaborative effoerts together?
Blessings, James, thank you. I hope also that the voice of the church will help support those who lead this effort. I am grateful for the moral courage of all those who are speaking up.