ULAMA AFFIRMS ISLAM AS SOLUTION TO PEACE PROBLEM IN MINDANAO

HOST TO THE MUSLIM SUMMIT IN MANILA UNDER FIRE!
Manila, January 28 –Debate rages on as members of the Ulama League of the Philippines. Ulama disclose findings of bidaa or innovations of faith committed in the handling of peace process in Mindanao. A confidential report circulated in the gathering of 200 Muslim religious leaders cited serious accusations to Muslim personalities including the host of the National Ulama Summit being held in Manila today.
Ulama lambasted the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) in its declaration of principle that only solution to the peace problem in Mindanao is meaningful democracy. In a counter-proposal, Ulama affirm Islam as the solution to the peace problem in Mindanao saying that the PCID declaration has put a parameter of dialog not acceptable to the Muslim rebels.
Ulama emphasize that the Muslims are not against the rule of democracy in the Philippines. They said that they are enriching democracy by the exercise of their true faith in Islam. National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales on the other hand had earlier appealed to Muslim religious leaders to ensure that the “correct version” of Islam is taught.
Ulama also criticize some colleagues issuing statements for the peace efforts but closing door for dialog at the same time. It cited a particular statement by an officer of the Muslim World League Elias Macarandas declaring Commander Bravo of MILF a terrorist despite findings of his innocence.
Ulama also accuse other Muslim representatives in the Bishops-Ulama Conference to commit serious lapses in principles and organizational protocols which have resulted negative implications to the Ulama in the country.
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Excerpts from a statement by the Ulama:

ULAMA AFFIRMS ISLAM AS SOLUTION TO PEACE PROBLEM IN MINDANAO
A Critique to the PCID’s Principle of Meaningful Democracy
For submission to the 2nd National Summit of the Ulama in the Philippines
January 26, 2009
The contentions highlighting disunity among Ulama should not supersede the positive dynamics of various groupings in the Ummah under the wide bounds of Halal. First, Allah (s.w.t.) has mentioned this in the Qur’an and that implies about the band of people among the Ummah who will excel in inviting what is good and forbidding what is wrong. The law of contradiction has affirmed to this organizational dynamics that raise people and society into higher level. In the Ummah, it raises us to further purification of our theory and practice in Islam.
For instance, many of our concepts has transcended from the bounds of Halal as we compelled ourselves to express Islam in non-Islamic context. The declaration of “meaningful democracy as the only solution to the peace problem in Mindanao” is a farce! Democracy by itself is ruled by man-made laws or a “rule of majority” which is directly inconsistent with Islam. If we use this as parameter in peace process that involves the Bangsamoro struggle, we are just curtailing them from the very foundation of their existence as Muslims. Will the peace effort we assume still be feasible by this precept?
Democracy by the way, is a constricted equivalent of freedom which is actually rich in an Islamic society. Islam has all the meaningful contextual expressions that the so-called civilization of today has yet to discover and benefit. We should not be deceived by the western semblance of Arabic terminologies abound to ploy the real and encompassing meanings it had.
Furthermore, this very Summit by itself has contended to undermine the existence and contributions of the Ulama League of the Philippines being a national organization in the country by claiming that no other Ulama organization ever exists and therefore it is then imperative to organize an umbrella organization. These contentions are in effect has capitalizes the federated provisions in the By Laws we supposed to ratify today. By the mandate of a ratified By Laws, this Federation will become a supreme clearing house for all major and strategic transactions representing the Muslims in the Philippines locally and abroad. Essentially, this set-up is contrary to their public declarations. This will eventually put to death the positive and complimentary dynamics of existing Ulama groups in the country.
Besides, a Federation adapting open-ended provisions in a By Laws prone of abuse is dangerous enough. With due respect to some colleagues, our statement releases with the BUC for the past months have to some extent committed lapses in principles and organizational protocols seriously implicating officers and members of the organization. Binding ourselves in an umbrella federation is putting our participation and affirmation to its declarations and actions which may have negative implications in the immediate or strategic time.
With these in light, an alternative set-up should be defined as follows:
1. Instead of creating an Umbrella Federation, this National Ulama Conference of the Philippines or whatever organization' s name we may agree upon, should be a Consultative Assembly or an annual developmental summit of the Ulama in the Philippines;
2. Its Constitution and By Laws should only serve as ground-rules of the Assembly limiting powers to the Board of Trustees as Institutional working body playing the rule like an NGO serving its PO’s;
3. The Assembly should not be a regular organization in authority over individual members but an open assembly of Muslim groups, clerics and leaders convening in a conferential, consensual and recommending forum;
4. Whatever it may resolved should have its executory programs both and according to the level of the national conference and as well as on the level of member groups and individuals.
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TEACH ‘CORRECT VERSION’ OF ISLAM
Claims madaris used to recruit extremists
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:16:00 01/09/2009
MANILA, Philippines — National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales appealed to Muslim religious leaders to ensure that the “correct version” of Islam, centered on peace, is taught in their schools or madaris (plural of madrasah), some of which he claimed are used to recruit extremists.
“What government is appealing to Ulama is for them to have a little bit more responsibility in making sure that our Muslim groups in the Philippines are taught the correct version of the Islamic faith,” Gonzales said at a news forum in Manila on Friday.
“We are not asking them to shape their faith into being loyal to the government…authentic Islamic teaching, as far as we understand, is about peace,” he added.
Asked if the madaris were being used to recruit extremists, Gonzales replied: “Totoo yun [That's true].”
Gonzales said the government has intensified its dialogues with Ulama or Islamic religious leaders, asking them to distinguish between “responsible” and “irresponsible” members, while making it clear it was not meddling in their religion.
Source: http://salmanranaw.blogspot.com
For reaction, email at salmanranaw@yahoo.com.ph

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Cali Foundation, Marawi City
January 27, 2009

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SALMAN AGUILAR

REGAINING OF MUSLIM GLORY AT WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES

REGAINING OF MUSLIM GLORY AT WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES
Posted by salmanranaw@yahoo.com.ph

Marawi City, January 20, 2009 - Regaining of the long lost glory of the Muslims is now at work in the Philippines. In a message sent to the Media, Dr. Camal Cali of the Cali Foundation in Marawi City inform of an International symposium to be held in Manila on February 16-17, 2009 involving prominent figures from Malaysia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Singapore and Turkey.

Dr. Cali lauded the Commission of Higher Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for fostering Islamic understanding. He says that the event will institute Islam in the Philippine educational system by making Islam a tool for global peace and socio-economic development.

The symposium culminates series of consultations, discussions, deliberations, and conferences attended by Muslim Educators and Professionals worldwide. CHED is in partnership with the Wisdom International School for Higher Education Studies (WISHES) and the Integrated Mindanao Economic Forum (IMEF).

In a primer, CHED says that speakers in the symposium come from a wide selection of Institutions with exemplary standing and cumulative experience on the role of higher education as an instrument to foster Islamic understanding for global peace and sustainable socio-economic development.

Speakers are Sheikh Khaleed Al Maeena, the Editor-in-Chief of the Arab News; Dr. Abdelaziz Berghout of the International Islamic University Malaysia; Dr. Khalid Abalhassan of the Ministry of Higher Education in Riyadh; and Sheikh Aby Bakar Maidin – President of the Jamiah Singapore.

Among the presenters are Princess Muna Abu Sulayman of the Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Foundation; Col. Datu Shahrir Hashim of the International Islamic University in Malaysia; Dr. Jamil Abu Hananeh of Riyadh; Dr. Faisal Andi Bakti from the University of Indonesia; Prof. Faris Kaya, the President of Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture; and Muhammad Riza Dalkilic, the president of Risale-I Nur Institute in turkey.

MARAWI-PHILIPPINES JOIN THE WORLD VS ISRAEL

January 16, 2009 - Marawi City launches its local version of BOYCOTT ISRAEL! in support of the global clamor to pressure Israel forces away from Gaza. The rallyists mostly students defies the rain as it gathered around Plaza Cabili in the heart of the city chanting anti-Israeli slogans and displaying their placards in front of local media.

BLOODBATH IN GAZA

GAZA IS CALLING YOU!
INMINDS.COM has become an arsenal of sophisticated firepower that empowers the deprived and helps liberate the oppressed! We just have discovered this Site at http://inminds.com from a concerned person who emailed us the “Boycott Israel” brochure. The Boycott information provided by INMINDS is enlightening and very powerful with its contentions backed-up by factual evidence.

Upon the resolve to help the Boycott campaign, we immediately launched our own “BOYCOTT ISRAEL! – Marawi Philippines” linking the site in our amateur homepage at http://cpcfi.multiply.com and http://salmanranaw.blogspot.com and on January 16, last Friday, we staged a protest rally against the slaughter in Gaza highlighting the call “Boycott Israel!” with over 5,000 flyers distributed in Marawi City in southern Philippines.

Anyone can help the Boycott campaign by its own little way. Taking the words of a Muslim cleric saying, “The least effort we could make… is to boycott all those who support (Israel war against innocent civilians)… as well as all the companies that help Israeli companies financially.”

Gaza is calling you, BOYCOTT ISRAEL NOW!

SALMAN AGUILAR
Cali Foundation-Philippines

BLOODBATH IN GAZA

 

BLOODBATH IN GAZA BLOODBATH IN GAZA

BOYCOTT ISRAEL !

BOYCOTT ISRAEL REFERENCE
People of good conscience have chosen to boycott Israeli products and companies supporting the Zionist entity. Their ethical purchasing decision however is frustrated by the lack of accurate information as to which companies to boycott.
We have carried out extensive research to identify the guilty companies. All our findings are provided here. Wherever possible, we have included full references for the source of our information so that you may independently verify its accuracy and understand exactly how each company is contributing its support to Israel. We thank all those organizations whose research we have utilized.
Our research is on going and we encourage you to help us with it - If you have any information regarding guilty companies please e-mail us this information with source references. Thank you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the boycott?
The boycott of Israeli products and companies supporting the Zionist entity is about ordinary people around the world using their right to choose what they buy in order to help bring about an end to oppression in Palestine. It’s a peaceful means of putting international pressure on the racist state of Israel and follows in the footsteps of the successful boycott against South African racist apartheid.
2. Are you boycotting all Jews?
Certainly not! The boycott is not directed at any religious or ethnic group, but rather it is directed at those companies that are supporting the racist occupation of Palestine. A quick glance at the boycott list will testify to this. We do not discriminate between the supporters of Israel - if a Muslim company is caught collaborating with Israel we will boycott it just as vigorously as any other company.
3. Who supports the boycott, what do our Ulema say about it?
People of good conscience all around the world support the boycott.
Trade Unions around the world, including the UKs biggest trade union UNISON with its 1.4 million members, have called for a boycott of all Israeli goods. Christian groups like Christian Aid have joined the boycott demanding an end to EU - Israel trade agreements. And Jewish groups such as B'Tselem and Gush Shalom have launched their own boycott Israeli goods campaigns.
Among Muslims, every leading Ulema from every school of thought is united in this and has given clear fatwas in support of the boycott. A few examples from different schools of thought are provided on the following page:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-fatwas.html
4. Are you sure these companies support Israel?
Many people wanting to boycott Israeli products and companies supporting the zionist entity have been frustrated with the lack of accurate information as to which companies to boycott.
To this end we have carried out extensive research to identify the guilty companies. All our findings are backed with references so that you can independently check the facts and understand exactly how each company is contributing its support to Israel.
On our website we have dedicated a whole page per company. Each page is divided into three sections -
(1) the company's product list,
(2) research findings and
(3) reference/additional info section.
You can see the evidence against a company given in the research findings section and next to each piece of evidence is a reference number which you can look up in the reference section to find out the source for the evidence - most items are sourced back to Israel's own newspapers and journals.
5. Surely wherever we spend our money, even our taxes support Israel, so why pick on these companies?
Whilst it is true that the cancerous zionist entity has got its tentacles hooked into numerous markets and economies - sucking each one to nourish itself, but this is no excuse for us not to do anything. The companies on our list are chosen for being the major supporters of Israel - those that Israel itself has honoured and bestowed awards upon in recognition of being its key supporters in the world. If we can successfully campaign against these then the support of the others will, inshallah, evaporate.
6. These companies operate in Muslim countries providing Muslims with Jobs - isn't boycotting them going to harm ourselves?
It is true that most of the companies on the list have operations in Muslim countries and employ Muslims who would loose their jobs if the companies collapsed or pulled out. But we have to look at this as a opportunity, not a loss.
Take the example of Coca-Cola in the middle east, the boycott has hit them so hard that their sales are down 60%. This has created an opportunity for a Muslim alternative, ZamZam Cola of Iran, which is owned by the religious charity the Foundation of the Dispossessed, to take Coca-Colas share of the market. Zam Zam Cola is struggling to keep up with demand - it exceeded all expectations by selling four million cans in its first week. It is now planning to expand by build factories in the gulf states, helping provide local employment. And for the first time even European countries like Denmark, are importing ZamZam Cola.
Similar success stories can be told of Sainsburys closer in Egypt in April 2001, which resulted in a blossoming of local stores which would not have otherwise survived in an unfair market monopolised by a foreign giant.
Also lets not forget that the reason why the multinationals have set up in Muslim countries is not out of benevolence for us, but rather exploitation. Take the example of Delta Galil - the Israeli textile giant whos cloths are sold under the labels GAP, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, BOSS, M&S and DKNY among others. The Israeli company has factories in Jordan and Egypt in addition to Palestine. Their treatment of workers is such that Sweatshop Watch has denounced Delta-Galils exploitation of Arab labour, calling it a "Sweatshop Czar". Is it really a loss to us to see such companies go?
7. Does the boycott work?
Oh yes! For example, one of the companies hardest hit by the boycott is McDonalds.
McDonalds is a "major corporate partner" of the Jewish United Fund. In its own words, the Jewish United Fund "works to maintain American military, economic and diplomatic support for Israel; monitors and, when necessary, responds to media coverage of Israel." Also, McDonalds chairman and CEO Jack M. Greenberg is a honorary director of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry. McDonalds has just announced it is closing down its operation in the middle east due to loss of revenue as a direct result of the boycott (Oct 2002), and is replacing Greenberg as its chairman and CEO (Dec 2002). Since the launch of the boycott campaign, two of Jordan's six McDonald's franchises have closed due to lack of business. In Egypt, McDonald's decided to change its brand name to Manfoods this past March, in an attempt to dodge the boycott. It had no effect and Egyptian police forces were ordered to guard the entrances to McDonald's restaurants, after stone throwing incidents took place. A total of 175 restaurants will be closed at a loss of $350 million.
In the face of giants like McDonalds crumbling under the pressure of the boycott, smaller companies are weary of supporting Israel and are steering clear in fear of being boycotted.
Amidst calls for a boycott of Amazon.com, the internet bookstore Amazon.com terminated its association with the Jerusalem Post (Nov 2002). It was revealed that the Jerusalem Post was donating its slice of the profits derived from the amazon.com partnership to Israeli soldiers returning home after committing massacres and other abuses of human rights on the occupied territories.
Their advert, which appeared on most of their pages, read "Buy Amazon.com & Support Israel". Inundated with complaints, amazon.com severed its ties to the Jerusalem Post, demanding they remove all the adverts and vowed not to hand over any more profits.
Other companies, disgusted by Israel's treatment of the Palestinians have themselves actively joined the boycott.
In May 2002 a US auto part export company refused to do business with Israel.
In a reply to a purchase order from Israel, John Harris, representing Texas Automotive Export wrote:
"We must inform you that Texas Export will not do business with Israeli citizens at this time. We urge you to rein in your military and stop your oppression of the Palestinian people," the letter said. "Your country has lost the respect of the civilised world," it concluded.
The success of the boycott has so worried the US government and Israel, both afraid that companies will abandon Israel, that just last week the US threatened to fine US companies that take part in the boycott. The Department of Commerce has already issued more than $26m in fines and turned down export licences to those companies found supporting the boycott - so much for democracy and a right to choose who to do business with!
8. Can the boycott really effect the Israeli economy?
Israel's economy is on the verge of total collapse with no sign of recovery despite cash injections from uncle Sam. Just last month (Oct 2002) Sharon begged Washington for $10 billion in emergency aid. Inflation is sky rocketing - even the official figure is over 4 times the government target. VAT has just been raised as have fuel bills and all basic living costs like food and rents. Unemployment is soaring and salary cuts are the order of the day.
This has resulted in a series of crippling general strikes - the last one bringing the country to a standstill - flight in and out of Israel had to be suspended, radio and television broadcasts stopped and health workers only dealt with emergencies. The streets are piling up with uncollected garbage.
Foreign investment, a life-line for the zionist state, has also dried up. Figures reveal that investors have lost $5 billion of the $6.5 billion invested in Israel between 1999-2001. No one is prepared to invest any more.
The Israeli government is so short of money that its cost cutting includes shutting down several embassies and consulates around the world!
At this critical time, the importance of the global boycott of Israel and of the collaborating companies that give it its life-line cannot be overemphasised. Israel is counting every penny - every penny matters - ensure yours don't go to Israel!
9. Is there a printable list of the companies and brands to boycott?
Yes there is a leaflet designed for printing available for download on the following page:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-leaflet.html
Also there is an e-card with the logos of the companies to boycott which you can send to all your friends. Its available at the Islamic Card Centre:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/cardcentre.html

10. What else can I do to help?
1. Tell Others
Its essential that others know about the boycott and specifically which companies to boycott. Make a point of printing a 100 copies of the leaflet mentioned above[8] and give them out in your community - at Jummah prayers or other gatherings. Talk to people about the boycott, with non-Muslims draw the parallels between this boycott and the one against apartheid in South Africa.
We are grateful to the many individuals and groups around the world who have already helped in spreading the boycott. A few examples come to mind:
• A Muslim group in Bosnia carried out a huge poster and leaflet campaign, with activists distributing 40,000 leaflets in Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and parts of Yugoslavia. Their success has drawn the attention of the zionist Simon Wiesenthal Centre [April 2002].
• Just recently [December 2002] a similar leaflet campaign advertising our website and the boycott has been carried out in Australia resulting in newspapers articles and tv and radio coverage - we have been labelled as "preaching anti-globalisation" by one paper!
• In Hong Kong a boycott advert with our website has been placed in one of the Chinese newspapers. A reader sent us a copy.
• Crescent International have been placing, without cost to us, boycott adverts with our web address in most issues of their paper. They even designed the advert themselves - we only found out when we received our copy of the paper.
• A few Muslims in Birmingham got together and paid for the printing of 10,000 colour boycott leaflets (which they approached us to design). The leaflets were distributed through out the UK.
• One school has seen the importance of the role of children in keeping a family away from boycotted products, and has taken the initiative of giving each of its 500 pupils a copy of our boycott leaflet.
• Many Muslim and non-Muslim websites now carry our banner and boycott news ticker.
2. Write Letters
For a boycott to be effective, it must be followed up with a letter writing campaign to inform the companies that we are boycotting their products until they stop collaborating with Israel. See our letter writing campaign page for sample letters and advise of letter writing.
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-letter-campaign.html
3. Picket
More and more individuals are beginning to take direct action against companies that support Israel. On form of direct action is to picket the guilty companies.
Picketing is a form of public protest and aims to draw attention to the realities of Palestinian suffering by exposing those that help to sustain it. It embarrasses those shoppers that know they shouldn't be shopping there, informs those shoppers that are not aware of the moral objections as well as irritating supporters of Israel generally.
The companies themselves become aware of the protests and news of pickets goes all the way to the top. See our guide on picketing to find out if there a picket near you and how to join it. The guide also includes tips on setting up your own picket and legal FAQ on what your rights are when picketing.
http://www.inminds.com/picket-page.html
4. Other boycotts
The boycott of Israel is much more than just an economic boycott. Support the sports and cultural boycotts. For more information see:
Cultural Boycott:
http://www.inminds.com/cultural-boycott-of-israel.html
Sports Boycott:
http://www.inminds.com/sports-boycott-of-israel.html