True Story of Peace of Lee Man-hee, a Korean - Special Issue #1
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Special Series | True Story of Peace, Special Issue #1
“Land of Changes” – After the Civilian Peace Agreement in Mindanao
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On 24 January 2014, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) achieved peace to show as proof of their sincerity in their peace work. +:3/ &KDLUPDQ /HH 0DQ KHH DQG WKH +:3/ 3HDFH 'HOHJDWLRQ ZHUH DEOH WR OHDG D FLYLOLDQ SHDFH DJUHHPHQW IRU WKH \HDU FRQÀLFW LQ 0LQGDQDR DV SDUW RI WKH WK :RUOG 3HDFH 7RXU $W ¿UVW WKH UHVLGHQWV ZHUH GRXEWIXO EHFDXVH WKH SUHYLRXV SHDFH DJUHHPHQW HQGHG LQ JXQ¿UH 8QGHU VXFK FLUFXPVWDQFHV +:3/ FRQWLQXHG to strive for sustainable peace through peace education and peace culture activities even after the peace agreement. This article will cover the process of HWPL’s civilian peace agreement and its aftermath.
HWPL Civilian Peace Agreement Creates an Atmosphere of Peace in Mindanao
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✂ HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee (center), H.E. Fernado Robles Capalla, D.D, Archbishop Emeritus of Archdiocese of Davao (left), and Esmael G. Mangudadatu, Governor of Maguindanao (right), sign the civilian peace agreement on 24 January 2014. ✃ The unveiling ceremony of the Peace Monument in Maguindanao that recognizes the principles of peace, such as the suspension of acts of conflict and the dialogue and communication between religions, on 25 May 2015.
24 January 2014 – “Day of Peace” Established by HWPL Mindanao residents asked, “Do you want peace or war?” Cheers sounded when the peace agreement led by Chairman Lee Man-hee was signed A culture of peace is being fostered in Mindanao, Philippines, a land that has been EORRG VWDLQHG E\ D \HDU FRQÀLFW 7KH FLYLOLDQ group-led peace agreement that was signed on 24 January 2014 is being implemented and is raising awareness for peace among the residents. This agreement largely contributed to creating an atmosphere of peace for a peace agreement between the government of the Philippines and the Moro people. HWPL and Peace in Mindanao Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL, Chairman Lee Man-hee) has held various events and activities in the Philippines since June 2013, including bringing relief for the slums, holding conversations with religious leaders for interfaith harmony, and establishing a youth network for peace. Amid these efforts, Chairman Lee Man-hee was invited to Mindanao by H.E. Antonio J. Ledesma, Archbishop of Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. At the time, Mindanao was a battleground of bullets. It was not an easy decision for Chairman Lee Man-hee, an 84-year-old man, to HQWHU LQWR D FRQÀLFW ]RQH WKDW FRXOG SRWHQWLDOO\
take his life. However, Chairman Lee thought, “I cannot deny this request when I was asked to come for peace as a peace activist,” and transcended national borders, ethnicities, and religions to travel to this region. &KDLUPDQ /HH UHDOL]HG WKH 0LQGDQDR FRQÀLFW ZDV D &DWKROLF ,VODP UHOLJLRXV FRQÀLFW DQG KRVWHG WKH ¿UVW SHDFH ZDON IHVWLYDO RQ January 2014 in Mindanao, General Santos, Philippines. Over 1,000 people, including believers from both religions, students from WKH 0LQGDQDR 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ DQG PHPEHUV of the International Peace Youth Group, participated. After the peace walk, Chairman Lee spoke about the necessity of peace to Catholic and Muslim leaders, youth groups, and university professors at a hotel in General Santos. &KDLUPDQ /HH FULWLFL]HG WKH UHOLJLRXV OHDGHUV WKDW JDYH ULVH WR WKLV ORQJ WLPH FRQÀLFW EURXJKW ZLWK ZRUGV DQG UHOLJLRQ DQG HPSKDVL]HG WKDW “God’s will is peace, not war.” He then asked the attendees, “Do you want peace or do you want war,” and had them raise their hand if they wanted peace. When all the attendees raised their hand, Chairman Lee called the
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Catholic and Islamic representatives to the stage while saying, “Then sign the peace agreement.” H.E. Fernado Robles Capalla, D.D, Archbishop Emeritus of Archdiocese of Davao, and Esmael G. Mangudadatu, Governor of Maguindanao, signed an agreement for the creation of peace and the cessation of war as the representatives of Catholicism and Islam, respectively, during the spontaneous peace agreement signing ceremony. The Mindanao peace agreement that was mediated by HWPL proposed a “civiliancentered awareness improvement and action”based approach to peace. In line with this approach, HWPL began peace activities across the Philippines, including Mindanao, to raise public peace awareness on the universal peace principles of mutual understanding, respect, and harmony. HWPL is also carrying out peace initiatives centered around civil society, including education, religion, youth, and women, in order to eliminate the factors that are sources of conflict and also to strengthen the core values for peaceful development.
An agreement for the creation of peace and the cessation of war (Mindanao Peace Agreement) mediated by HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee on 24 January 2014.
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HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee (right) and H.E. Antonio J. Ledesma, Archbishop of Chairman Lee Man-hee gives a lecture at the World Peace Forum in the Philippine soldiers take part in the Peace Walk held after the 2nd Annual Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (left), shake hands during Chairman Lee’s visit to the Philippines on 28 January 2014, four days after the civilian peace agreement in Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace in Maguindanao, Philippines Philippines in September 2013. Mindanao. on 25 May 2015.