An average of RM2.1 million worth of property and infrastructure would be destroyed daily if the conflict between the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continues in Mindanao, a forum was told recently.

The forum, organised by the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday, featured a documentary citing a 2002 World Bank report that predicted a loss of at least RM7.6 billion over the next 10 years due to the "never-ending conflict."

Contrasting the price of arms with building shelters for the 411,000 evacuees of the conflict, the documentary entitled 'May There Be No War' said three rounds of howitzer ammunition costing RM511 each equals the construction of one core shelter sufficient for a family of refugees.

The use of just three armalite bullets means the loss of money to purchase nine kilograms of rice sufficient for one day's consumption by a family of evacuees, it added.

Similarly, one round of howitzer ammunition is equal to the cost of 36 chairs and tables for lower primary school students.

Since 1997, the Malaysian government has been facilitating peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF, which is struggling for an independent Islamic state.

Muslims must act

Speaking to malaysiakini later, Abim president Ahmad Azam Abdul Raham said the movement's plans for Mindanao include collecting and mobilising resources and funds and distributing educational and social assistance in the southern region of Philippines.

"One school that we went to, called the Institute of the Quran and Hadith in Talon-Talon in Zamboanga, had the structure but no facilities (pic). Abim is now arranging to assist them in that matter," he added.

Azam, who led a delegation of five Abim members on a fact-finding mission and familiarisation tour of the Philippines two weeks ago, said it would not require much to help Muslims there with basic educational necessities as chairs, tables and computers.

The Abim leader lamented the failure of Muslims in Malaysia to act upon the obvious sufferings of their fellow brethren in southern Philippines, which has suffered destruction and social dislocation after more than three decades of war.

"We hope that the Muslim world would come to help their fellow Muslims in Mindanao who are suffering. Why are Muslim countries not coming to the island? There should be more countries from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference doing that," he said.

Addressing concerns of safety in such places as Jolo, an island far removed from the conflict but reportedly a nest for criminal groups, Azam said the island's crime situation was similar to other major cities, including Kuala Lumpur.

"We are given the picture by the media that Jolo, is crime-infested with kidnapping sprees and Abu Sayyaf. But in Kuala Lumpur, kidnaps also occur. Killings are committed everyday in Kuala Lumpur," he added.

He said there was no excuse for Muslim countries not to fulfill their responsibilities since even American and Australian diplomats had recently visited Jolo to distribute goods in schools.

"American and Australians are going to Jolo with donations. In fact, we were informed that one day before we arrived in Jolo (on Dec 5, 2004), an official from the US embassy as well as an Australian diplomat were there and had given out chairs, television sets, and computers to schools," he added.

Extreme sacrifice

During the forum, a journalist from the independent news organisation Mindanews.com who collaborated in the production of the documentary, told participants that the success of such films in increasing awareness of the social costs of conflicts motivated him to push the boundaries of film-making.

"In my journey, I have come to realise that we are waging a war at all fronts. There is the armed conflict, which is perhaps, the extreme sacrifice we have to pay to attain our freedom. On the other hand, a battle is being carried out on the peace-negotiating table," said Gutierrez Mangansakan after presenting the movie.

"There is (also) a battle being fought on the cultural front. I consider the last battle as my own," he added.

Mangansakan was barely out of journalism school when his first movie, House Under the Crescent Moon , in 2001 won the Cultural Center of the Philippines' best video documentary award.

The documentary has been critically acclaimed within and outside of the Philippines and is currently in the circuit of international film festivals.