The Students' Perceptions on Mindanao Conflict and Its Implication to Peace and Solidarity

This study aims to identify the perceptions of the Muslims and Christians students at Sulu State College on the issues and problems confronting Mindanao conflicts. The investigation focuses on the perceptions of the students on the nature, primary causes. This study also verifies further the subject who should be responsible for the continuance of the conflict and determined the factors that influences such perceptions. Thorough analysis of data with its appropriate statistical treatment, the researcher have found that: (a) there is no significant difference on the Muslims and Christians students' perceptions on the nature and causes in Mindanao conflict and its implication to peace and solidarity; (b) that there is no significant difference on the male and female students' perceptions on the nature and causes of Mindanao conflict; (c) there is no significant difference on the Muslim and Christian students' perception on the dissemination of knowledge on Mindanao conflicts and its implication to peace and solidarity. The researcher has concluded, that the people in Moro land develop all kinds of consciousness how the Mindanao conflicts end. This study helps a lot in leading to the improvement of plans and actions on the greatest possibility to solve the Mindanao conflicts. The study has proven that the students have common perceptions regarding the nature and primary causes of the Mindanao conflicts. Knowing these natures and primary causes appropriate solutions should be established which leads to peace and solidarity of the people not only in the province of Sulu but also in the cities and provinces in entire Mindanao regardless of religion, ethnicity, social status and other aspects of life. Therefore, the viability of the solutions included in the study should be given a great privilege by the Philippine government and other member of society who in one-way or the other opposing the law of the land as established by the Philippine government. The perceptions of the students could be given emphasis to reality; hence, the Philippine government and the people of Mindanao should unite for the cause of love, peace and tranquility in which identified and construed as the sole aim of all religions. In the light of peace and solidarity, the researcher recommends that: (a) Religion should not be taken as the nature and the primary cause of the Mindanao conflicts as perceived by the students. Islam is the only true religion ordained by Allahu subhanahu wa ta'ala, therefore Muslims should propagate it to the Christians on the way how Prophet Muhammad (Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam) propagated Islam in his life time. Allah guides whom he will. (b) The Philippine government should be sincere to give the Mindanaoans the legal agreement they have promised in the peace talks. (c) The Mindanao conflicts should be taught and integrated to the curriculum of the social studies and history classes in elementary, secondary and tertiary level so that the young generations absorbed the first hand information about the situations of their country in the formal and legal ways mandated by the Educational institutions. (d) The Philippine government should recognize the traditions of the Muslims and integrate these traditions in their cultural development program, until the Muslims would feel the national integration. (e) The Philippine government should stop the military operations in the areas of Mindanao and give privilege to the military Muslims to guard their own people and their homeland. This way the people of Mindanao would attend peace and tranquilit