And the Center for Moderate Muslims in the Philippines is happy as well. Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo hopes that the U.S. under President Obama will “be friendly with the rest of the countries in the whole world especially Islamic countries.” I hope so too. But what will be the price of that friendship?
“Muslims express joy over Obama’s historic win,” by Julmunir I. Jannaral for the Manila Times, November 6 (thanks to Kamala):
COTABATO CITY: The Filipino Muslims on Wednesday expressed joy and welcome the historic victory of the first American black president, Barrack Obama, who ran as the standard bearer of Democrat.
Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) Executive Director Datu Ali Sangki said he expects a more peaceful world with a Democrat in the White House.
“If I remember right, all American Republican presidents had in one way or another waged a war against another country. Thus, with President-elect Obama, we hope he will continue the Democratic tradition of waging peace around the world,” said Sangki.
House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Simeon Datumanong also congratulated the historic triumph of Obama, who defeated Republican Sen. John McCain.
Prof. Taha Basman, president of the Center for Moderate Muslims (CMM), is highly elated with the results of the American presidential race.
“America showed democracy works very well with President-elect Obama, who is from a highly discriminated sector of American society in the past, having won despite barriers of race and religion,” said Basman, commissioner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
“The just-ended United States election is a shining example that every American citizen of any creed or color has the chance to fulfill his dream. This is a testament to the American people’s maturity, the US being the show window of a working democracy,” said Basman.
Sultan Fuad Kiram 1 of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo said the victory of Obama should be an inspiration for the Filipino Muslims who are known to be the minority in this country.
“I would like to congratulate President-elect Obama and I am optimistic that the US under his administration would be friendly with the rest of the countries in the whole world especially Islamic countries,” Kiram said.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) spokesman Eid Kabalu, who just arrived the other day from an eight-day trip to Tripoli, Libya, hopes that Obama’s White House rule would inject a positive impetus to the attainment of peace in Mindanao and the whole world.
“At any rate and as promised, President-elect Obama has to reduce US involvement in war, which, in effect, will make global peace reign under his administration. That is good for us in Mindanao and the world,” said Kabalu….