By Romy Teruel
More than 30 civilian lives were lost in the attack by elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in North Cotabato and Lanao provinces following the botched memorandum of agreement signing for the Muslim ancestral domain that would have expanded the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
How many more lives must be lost before government and the MILF realize that there can be no negotiation for a peaceful solution to the Mindanao problem without the consent of all stakeholders. It is alright to talk about what will finally bring peace to Mindanao but this must be within the ambit of the Constitution and the existing laws of the land and most of all with the consensus of the people living within the area to be affected. No single group, not even the negotiating panels, can determine what is best without getting the approval of the majority, if not all, of the people involved. Without that only bloodshed and more bloodshed will take place.
No matter what the MILF say about why they attacked and killed civilians, their actions have effectively sealed the fate of their cause to fail. They opened themselves to be tagged as terrorists like the NPAs by the international community. To the Filipinos, especially the families of their victims, they are plain treacherous terrorists and they must be pursued by government as terrorists.
They are now rejected even by their own fellow Muslims. I was in Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato last week and I found the Muslims there together with their leaders expressing their decision not to be included in the Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity (BJE). Streamers to this effect line the highways in Isulan, capital of Sultan Kudarat and along the highway to North Cotabato.
They must have realized that peace cannot be had at the expense of peace itself. Relationships of the Muslims and the Christians in Sultan Kudarat have been very commendable according to Fr. Rudy Relator, a member of the diocesan clergy of Cotabato. They don't want the status quo to be disturbed by the creation of the BJE.
Friends in North Cotabato told me each family is now trying to prepare for any eventuality. They expect more atrocities as civilians, both Christians and Muslims, are now arming themselves. They said the Ilagas may surface again to defend the communities as AFP soldiers cannot be permanently there to protect them..
The Ilagas were dreaded by the Muslims in the early 70s for their audacity and courage to fight and defend their communities. Their fighting exploits were legends as they were known to cut and string the ears of their enemies and bring them home from battle like they would hold high a trophy.
People in Cotabato are now relieved by the announcement of Malacanang that there would no longer be any signing of the agreement with the MILF in present form even if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the MOA. So much blood has been spilt already to allow the agreement to be implemented. Peace must be renegotiated, this time with utmost transparency if government expects to pull it smoothly.
The question now remains. At what cost will we pursue peace in Mindanao? Will changing the form of government through constitutional amendments bring peace in Mindanao?
Philippine history tells us that the Muslims of Mindanao were never completely subdued by the Spaniards. The MILF are advocating the same line today. So are they saying that no mater what they will fight to win their independence?
At what cost will the MILF go to establish a Bangsa Moro State? Only the succeeding events will tell us.
More than 30 civilian lives were lost in the attack by elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in North Cotabato and Lanao provinces following the botched memorandum of agreement signing for the Muslim ancestral domain that would have expanded the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
How many more lives must be lost before government and the MILF realize that there can be no negotiation for a peaceful solution to the Mindanao problem without the consent of all stakeholders. It is alright to talk about what will finally bring peace to Mindanao but this must be within the ambit of the Constitution and the existing laws of the land and most of all with the consensus of the people living within the area to be affected. No single group, not even the negotiating panels, can determine what is best without getting the approval of the majority, if not all, of the people involved. Without that only bloodshed and more bloodshed will take place.
No matter what the MILF say about why they attacked and killed civilians, their actions have effectively sealed the fate of their cause to fail. They opened themselves to be tagged as terrorists like the NPAs by the international community. To the Filipinos, especially the families of their victims, they are plain treacherous terrorists and they must be pursued by government as terrorists.
They are now rejected even by their own fellow Muslims. I was in Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato last week and I found the Muslims there together with their leaders expressing their decision not to be included in the Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity (BJE). Streamers to this effect line the highways in Isulan, capital of Sultan Kudarat and along the highway to North Cotabato.
They must have realized that peace cannot be had at the expense of peace itself. Relationships of the Muslims and the Christians in Sultan Kudarat have been very commendable according to Fr. Rudy Relator, a member of the diocesan clergy of Cotabato. They don't want the status quo to be disturbed by the creation of the BJE.
Friends in North Cotabato told me each family is now trying to prepare for any eventuality. They expect more atrocities as civilians, both Christians and Muslims, are now arming themselves. They said the Ilagas may surface again to defend the communities as AFP soldiers cannot be permanently there to protect them..
The Ilagas were dreaded by the Muslims in the early 70s for their audacity and courage to fight and defend their communities. Their fighting exploits were legends as they were known to cut and string the ears of their enemies and bring them home from battle like they would hold high a trophy.
People in Cotabato are now relieved by the announcement of Malacanang that there would no longer be any signing of the agreement with the MILF in present form even if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the MOA. So much blood has been spilt already to allow the agreement to be implemented. Peace must be renegotiated, this time with utmost transparency if government expects to pull it smoothly.
The question now remains. At what cost will we pursue peace in Mindanao? Will changing the form of government through constitutional amendments bring peace in Mindanao?
Philippine history tells us that the Muslims of Mindanao were never completely subdued by the Spaniards. The MILF are advocating the same line today. So are they saying that no mater what they will fight to win their independence?
At what cost will the MILF go to establish a Bangsa Moro State? Only the succeeding events will tell us.
No comments:
Post a Comment