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What to do with clan wars?
Never has there been an onus of peace
initiatives in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
which, despite the peace pact between the Moro National
Liberation Front and the government, still remain to be
a veritable land of conflict.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is one thing, the Abu
Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists band is another,
and bitter clans war is yet another headache.
The matter of clans’ war in the autonomous region should
be tackled soonest. They are more fierce and savage than
the encounters of government soldiers and the
separatists. Their casualties are, very often, not
reported. What mitigates the bloody encounters are the
presence of the government peace-keeping force. Between
warring clans they do not talk of Bangsa Moro People
Islamic Independent State or of secession. These two
issues are not relevant to them. Thus it is not
surprising to see even teenage members of warring clans
sling armalites even while tilling their farms. These
children have nothing to do with the secessionist
madness. They were brought up under the culture of wild
conflict which taught them that their salvation is in
the gun they bear.
How will one deal with this iniquity? How can the
government bring the warlords to various tables of peace
negotiations? How can weremove the finger from the
trigger of the treasured gun? – MIRIAM DAHUNOG,
miriamdahunog70@yahoo.com, Iligan City
Talks at critical stage
Militants in Southern Mindanao
started off the first week of 2007 with a bombing. An
improvised bomb made from a 60-millimeter mortar shell
went off outside a fast-food restaurant on 5 January.
The bomb wounded two people. Police disabled two similar
bombs left nearby.
Senior Inspector Samson Obatay at first said police
believed Abu Sayyaf and the regional terrorist group
Jemaah Islamiyah were behind the blast. The day after
the bombing, Obatay said police had received
intelligence that pointed to Said Pakiladato, leader of
the 105th base command of the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF). He also accused Pakiladato’s deputy,
Ustadz Hawon, of being involved.
Police previously had named Pakiladato as the
perpetrator of the 2003 bombing that killed Datu Piang
Mayor Saudi Ampatuan. In December police listed 23 MILF
commanders, among them MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim, as
involved in the 2003 bomb attack in Makilala that killed
eight people.
The MILF protested that Ebrahim and other MILF leaders
were not involved. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu protested
the latest charges. “We have no reason to sow terror. We
are not into terrorism just to advance our
organization,” said Kabalu. He accused the police of
using the MILF as a convenient scapegoat and called for
further investigation before blaming the MILF.
Kabalu also questioned the source of the intelligence
supplied to the police. The MILF once provided refuge
for Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah militants, who in turn
brought Abu Sayyaf fighters into MILF camps. The MILF
always has looked down on Abu Sayyaf as a gang of common
criminals.
In June 2005 the MILF forced Jemaah Islamiah and Abu
Sayyaf members out of their camps. The Indonesians
championed a type of Arab radicalism that had nothing in
common with the MILF’s goals. Abu Sayyaf seemed more
interested in kidnapping for ransom and robbery than in
defending Muslim minority rights.
Nothing would please the Indonesians and Abu Sayyaf more
than sabotaging the peace process between the MILF and
the government. Talks between the two parties are at a
critical stage. As the old year ended, the MILF withdrew
its demand for territory based on ancestral domain. The
MILF wanted control of nearly 1,000 villages currently
inside the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. The
government position has always been that popular
elections should resolve the territorial dispute.
MILF peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal cited three
reasons for the breakthrough: the prospect of peace; the
conclusion of both parties that talk is preferable to
war; and pressure from the international community.
Government peace panel chairman Silvestre Afable cited,
in addition, the desire of the people for peace. Ramon
Santos, retired general and government panel
undersecretary, said breaking the cycle of war is “an
indication that the peace process is working.”
The Muslim and Christian communities of Mindanao have
responded to their religious leaders with a new spirit
of cooperation. That spirit is seen among the 400,000
inhabitants of General Santos City. Mayor Pedro Acharon,
Jr. said Muslim volunteers offered help, so Christians
could celebrate All Souls Day and Christmas. Muslim
leader Raja Muda Alimudin Hassan said Christians
reciprocated by providing free medical care during
the Muslim Eid al-Fitr celebration.
Romulo Valles, the new archbishop of Zamboanga City, is
a well-known defender of human rights, particularly the
rights of the indigenous population. Long a supporter of
inter-faith cooperation, Valles said he will continue to
support dialogue and peace in the region.
Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato City said
everyone on
Mindanao was hoping for peace in 2007. In Davao City
members of the Muslim and Christian communities turned
out for peace rallies. The groundswell of support for
the peace process is receiving economic backing.
Japan and the European Union moved in December to
earmark development funds for the southern Philippines.
EU public affairs director Thelma Gecolea announced an
additional 1 million Euros (US$1.3 million) for the
multi-donor initiative for Mindanao. The EU already had
pledged 12 million Euros (US$15.6 million) for the
Mindanao Health Sector Policy Support Program and 12
million Euros for the Mindanao Trust Fund.
Japan is contributing funds for the construction of
schools, a job-training center for women and safe
drinking water systems. Japan also has sent a senior
development expert to work with the International
Monitoring Team on Mindanao. Cease-fire monitors from 60
countries are in Mindanao. The development expert will
monitor socio-economic projects and help to formulate a
comprehensive development plan for former conflict
areas. All that is needed is a lasting peace. – EDGAR
PALMA, edpalma1960@yahoo.com, Kidapawan City |
