Mindanao from the Moro eyes

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Mindanao from the Moro eyes
Tweet Topic Started: Oct 30 2011, 08:32 AM (1,262 Views)
ni84	Oct 30 2011, 08:32 AM Post #1
Posts: 2,503 Group: Elite Member #7,006 Joined: August 16, 2011	Mindanao from Moro eyes By: Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer11:22 pm \| Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 A useful starting point for any analysis of the problem in Mindanao is the recognition that the Philippine government is not, and indeed has never been, in full control of Muslim Mindanao. The ubiquitous checkpoints that dot the region, manned by forces belonging to traditional warlords and rebel groups, concretely attest to this. To all intents and purposes, Philippine laws and institutions have never defined the framework of political rule in these parts. Periodic elections conducted by national agencies may indicate membership in the Filipino polity. And the presence of state-run schools may suggest integration into the national culture. But this is largely an illusion. What we have here is not a sovereign state that disintegrated because it failed in its functions. This is rather an example of a state that, from its inception, could not hold sway over a swath of land it regards as part of its territory. It has used all the violent means at the disposal of the state to pacify the Moro people—to no avail. The veneer of order that exists today in the region has been won mainly by coopting the local power-wielders, rather than by forming active citizens. This method worked for as long as the traditional warlords remained self-centered and divided. Things changed when young leaders from these communities sought to unify their ethnically segmented people under one Bangsamoro banner. Two distinct but related processes have followed from this. The first is the complex internal struggle for leadership among the different elements of Moro land. This struggle continues. The existing ethnic faultlines (e.g. Tausug, Maguindanao Maranao, and Lumad) are compounded by inter-generational conflicts and the assertion of rival ideological visions (Moro secular nationalism vs. Moro religious nationalism). The second is the transformation of the Bangsamoro people’s relationship to the Filipino nation-state as a result of the realignments within their community. As the idea of a self-governing Moro nation took shape, secession from the Philippine Republic loomed as a possibility. Unable to ignore this prospect, the Philippine government has offered regional autonomy as a compromise. Yet, despite this, many Filipino leaders still do not appreciate the validity of the Moro quest. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under Nur Misuari became the first beneficiary of this accommodation. Misuari was installed as the first governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an entity created by the 1987 Constitution. The ARMM was supposed to be an experiment in limited self-government by the Moro people, but from the start, it offered little promise of succeeding. Moreover, the incompetence and corruption in its leadership hobbled the new regional government. The ARMM’s failure under Misuari was taken as confirmation of the inability of an imagined Moro nation to govern itself. A new Moro leadership under Hashim Salamat reframed the vision of a Bangsamoro state, giving birth to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Unlike the Misuari-centered MNLF, the MILF was more collective in its leadership. The organization continued to flourish after Salamat’s death, and earned the right to be the dominant voice of the Moro people. Meanwhile, ARMM passed on and became a plaything of traditional warlords, like the ruthless Ampatuans, who had no problem embracing the equally corrupt games of Manila’s politicians. The MILF program was secessionist at the beginning. It specifically drew its vision of a desirable community from the core ethics of Islam. Basing itself in Maguindanao, it sharply distinguished itself from the Tausug-dominated MNLF. But what is truly remarkable about it is that in addition to the support it received from the Islamic countries, it managed to get the active backing of the United States. This gave it the standing and clout in the international stage that Misuari, in his heyday, never enjoyed. Though it fell short of the dream of an independent state, the Moro “substate” concept that the MILF introduced into the 2008 Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) promised a more substantial autonomy than the MNLF got from the Ramos administration. Negotiators from both sides had worked on it for five years, hoping the agreement would be sealed before the end of the Arroyo term. Alas, the unpopularity of the Arroyo regime gave the whole enterprise the unwarranted stigma of a midnight deal being rushed. After the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional, there was no choice but to abort it. One has to understand the sense of frustration and betrayal that this has created within the ranks of the MILF. In a sense they are back to zero. For trusting in a process that, in the end, yielded nothing, their leaders have suffered a great loss in credibility. Now, we expect them to rein in the hotheads among their commanders, and threaten them with all-out war if they don’t behave. It is as if it were so easy to end this conflict by sheer military means. Can we even imagine the scale of the humanitarian disaster that will result from a total war in Mindanao? No, because the arrogant voices that call for total war are typically the ones who do not know that the Philippine state has never effectively established itself in Muslim Mindanao. They remain ignorant of the historic injustices that have been committed against the Moro people. They see only the death of Filipino soldiers, not the pain of people who have been stripped of their lands.
	We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job. Sir Winston Churchill, BBC radio broadcast, 1941 We'll settle this the old navy way: first guy to die, loses. President Thomas 'Tug' Benson, Hot Shots! Part Deux Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya Rossiyskoy Federatsii 15,000 nukes and enough for another 40,000


Hitman	Oct 30 2011, 09:06 AM Post #2
Member Posts: 934 Group: Regulars Member #5,856 Joined: March 10, 2010	painful it is, I think the Filipino masses understand the plight and struggle of our moro brothers but the thing is why did the ARMM failed, did Nur Misuari intentionally made it fail or is he and the rest of his staffs were incompetent. ARMM was their chance to prove themselves in self governing but they failed. we have 2 of the oldest insurgencies in the world and that is because our government cannot put the house in order. how much more trying to defeat 2 insurgencies? will there be a final solution? the on going offensives are justified but in the end economic solution is the key to our insurgencies while limited autonomy with effective leaders or federalism will most likely solve the moro problem.



flipzi	Oct 31 2011, 09:19 AM Post #3
R-A-T-S Posts: 8,213 Group: Elite Member #71 Joined: August 8, 2004	the autonomy or even the MOA-AD will not be a guarantee that with it the REST OF THE MORO PEOPLE, not just the elites and the warlords will benefit from it. we've seen the failure of the of the autonomy with the Ampatuan's at the helm of it. they were able to build palaces for themselves but the poor majority remained impoverished. how are we sure that the MOA-AD, with much less intervention of the Manila leaders, will really serve the poor majority? so, basically the autonomy or MOA-AD is not a guarantee. what guarantees prosperity for all is the able LEADER. in fact, i dont believe in the autonomy at all. what i can suggest is this; 1) keep the autonomy or refine its framework to suit the aspirations of the Moro people as long as it doesn't get to the point wherein they have full control in order to ensure that these Moro leaders will not abuse their powers for their greed and selfish goals. 2) help the Moro people choose the right leader by educating them on this. 3) provide all assistance on livelihood development and skills training in coordination with the ARMM since it basically an issue about "food on the table" in every home. 4) the govt ensure that funds are available to sustain the development and good service and ensure proper auditing. 5) for the remaining warmongers and criminals, they must be brought to justice at all cost. 6) but we must keep the door open for those who wants to leave the armed struggle and avail of the amnesty.
	" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them! - Art. II Sec 1, Philippine Constitution " " People don't care what we know until they know we care. " getflipzi@yahoo.com


flipzi	Oct 31 2011, 09:28 AM Post #4
R-A-T-S Posts: 8,213 Group: Elite Member #71 Joined: August 8, 2004	good news for the people of Mindanao Quote: US to hike aid to Mindanao By Jerry E. Esplanada Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:20 am \| Monday, October 31st, 2011 On the 50th anniversary on Nov. 3 of its involvement in the Philippines, the US Agency for International Development (Usaid) announced that it was focusing assistance on rebellion-torn Mindanao. “Mindanao is still Usaid’s top priority because that’s where the need is greatest,” said Gloria D. Steele, the Filipino-American head of the agency in the Philippines, pointing to a region where literacy and maternal and child mortality rates are highest. “We have been working in partnership with the administration of President Aquino. We’re making sure our programs will support the President’s priority projects, mainly poverty alleviation,” Steele told the Inquirer recently. “That’s a big challenge. But if we all try, meaning with joint efforts by government and the private sector, we can make things happen. There are no guarantees, but the potential is there. With the right people working together and the availability of resources, I am optimistic we can make things happen,” she said. In a report on its activities, Usaid said it has over 30 projects in the southern Philippines, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “The programs give former combatants job skills and expand trade and marketing networks. Usaid is also training local officials in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in more than 1,000 villages,” it said. The agency said the incidence of violence had been reduced by 40 percent in areas supported by its development activities. Between 1996 and 2009, the Usaid said it provided nearly $500 million to develop basic infrastructure in Mindanao, such as ports, roads and bridges, and assist rural banks in providing loans and deposit services to microenterprises. In partnership with local governments and community organizations, the agency helped to “effectively manage natural resources, improve urban environmental management and use renewable energy systems supplied through public-private alliances.” To combat corruption, Usaid said it was “supporting local officials by focusing on transparency and accountability in public administration processes at the local level.” The agency is working with the private sector and LGUs (local government units) to “improve the delivery of family health services, including maternal and child health, voluntary family planning and control of tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS and emerging pandemic threats.” Usaid is also “increasing access to quality education and livelihood skills in conflict-affected areas” by improving the quality of instruction, particularly in English, math and science, and vocational training opportunities for out-of-school youth. In the ARMM, average scores in the National Achievement Tests have increased from a low 49 percent to 61 percent, Steele said. During the past four years, Usaid’s budget allocation for the Philippines totaled nearly $400 million. “Unfortunately, the Philippines has not enjoyed the same level of economic success as its neighbors have over the past 30 years,” it said, adding that “approximately 40 percent of the Philippines’ population lives on $2 a day or less.” US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. is scheduled to join Usaid and Peace Corps officials in celebrating the two agencies’ “50 Years of Partnership for Peace and Development” program on Nov. 4 at the Mall of Asia’s Music Hall. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/16715/us-...aid-to-mindanao
	" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them! - Art. II Sec 1, Philippine Constitution " " People don't care what we know until they know we care. " getflipzi@yahoo.com


flipzi	Oct 31 2011, 09:30 AM Post #5
R-A-T-S Posts: 8,213 Group: Elite Member #71 Joined: August 8, 2004	Military to deploy more troops in Basilan 10/30/2011 \| 08:13 PM The military is planning to deploy more troops in Basilan province in southern Philippines, but a Mindanao-based official said it has nothing to do with the Oct. 18 clash with Moro rebels in Al-Barka town that left 19 soldiers dead. According to Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command, they have been planning about the deployment of more troops even before the Al-Barka incident. “We have been long planning to deploy an infantry brigade in Basilan, but it’s only a headquarters brigade, not a brigade with three battalions," he said. In Manila, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos said the deployment “is one of the options being considered by the AFP." “There are numerous factors being weighed and studied to further improve our performance in accomplishing our mission in the fulfillment of our mandates," Burgos said. “Realignment of security forces and redeployment of units happen periodically and may be done anytime with the fluidity of the threat environment that the AFP is confronting," he added. Cabangbang said the team that will be sent to Basilan will be the “controlling brigade" to the existing Special Operations Task Force-Basilan, whose commander, Col. Alexander Macario, was relieved over alleged lapses in the Oct. 18 incident, where the military suffered its biggest number of fatalities in nearly five years. “An infantry brigade is capable of intelligence operation, civil military operation, while the one currently deployed, the Special Forces, [is] heavy on direct operations," he said. - KBK, GMA News an effort for a more streamlined operation. looks good. :thumb:
	" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them! - Art. II Sec 1, Philippine Constitution " " People don't care what we know until they know we care. " getflipzi@yahoo.com


ni84	Oct 31 2011, 06:51 PM Post #6
Posts: 2,503 Group: Elite Member #7,006 Joined: August 16, 2011	flipzi Oct 31 2011, 09:28 AM good news for the people of Mindanao Quote: US to hike aid to Mindanao By Jerry E. Esplanada Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:20 am \| Monday, October 31st, 2011 On the 50th anniversary on Nov. 3 of its involvement in the Philippines, the US Agency for International Development (Usaid) announced that it was focusing assistance on rebellion-torn Mindanao. “Mindanao is still Usaid’s top priority because that’s where the need is greatest,” said Gloria D. Steele, the Filipino-American head of the agency in the Philippines, pointing to a region where literacy and maternal and child mortality rates are highest. “We have been working in partnership with the administration of President Aquino. We’re making sure our programs will support the President’s priority projects, mainly poverty alleviation,” Steele told the Inquirer recently. “That’s a big challenge. But if we all try, meaning with joint efforts by government and the private sector, we can make things happen. There are no guarantees, but the potential is there. With the right people working together and the availability of resources, I am optimistic we can make things happen,” she said. In a report on its activities, Usaid said it has over 30 projects in the southern Philippines, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “The programs give former combatants job skills and expand trade and marketing networks. Usaid is also training local officials in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in more than 1,000 villages,” it said. The agency said the incidence of violence had been reduced by 40 percent in areas supported by its development activities. Between 1996 and 2009, the Usaid said it provided nearly $500 million to develop basic infrastructure in Mindanao, such as ports, roads and bridges, and assist rural banks in providing loans and deposit services to microenterprises. In partnership with local governments and community organizations, the agency helped to “effectively manage natural resources, improve urban environmental management and use renewable energy systems supplied through public-private alliances.” To combat corruption, Usaid said it was “supporting local officials by focusing on transparency and accountability in public administration processes at the local level.” The agency is working with the private sector and LGUs (local government units) to “improve the delivery of family health services, including maternal and child health, voluntary family planning and control of tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS and emerging pandemic threats.” Usaid is also “increasing access to quality education and livelihood skills in conflict-affected areas” by improving the quality of instruction, particularly in English, math and science, and vocational training opportunities for out-of-school youth. In the ARMM, average scores in the National Achievement Tests have increased from a low 49 percent to 61 percent, Steele said. During the past four years, Usaid’s budget allocation for the Philippines totaled nearly $400 million. “Unfortunately, the Philippines has not enjoyed the same level of economic success as its neighbors have over the past 30 years,” it said, adding that “approximately 40 percent of the Philippines’ population lives on $2 a day or less.” US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. is scheduled to join Usaid and Peace Corps officials in celebrating the two agencies’ “50 Years of Partnership for Peace and Development” program on Nov. 4 at the Mall of Asia’s Music Hall. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/16715/us-...aid-to-mindanao What makes you think that this increase "aid" is good news? Ever since the Wikileaks revelations we here in Mindanao have a growing suspicion of the US involvement, for us the "aid" the US is giving is meant for the MILF and its other groups.
	We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job. Sir Winston Churchill, BBC radio broadcast, 1941 We'll settle this the old navy way: first guy to die, loses. President Thomas 'Tug' Benson, Hot Shots! Part Deux Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya Rossiyskoy Federatsii 15,000 nukes and enough for another 40,000


flipzi	Oct 31 2011, 09:08 PM Post #7
R-A-T-S Posts: 8,213 Group: Elite Member #71 Joined: August 8, 2004	i can understand what you're thinking. but think about this; will the roads they will build only allow Moslems to pass? one of the major reasons of the Moro conflict is injustice in the form of lack of economic development or growth that will open up opportunities for livelihood. with the development projects, it will send the signal to our Moslem brothers that we desire to see them prosper as well. if you deny them this, it will add to their complaints and will further solidify their belief that it will be better to fight for self-rule so they can achieve these developments. with the aid and local efforts, they will realize that they dont need to go to war just to enjoy prosperity.
	" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them! - Art. II Sec 1, Philippine Constitution " " People don't care what we know until they know we care. " getflipzi@yahoo.com


ni84	Nov 1 2011, 06:46 AM Post #8
Posts: 2,503 Group: Elite Member #7,006 Joined: August 16, 2011	Many here in Mindanao see the US more interested in the natural resources rather than the peace and order here in the region. For us the US is supporting the Moro threat and not the elimination of it, that is the reason I have convince many here that we must allow other world players to enter in Mindanao and hinder the US influence. Right now many other nationalities are interested in gaining access to the natural resources and develop it for the region and the nation.
	We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job. Sir Winston Churchill, BBC radio broadcast, 1941 We'll settle this the old navy way: first guy to die, loses. President Thomas 'Tug' Benson, Hot Shots! Part Deux Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya Rossiyskoy Federatsii 15,000 nukes and enough for another 40,000


Hitman	Nov 1 2011, 07:35 AM Post #9
Member Posts: 934 Group: Regulars Member #5,856 Joined: March 10, 2010	Of course the US is interested in natural resources and other players, we should welcome this as this interests will bring investments and prosperity to Mindanao and may finally peace will come. No other country will help us without expecting something in return my friends. Everything has strings attached. we just have to play the game if thats what it takes for attain peace. Yes let the US pour in the aid for our muslim brothers as this will benefit us all. If other players want to join the gold rush let them come with open arms with their monies. this could be the key to our AFP modernization too. Its a win win situation.



ni84	Nov 1 2011, 08:15 AM Post #10
Posts: 2,503 Group: Elite Member #7,006 Joined: August 16, 2011	Having investors are good however it seems that the US is cutting out the middleman and rather deal with the MILF as a direct supplier which is not good for the region and the nation in the long run.
	We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job. Sir Winston Churchill, BBC radio broadcast, 1941 We'll settle this the old navy way: first guy to die, loses. President Thomas 'Tug' Benson, Hot Shots! Part Deux Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya Rossiyskoy Federatsii 15,000 nukes and enough for another 40,000


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