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The symbol why Muslims fight

This photo shows the real situation of Islam and Muslims in the Philippines. Islam is besieged here by a brutal state, who treats Muslims as second or even third class citizens.  It is a reality created by centuries of enslavement by foreign hands, an existence threatened by co-optation and offers of co-existence.

How will Muslims in this country believe in the sweet promises of their oppressors when their existence is being threatened every day by the state? How will Muslims believe in the sanctity of peace when all they see, hear and taste are brutality, pillage and rape?

Such is the life of a Muslim living in the Philippines. Long is the suffering of people whose only desire is to live peacefully among equals.

Brutality makes it difficult for Muslims in this country to accept the offer of peace by those who do not share their faith. What can peace do when police brutalize you and your family, when they destroy your homes and ransack your mosque. They offer peace with their right hand while their left holds a dagger.

The Philippine state wants to co-opt the Muslims, lull them to sleep so that they lose all desire to fight. While Muslims allow themselves to be co-opted, foreign invaders take their lands in the name of “free trade”. Those who fight for their right to property, are considered “terrorists” and exterminated.

The Noble Qu’ran is emphatic—those who violate your right to property deserve your wrath. Muslims are mandated by Allah to fight those who desecrate the lands which the Muslims owe and till and fight they must until the invasion has ceased.

And how can these Muslims living in that isolated piece of land called Baclaran be considered as illegal settlers when all of Metro Manila were owned by the Muslims long before the advent of Western invaders? All of Paranaque, that once sleepy town of fishermen, were occupied by Muslim settlers even before De Goiti or Legaspi arrived and conquered these lands by force? That scene where Manila policemen brutally dispersed Muslim settlers in Paranaque seemed reminiscent of the past.

This shows that the struggle which Rajah Solaiman, the Muslim hero whose name was adopted to describe the mosque seen here, started centuries back, is still alive. Only those who are truly Muslims, those of pious natures, can very well do what is ordered.

There are current reports indicating a breakthrough in the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The top leadership of the Bangsamoro people reportedly agreed to negotiate peace with the re-constituted peace panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. Tha could be good news for some. However, upon closer analysis, this is highly improbable given the fact that the Central Committee of the MILF already took a position contrary to what government right now is announcing to the entire world.

Right after that controversial Supreme Court decision invalidating the Memorandum of Agreement-BJE, the MILF Central Committee already decided not to go back to the negotiating table if this is to be chaired by appointments of Arroyo. Philippine president Arroyo has just reconstituted the panel to be headed by Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis and includes lawyer Tomas Cabili Jr., Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, former General Santos City Mayor Adelbert Antonino, and former legislator Ronald Adamat.

Note that the reconstituted panel includes people who really don’t know the status of years of negotiations with the MILF and has even taken a contrari stand on the issue of the Bangsamoro juridical entity. The MILF already said that it will not return to talking peace if the GRP just wants to reconfigure the conditions and terms of reference of the MOA-BJE. It will only talk peace under the conditions pre-set by those stated in the original MOA-BJE.

Notice also that those who compose this government panel stands to debate more with the MILF leadership instead of  going to constructive dialogue. Again, this peace talks, if ever it resumes, is designed to fail.

The reason why GRP is just doing this now and announcing the willingness kuno of the MILF to talk peace is very simple—Arroyo wants to project a good image before leaders of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) who will hold their conference here at the Dusit Hotel on January 9. 2009. Government wants to project an image that it is protecting the civil, economic, political and religious rights of the Bangsamoro when the contrary is happening.

Growing Regional Threat

A US spy plane crashed in the town of Pikit, North Cotabato in the region of Mindanao, Philippines last October 18. Also, reports show an increasing number of US troops arriving into Mindanao. This suggests one thing–is the US government changing its policy in engaging Bangsamoro rebels in the conflict-laden Mindanao?

The US embassy has not issued any statement on this. Evidently, this shows that US military continued support of the AFP in its battles against the MILF ground commanders.

US intervention in low-intensity conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region is nothing new. Since the 1950’s, US direct intervention has been documented. Understandably, US defense interests include Mindanao, since, earlier posts suggest that it has direct implications on the overall global anti-terror campaigns.

The question is—what will Barack Obama do in relation to the escalating war in Mindanao? Will Obama increase US defense spending to combat the Bangsamoro rebels? Or will defense spending remain the same?

Will the US continue its mediator role in the conflict or will it increase its military interventionist role? All indications point to increased military intervention, since, analysis suggest a further escalation and possible spillover to the rest of the region.

The possibility of Mindanao turning into a serious regional flashpoint remains very big. If some MILF commanders successfully oust MILF Chairman Murad from his seat, the prospect of the organisation entering into peace talks is doomed. It would, however, secure victory for the MILF on the long term; yet, victory could send the wrong signal to the world, a signal that could embolden other terrorist organisations around the globe.

Simply put–what the US does’nt need right now is another success story of the extremists. The US is losing the war on terror in almost all fronts–Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. A victory in Mindanao by Islamist-oriented rebel groups in Mindanao could increase morale in other flashpoints, most especially in Southern Thailand which remains as a hotbed of Islamist secessionism.

A victory could spill-over Thailand, strengthen JI in Indonesia and Malaysia and even affect Singapore. China could also be affected since there is a growing militaristic Islamism there.

A weak handling of this Mindanao problem by the US could tip the balance of power in the region, what with the new orientation of the new administration–from an anti-terror standpoint to economic orientation.

Barack Obama’s pronouncement that his main priority would be solving the US sub-prime crisis first shows a lack of understanding on the implications of decreasing US role in the global war on terror.

More than lip-service, Barack Obama should maintain full support on the war on terror; otherwise, he might find his government looking in a totally different world political map in the next few years.

Another question—will Mindanao serve as Barack’s “Bay of Pigs” ? Since Barack has this propensity of positioning himself as the “incarnation” of US President John F. Kennedy, will he also encounter the same problem and commit the same grievous mistake his predecessor did in his time? More on this.

IN Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales’ interview, he charged that ABS-CBN 2 violated the Code of Ethics and its franchise with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) when it released an interview of MILF Commander Bravo. Bravo is wanted by the law. The Philippine Army and the PNP are out there in Mindanao, trying to arrest the elusive commander. 

My good friend, George Carino (who’s a brilliant journalist and hails from Bulacan) traced the whereabouts of Bravo and interviewed him. I saw his interview. And I found nothing wrong. I would agree with my professor, Luis Teodoro, that ABS-CBN 2 violated no law.

Jun Nicdao of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) also found nothing wrong with the interview. As a former journalist myself, I saw nothing that would merit a sanction against ABS-CBN.

What instigated IN Justice secretary Raul Gonzales? 

Gonzales said that ABS-CBN violated its franchise when it gave air space to a known fugitive. He said that Bravo used ABS-CBN to “instigate” fellow Muslims to  ”foment violence or the use of arms”.

Where? Where in the interview did Bravo actually tell his fellow Muslims that they need to raise up arms against the government? I never saw nor heard anything similar to what (in)Justice secretary Gonzales referred to as “instigations”? Am I dreaming or Mr. Gonzales is just hallucinating?

Gonzales’ acts are plain and simple muscle flexing. Government is trying to frighten one of the biggest media networks in the land for one goal–neutralize or marginalize media outlets. Why? Is government laying the ground for martial rule? My mother told me that this is the same tactic employed by the dictator Marcos a year or two before he implemented martial rule. History shows that media was the first one neutralized, second were civil society and people’s organisations, and lastly, progressive middle class groups.

” If you have it, flaunt it.”–Anne Curtis, Philippine actress, when interviewed by TV Patrol after having been nominated as the Sexiest in this part of the world.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) did exactly that yesterday. They have arms, and lots of it, and they flaunted it by attacking barangays in North Cotabato. Former Congressman Lavina said, the MILF attacked them as early as 18 July, long before the expected signing of the MOA. So this incident, he says, is not a reaction to the botched signing last Tuesday. So, what was it?

What it is is muscle flexing. The MILF wants Filipinos to know that they are worthy of having a belligerent status. Under International law, belligerency means having the means and the power to fight an opposing force. The MILF was granted by this government a status of belligerency. That explains why the MILF was accorded equal status on the negotiating table. To sustain this status, the MILF needs to prove to the world that it has the armed capability to repulse any attack or conduct tactical maneuverings such as this one in North Cotabato. So, they flaunted it.

What the MILF does’nt realize is, they fell into a pathological trap set by this government. By allowing them to neutralize opposition, they are now being pictured as brutes or bullies. Or, more appropriately, bullies deprived of lollipops. That’s their image right now. 

So now, this attack puts them into a very dangerous and untenable situation. Should they push back, they’ll be portrayed by the international community as having weaker or lesser force. If they can’t claim what was allegedly theirs now, how can they do so when they sign the pact? Surely, the international community expects them to have enough force or firepower to neutralize those who’ll threaten their new state. If they can’t flaunt their powers now, they can’t do so even if they have their own government.

If they indeed stay, they risk meeting a tremendous force coming from the sponsored armed civilian groups by those politicians, caciques and landowners not only of North Cotabato but even as far as Negros (as what Sen. Mar Roxas reported in the Manila Times). North Cotabato will become a war magnet, attracting anti-Muslim forces from all over the country. Surely, if that happens, that would risk a national war of such magnitude as to ultimately cripple the entire country.

This is the situation that Gloria and the peace panel obviously did not anticipate. For them, it’s simple. When push comes to shove, they may need to declare Mindanao under a State of National Emergency, or worst, even suspend the writ of habeas corpus and ultimately martial rule. If that happens, that’ll be too late because by that time, the conflict has reached alarming proportions that no amount of state action is enough to regain peace and order.

AS OF THIS WRITING, the MILF has decided, to their best interest, to “reposition” their troops in North Cotabato.

If you notice the main issue opposing the GRP-MILF deal, you’ll notice one oft-repeating word: “dismemberment”. Most analysts, unfortunately including United Opposition Spokesman Atty. Adel Tamano (a born Muslim by the way), say they oppose the deal because it would cause the division of the country, which, they say, contradicts the Constitution.

I dare say, what dismemberment? What is to be dismembered when there’s no integration in the first place?

Beyond the legalities or the definition of a territory within the constitutional purview, did we, the Filipino People, really considered the Bangsamoro people as Filipinos? Are these people from Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Jolo, Zamboanga and all the rest of Moroland even considered themselves Filipino?

Did these people inhabiting Moroland act, live and breathe like Filipinos? Do we really integrate or assimilate their culture with our prevailing one?

When ask how do we describe our country, most of us would say “we’re the only Christian nation in Asia”, right? That statement alone shows you how isolated, how disjointed, how clear the distinction is in the minds of most Filipinos. Yes, it could be a factual statement, but it is not accurate. That statement already excluded 3 million born Muslims and millions more of reverted Muslims (or what we call “Balik-Islam”).

Face it–these people constituting the Bangsamoro People–have a different system of beliefs, have a different tradition, have a different culture that totally opposes or contradicts the prevailing culture. What most Filipinos consider as legal, most are contradictory to Bangsamoro beliefs. The Bangsamoro is different. The Bangsamoro is unique. The Bangsamoro is not Filipino.

People opposing this deal do so because they’re afraid they’ll lose their powers. More than property rights, these people got wealthy enslaving the Bangsamoro. For decades, they enjoyed the fruits of the land, exploiting the natural and human resources of Mindanao, for their own. And what happened to those whom they enslaved?

Extreme and widespread poverty leading to widespread dissent and a long-standing war that has threatened the lives and futures of the Bangsamoro people. In all provinces of this country, Mindanao is the most impoverished, especially Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Jolo and Zamboanga.

Those claiming “royal blood” oppose this deal because they’ll lose whatever “divine claims” they have over the Bangsamoro. I dare say, what right do they have to claim proprietary property claims to these Muslim lands when it is illegal to claim ownership of land under Islamic law in the first place? Besides, what “divine right” do they have when they have’nt done anything to uplift the lives of their fellow Bangsamoro in those lands which they claim to be theirs?

And those in the United Opposition who oppose this deal do so because, face it, Gloria can claim credence to this as the only president who successfully resolved the Bangsamoro Question. I oppose Gloria and want her out immediately, but, in this issue, I fully support her and the peace panel. The Opposition reject this deal because the deal is a landmark deal that Gloria can claim as her perpetual legacy to the peace issue.

The Opposition says government is entering into the deal with an insincere intention. They say government can’t deliver its promise. How do they know? Are these “oppositionists” now claiming to be psychics? I mean, how do they know that government can’t deliver? And besides, that’s the problem of the MILF right? If government can’t deliver its promises, then, government is liable to the MILF and the international community.

Opposition says they reject this deal because it would lead to charter change. I don’t believe that. MILF peace panel member Atty. Michael Mastura says that the deal only recognizes the right of the Bangsamoro to have their own state. And even if Gloria do want charter change, I don’t think she’ll succeed in it because people would definitely oppose any change other than resolving the Bangsamoro question.

We all need to give peace a chance. Those who want war, like North Cotabato Vice Governor Ed Pinol and the Lobregats of Zamboanga, let them be damned. Peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. is right–if the MILF imposes its rights under the deal in the future, the AFP does’nt have any right to intervene on their behalf. Let the MILF resolve these problems. It’s their territory anyway.

Let me say one thing–we need to consider this deal as a necessary small step towards the ultimate solution to the Bangsamoro question. For after this deal, there’s no more we can expect from this but a long debilitating war. And a war at this point, would affect everybody, Filipinos and Bangsamoros.

I’ve been invited to attend a dinner tonight and I was’nt able to come. A legislator invited members of

(by the way, I’m actually one of the original members of this blog conglomeration) for dinner and coffee at Annabels. I received a text from Ding Gagelonia (a good friend and former boss over at DZBB, GMA 7) asking me if I’ll come. Since I have’nt opened my email yet, I don’t know what’s the fuzz. It’s only now that I learned that we’re meeting this legislator.

Since I don’t want to antagonize my colleagues over at FilipinoVoices, I deemed it inappropriate to identify him here. But, since I saw over at the site that Nick already revealed who he is, then, Senator Mar Roxas is now fair game.

First, I have nothing against Mar Roxas. He seems to be a great guy with a sincere and honest heart to help the Filipino People. Like I told Kevin Chua, one of the young organizers of MarRoxasfor2010, I’ll probably consider helping them in the elections. 

Like Nick though, I have a few questions which I want Mar Roxas to answer. I expect a comment from him in this site and in the other sites which I maintain (Newphilrevolution.blogspot.com, RedBluethoughts, SpinBlaster and Pinoy Youth Rage). I expect him to answer this and post the answer in this post within the next few days:

1. Will he marry Korina Sanchez?

2. Will he abolish VAT from oil products?

3. Will he welcome suggestions that government should integrate a Council of State setup instead of the present one?

4. Will he break or subdivide Meralco’s franchise?

5. Will he help the survivors and the victims of Sulpicio Lines?

6. Will he allow the MILF to govern the BJE (Bangsamoro Juridical Entity)

These are some of my questions which I hope the good senator will answer. If he does’nt answer within the next few days, then, I’m sorry but I need to beg off. This early, the people need to know the people they’ll be voting for or against.