The inconvenient truth.

Written on Sunday, August 10th, 2008 at 6:58 pm | by J

Colleague Patricio Mangubat gives us another argument in favor of the creation of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE): regional security.

Using the radical Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)’s split from the secular Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as an analogy, he argues that if the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain does not push through, the MILF would lose support of its more radical members, who would then resort to joining the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in sowing terror, which would then spill over to the country’s neighbors.

In fairness, this analysis makes sense. In fact I can say that should this MOA fail, the whole MILF, not just some of its members, could resort to violence and terrorism again.

But this doesn’t mean that we should support the creation of the BJE.

For even if the MILF gets its BJE, there would still be a high probability of violence taking place. And it could even be a worse long-term problem.

First of all, we should not underestimate the threat of those affected non-Muslims and non-MILF supporters to take up arms to oppose their inclusion to this proposed Islamic state. These people, who have been toiling the soil and practically building Mindanao for three generations now, have everything to lose if they don’t fight. And they are supported by their powerful political leaders and even eminent religious personalities, including some Catholic bishops and Muslim sultans.

Secondly, following Patricio’s logic, even if the MILF gets its BJE, there could still be radical breakaway MILF bandits who would join the JI and sow terrorism. I refer to those who want a completely independent- in name and in paper- Islamic state in Mindanao, as opposed to the de facto independent state the MOA offers.

Thirdly and more importantly, the creation of the BJE, would, in the words of John Hopkins University Prof. Brett Decker, “invite even more terrorist activity in an area that already has strong ties to al Qaeda. With the deployment of U.S. Special Forces to the southern Philippines now in its seventh year, joint U.S.-Philippine operations have pacified the most lawless Muslim areas. Expanding the Islamist sphere of influence now threatens to undo this success.”

Indeed, we can not expect the would-be political leaders of this BJE to quell JI-inspired and -sowed terror in the region. As I have said on my blog, given the character of these warlords, they would never have the capability, nor the desire, to bring stability to that part of Mindanao.

Everybody and his girlfriend know that there exists a discreet alliance between the MILF, the Abu Sayaff and the JI. This underlines the danger of the Republic handing over the control of the so-called “Bangsamoro lands” to the MILF.

The ultimate goal of the MILF is the creation of a completely independent Islamic state. This is why they left the MNLF when the latter pursued peace with Manila. This is what they upheld when then President Joseph Estrada demanded them to renounce their secessionist aspirations as a pre-condition for talks in 2000. We can not, therefore, expect the group to end their secessionist struggle immediately after they get this BJE.

We can never expect them to use the resources of Mindanao- which they would control- for that region’s development instead of for the strengthening of their army- which would be legitimized under the misnomer “internal security force.”

Saying that the creation of the BJE will bring about lasting peace and regional stability, therefore, is bullshit.

At the end of the day, both ways- creating BJE and not- would result to conflict and violence. This is an inconvenient truth that we must all recognize.

I risk being called a right-wing nut by saying this, but the best honorable way for the Republic to do is to re-negotiate this MOA and strip this proposed BJE of powers reserved for a sovereign state. Let there be a provision in the agreement requiring the MILF to pledge allegiance to the Philippine flag and constitution and to have their troops be intergrated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

If they refuse- and I’m afraid they would refuse- then we must do what a self-respecting nation would do: gather the political will to enforce the law and to forcefully disarm and bring to justice those secessionists. That’s the way to achieve real, lasting peace and regional stability.

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About The Author: J is a 19 year old varsity debater and a sophomore taking up International Relations at the Lyceum in Manila. He loves to write about geopolitics. His personal blog is The Nutbox.

Filed Under Local News, National News, Politics

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Comments

2 Responses to “The inconvenient truth.”

  1. retsytomaquin on August 11th, 2008 11:56 pm

    Whatever it is, I will stake to my stand. I am not into this BJE. I am from Mindanao, certainly I am opposing to the idea that “Federalism” is somewhat the real possibility.

    What will happen to the government workers like me for instance & the rests of the Majority, like the Government Pensioners???? If Independence of Mindanao is the total realization of this conflict, What will happen to us, What about us???
    We are christians and workers of the government, what will happen to us????

    It will never happen, certainly……. War should prevail at any risks!!!!

    Once again, due to the war that is existing in Mindanao, I am calling for the government to give special attention to the war- evacuees. Kawawa sila, sana tugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan. May mga bata na may mga lagnat, mabigyan sana sila ng gamot.

    To the soldiers of GRP, We, are calling that civilians should be protected at any cause.
    Wala sanang mapapahamak na civilian sa digma-an, wala sanang War volunteer [CVO’s] na mapapahamak!!!!!!!!! Look out ng militar na wlang mapapahamak na civilian at CVO’s.

    Sana ipagpatuloy ninyo ang pagtugis sa mga MILF. I am not pro-negotiation, it must be war for the sake of the christians who seems to be majority in this island.

    Again, protect the civilians, do not let any CVO die in battle. It’s the soldier’s[GRP] task to wipe out the MILF.

    [retsytomaquin]

  2. retsytomaquin on August 12th, 2008 12:07 am

    I am not agree to the concept that the military should be in Mindanao vicinity just to dialogue “PEACE TALKS”

    NO negotiation!!!! It must be an all-out war!!!!!!!

    I bet to disagree to the representatives who aired on TV this evening that PEACE TALKS should prevail instead of War……..Masasabi nyo yan dahil hndi kayo taga Mindanao!!!!!!

    NO way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    [retsy]

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