Peace in Mindanao, Philippines

Since 1978’s people in Mindanao are living in horror. They are hunger for peace and it almost materialised when Prime Minister office in Malaysia released a press statement saying both parties in Mindanao conflict will sign a peace agreement, giving MILF control of large swathes of land, an autonomous region with its own legal, banking, education system, civil service and internal security force and it covers eight provinces in Mindanao. Supposed they have signed the pact on August 5, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur unfortunately although th Arroyos government agreed but the decision didn’t go well with the Christian community in the Southern Philippines. Thousand of them rallied against the signing of pact and they take the peace agreement to the Supreme Court. The court says the pact is unconstitutional and ordered the government to stop endorsing the agreement. I believe that is the end for the final political settlement to end the MILF’s and Government of Philippines 30 years civil war.

Immediately by an unknown member of MILF rebels traded mortar with government troops. The attacked was followed by the declaration “all out war” against the government. “We are prepared to kill, we are prepared to be killed” was a statement from Commander Bravo (Abdurahman Macapaar). The continuous attacks didn’t go-well with government policy makers and they decided to scrap the peace deal and Arroyo issued a statement saying government will not sign the agreement any more. The call-off will agitate the MILF members to go more aggressively and definitely the region terrorist group such as JI, Abu Sayaff and few others will cement their differences and work together to achieve the independence nation for bangsa moro. The worst part, the war might occur in a larger scale and will “spin over” to the neighbour countries. The armed struggle will create more radical groups not only in Philippines but even in other neighbouring countries, especially if the neighbour countries have more sympathisers for MILF or their struggle for the independent land. ASEAN supposed play major role in keeping the ASEAN region in peace. Unfortunately after the cold war the relevancies of ASEAN were put in a question mark. Scholars believe, ASEAN need major shift in their non-interference policy in order to play major role. ASEAN need to move forward otherwise the association will be labelled as a failure association especially from security perspective. Its failure to send multi lateral peace keepers not only in Mindanao but in any other part of region facing conflict turmoil was seen as a bigger weakness and created vacuum for external power to take advantage. Malaysia for the example took unilateral decision to send peace keepers. Although Malaysia has extended peace missions another three months but the country cannot remain unilateral troops forever. To bring peace to Mindanao, bigger peace mission needed and it’s only can happen if United Nations played a bigger role. Malaysia has the capability to lead the UN peace troops but impossible to be a sole peace mission troops. It’s impossible to bring peace to the region in any near time but I believe nothing is impossible and the world can bring peace to the region if we really work for it. No one deserves to die at young age including the Mindanao Muslims. Definitely there is no compromise on terrorism but the authority must take all the necessary actions to stop the violence. Right policy needed to stop the younger generations from preaching violence as part of their life. I really hope one day, Moro community will have option to leave in peace together with other community. Hopefully the day will come, where the Mindanao Muslims can have their fasting and celebration of syawal in peace.