Negotiating for peace?

Due perhaps in our government’s desire to end the decades-long skirmishes with the rebellious MILF, hasty negotiations were done under the auspices of the Malaysian government as well as through the optimism of the OIC countries, factoring in the influence of the US, Japan and European Union. As we negotiated for peace in Mindanao, many in the international community are watching us in anticipation that our people’s fear and anxiety will be answered by a lasting and just peace settlement. Well, ideally, it should operate along these lines and principles however, reality reverses it. As the GRP about to enter into a MOA government Ancestral Domain for the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, it was stopped by the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order by the Supreme Court, which is in response to the many petitions filed before the SC questioning the signing of the said MOA-AD in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The end result? – Chaos, violence, intimidation and blackmail.

Chaos erupted because many disgruntled MILF ground commanders were unhappy of the TRO which to them is a manifestation of the lack of sincerity on the part of the GRP, but, the Supreme Court, by acting in good faith in issuing the TRO, in fact, has given ample time for both the GRP and the MILF negotiators to explain to the Filipino people what has been negotiated on as contained in the MOA-AD and how will it be affecting the very fluid geo-political dynamics in Mindanao as well as in the entire country.

The result also lurked in the ambush of AFP soldiers in Lanao Del Sur, followed by a bombing in Iligan City, the pre-dawn attack of the municipalities of Maigo, Kauswagan and Kolambugan, all in Lanao del Norte as well as the attach in Saranggani Province. Unfortunately, irresponsible MILF cadres have butchered and murdered innocent civilians including a 7 year old boy, whose stomach was hacked open using a machete. Unfortunately too and creating deeper animosity between peoples in Mindanao are the fact that all innocent civilians who perished in the pre-dawn attack in these municipalities are Christians. Let us distinguish for record purposes that the issue is not about Moro communities fighting against Christian communities, it is about the MOA-AD and the irresponsibleness of the MILF ground commanders. There is no mistaking that this violence should not be reason to further divide us, delineating between Christian and Muslim communities. Again, it is about the aborted signing of the MOA-AD.

Intimidation creeps in the communities who were ravaged by the attacks of the MILF as well as the nearby communities. Many text messages, usually forwarded text messages coming from unknown sources detailing among others, the imminent attack of the MILF in many communities in Mindanao which created unnecessary uneasiness and feeling of insecurity. Until now, even text messages can wreak havoc and panic among communities. This lingering insecurity as a result of the pre-dawn attacks of the MILF guerrillas jeopardizes the usual peaceful ways of living among our fellowmen in these communities.

Because of the lingering presumption that this government has failed us in relation to seeking a lasting peace in Mindanao, the MILF has taken the ensuing circumstances surrounding the TRO against the signing of the MOA-AD in Malaysia as a sign for them to blackmail not only the GRP but the entire communities they have attacked. The arguments justifying the attacks by the MILF has been anchored on the issuance of the TRO holding peace at its knees. With this, MILF has frontally challenged the GRP in whatever fronts. As a result, the government has once again, failed us in achieving equitable, just and lasting peace that promotes harmonious co-existence between all peoples in Mindanao.