Zamboanga residents rally against inclusion of city in proposed Muslim homeland deal in 2008. (Mindanao Examiner Photo.
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 10, 2011) – The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, stood firm in the quest for self-determination and said it will purse a sub-state in the country’s second largest island, Mindanao.
It has previously proposed the creation of a Muslim sub-state which the MILF said would solve the decades-old problems of bloody fighting and insurgency in the mineral-rich, but restive region of Mindanao.
“The MILF’s formula to solve the Moro Question in Mindanao is very simple - it is far from complex. Let the Moros run their affairs; let them decide their own destiny. Let them succeed or self-destruct. Gone were the days when the government in Manila designed everything for them.”
“The most important element here is self-determination. Let them exercise this right to self-determination, which is enshrined and guaranteed by the Charter of the United Nations. This is a right that cannot be foreclosed by any agreement or the subject of negotiation,” the rebel group said.
It also doused fears that Muslims would take over the government or seize lands and properties owned by Christians in Mindanao, which was formerly under the rule of the Sultans.
“There is nothing to fear in this proposal, because the sub-state, as the name connotes, is still part of the Philippines. It has no army, except police and internal security forces, tasked to do policing within the sub-state,” the MILF said.
“The MILF’s formula calls for the creation of a sub-state for the Moros. This entity is not an independent state. The powers over national defense, foreign relations, coinage and currency, and postal services are still the sole jurisdiction of the central government. The sub-state has jurisdiction only over other matters, except those jointly exercised by the sub-state and the central government,” it added.
The MILF has previously branded the five-province Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao as a failure. The region has been rocked by corruption scandals and remains as one of the poorest in the country.
“The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is a far cry from what the MILF envisions as a sub-state. The ARMM, contrary to its name, is not autonomous. A province or city is more power powerful than the ARMM. The recent postponement of the ARMM elections speaks loudly why this entity is not autonomous; it is controlled, nay dictated, by Manila,” it said.
Congress, on President Benigno Aquino’s prodding, withheld the elections in the Muslim autonomous region that cover Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao provinces, and synchronize the polls with midterm elections in 2013, to prevent massive fraud.
Many politicians in Mindanao were opposed to a separate homeland deal for Muslims and have rejected proposal for a wider autonomy in the region.
Local mayor Celso Lobregat also renewed his appeal to Manila to exclude Zamboanga from any agreement that would include the city to the expanded Muslim autonomy or so-called Bangsamoro homeland as proposed by the MILF.
“We have to be vigilant. We are yes for peace and we want just and long lasting peace, but Zamboanga does not want to be part of the Bangsamoro homeland, the expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or such a group in whatever form and in whatever name,” the mayor said.
This after President Benigno Aquino secretly held a meeting with MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim at a Tokyo hotel in Japan on August 4. Aquino called the meeting ahead of peace talks with the rebel group this month in Kuala Lumpur.
The civil organization called Black and White Movement which supported Aquino’s election campaign in 2009, praised the meeting.
“The Black and White Movement lauds the President for quietly but actively pursuing the resumption of peace talks between the government and MILF. His assertiveness gives all sides in the peace process an advance in the right direction. This was a positive move, one that may well hasten the end to hostilities; bring about peaceful coexistence and economic development in Mindanao.”
The meeting coincided with the failed signing of the Muslim homeland deal between Manila and the MILF three years ago after the Supreme Court ruled that the accord was unconstitutional.
The foiled signing of the accord led to bloody attacks by rebels several towns in Mindanao that left dozens of people dead and wounded.
Lobregat, who was opposed to the Muslim homeland deal, was among those that led other politicians to protest the accord. The MILF said it is no longer pursuing independence in Mindanao, but would fight for self-determination.
It previously called on the government to amend the Constitution that would allow the creation of a Muslim sub-state in Mindanao. Aquno’s allies in Congress are now pushing for the amendment of the Constitution, saying, there is a need to change many provisions in the Charter that would benefit the country’s economy, among others. (Mindanao Examiner)
It has previously proposed the creation of a Muslim sub-state which the MILF said would solve the decades-old problems of bloody fighting and insurgency in the mineral-rich, but restive region of Mindanao.
“The MILF’s formula to solve the Moro Question in Mindanao is very simple - it is far from complex. Let the Moros run their affairs; let them decide their own destiny. Let them succeed or self-destruct. Gone were the days when the government in Manila designed everything for them.”
“The most important element here is self-determination. Let them exercise this right to self-determination, which is enshrined and guaranteed by the Charter of the United Nations. This is a right that cannot be foreclosed by any agreement or the subject of negotiation,” the rebel group said.
It also doused fears that Muslims would take over the government or seize lands and properties owned by Christians in Mindanao, which was formerly under the rule of the Sultans.
“There is nothing to fear in this proposal, because the sub-state, as the name connotes, is still part of the Philippines. It has no army, except police and internal security forces, tasked to do policing within the sub-state,” the MILF said.
“The MILF’s formula calls for the creation of a sub-state for the Moros. This entity is not an independent state. The powers over national defense, foreign relations, coinage and currency, and postal services are still the sole jurisdiction of the central government. The sub-state has jurisdiction only over other matters, except those jointly exercised by the sub-state and the central government,” it added.
The MILF has previously branded the five-province Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao as a failure. The region has been rocked by corruption scandals and remains as one of the poorest in the country.
“The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is a far cry from what the MILF envisions as a sub-state. The ARMM, contrary to its name, is not autonomous. A province or city is more power powerful than the ARMM. The recent postponement of the ARMM elections speaks loudly why this entity is not autonomous; it is controlled, nay dictated, by Manila,” it said.
Congress, on President Benigno Aquino’s prodding, withheld the elections in the Muslim autonomous region that cover Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao provinces, and synchronize the polls with midterm elections in 2013, to prevent massive fraud.
Many politicians in Mindanao were opposed to a separate homeland deal for Muslims and have rejected proposal for a wider autonomy in the region.
Local mayor Celso Lobregat also renewed his appeal to Manila to exclude Zamboanga from any agreement that would include the city to the expanded Muslim autonomy or so-called Bangsamoro homeland as proposed by the MILF.
“We have to be vigilant. We are yes for peace and we want just and long lasting peace, but Zamboanga does not want to be part of the Bangsamoro homeland, the expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or such a group in whatever form and in whatever name,” the mayor said.
This after President Benigno Aquino secretly held a meeting with MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim at a Tokyo hotel in Japan on August 4. Aquino called the meeting ahead of peace talks with the rebel group this month in Kuala Lumpur.
The civil organization called Black and White Movement which supported Aquino’s election campaign in 2009, praised the meeting.
“The Black and White Movement lauds the President for quietly but actively pursuing the resumption of peace talks between the government and MILF. His assertiveness gives all sides in the peace process an advance in the right direction. This was a positive move, one that may well hasten the end to hostilities; bring about peaceful coexistence and economic development in Mindanao.”
The meeting coincided with the failed signing of the Muslim homeland deal between Manila and the MILF three years ago after the Supreme Court ruled that the accord was unconstitutional.
The foiled signing of the accord led to bloody attacks by rebels several towns in Mindanao that left dozens of people dead and wounded.
Lobregat, who was opposed to the Muslim homeland deal, was among those that led other politicians to protest the accord. The MILF said it is no longer pursuing independence in Mindanao, but would fight for self-determination.
It previously called on the government to amend the Constitution that would allow the creation of a Muslim sub-state in Mindanao. Aquno’s allies in Congress are now pushing for the amendment of the Constitution, saying, there is a need to change many provisions in the Charter that would benefit the country’s economy, among others. (Mindanao Examiner)
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