Proposed Law To Divide Muslim Autonomous Region Draws Support

Muslims pray outside an overcrowded mosque in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Many Muslims in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi are supporting a proposed law to divide the ARMM into two areas and revive the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo. (Zamboanga Journal)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 03 Apr) A House proposal to divide the five-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) were gaining popular support in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces in the southern Philippines.

"We favor a separate autonomy, or even an independent or a federal Muslim state, and the proposal to divide the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao region into two areas are really gaining popularity in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and also in Basilan."

"Muslims in those areas want to separate from the ARMM because they do not see development projects; they do not see regional government officials going around and talk to them. And they feel neglected, but with this proposed law, we hope to rebuild and develop our own land," said Ustadz Shariff Julabbi, a prominent Muslim leader in the southern region.

Three lawmakers, Gerry Salapuddin, of Basilan; Hussin Amin, of Sulu; and Hermilando Mandanas, of Batangas, introduced the House Bill 5369.

“The long history of the people of the Sulu archipelago has left an indelible mark in their culture and tradition. While they share the same religion as the Maranaos, Maguindanaoans and other Muslims in Mindanao, they are a people apart with their own tongues, customs, traditions and ways of thinking," Amin, quoting from the proposed law, said on Monday.

He said the House Bill 5369 aims to revive the Sultanate of Sulu as the reason for creating a new autonomous region that would compose Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. The two other provinces under the Muslim autonomous region are Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, and Marawi City, all in central Mindanao.

But Amin said the role of the sultan of Sulu and North Borneo is largely ceremonial, with power in the hands of state leaders.

At least 8 people were claiming to be the real sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, but the most influential is the Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, who is a descendant of Sultan Mohammad Pulalun who ruled from 1844 to 1862.

The sultanate was founded in the 1457 and is believed to exist with sovereignty for at least 442 years. It stretched from a part of the island of Mindanao in the east, to North Borneo, now known as Sabah, in the west and south, and to Palawan, in the north. The Sultanate of Sulu obtained Sabah from the Sultanate of Brunei as a gift for helping put down a rebellion on the Borneo Island.

Mindanao, Palawan, and the islands of the Sulu Sea were colonized by Spain, which ruled the country. The British leased Sabah and transferred control over the territory to Malaysia after the end of Second World War. Even after Borneo became part of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur still pays an annual rent of 5,000 ringgit to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu Ismail Kiram.

The ARMM was first created on August 1989 through Republic Act No. 6734 and is headed by a regional governor. Officials have a fix term of three years, but this can be extended by law.

"I don't really see development projects in my province in Sulu even though we are part of the ARMM, except for what the US soldiers built during last month's Balikatan 2006, and that Italian donor (Armando) De Ros(si). We don't like to be part of ARMM anymore, we have suffered too long and it's better to have our own government," said Ibrahim Harain, a trader.

Amin said there is a need to change the Constitution to be able to introduce political and economic reforms and to push for a shift to parliamentary or federal form of government.

"We need economic and political reforms and many lawmakers are supporting proposals to amend the present Constitution, and to push for the separation of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan into a separate federal state or become autonomous," he said.

Amin said majority of Sulu's residents favor their own autonomy, and also Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. "This proposed law is based on the aspirations of the people in the three provinces and we are supporting them," he said.

Amin said most of the ARMM infrastructure projects are in Maguindanao province, hometown of the current regional governor Zaldy Ampatuan, a staunch ally of President Gloria Arroyo.

"We see nothing in Sulu, or in Tawi-Tawi and not even in Basilan, but development projects are many in Maguindanao, and these infrastructure projects should benefit all in the ARMM," he said.

"I favor independence over autonomy, or similar like Malaysia, and definitely out of ARMM. There are no improvements, we cannot feel any improvement at all. We need change for the future of our children," said Fatima Awali, a resident of Basilan.

Based on the 2000 census, Sulu's population was 619,668; Basilan, 259,796 and Tawi-Tawi, 322, 317. While Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao have a population of 800,162 and 801,102 respectively, and Marawi City has 131,090.

Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan are dependent on copra, coconut and rubber, and fishing industry, while Lanao and Maguindanao are mainly agricultural areas. The ARMM is one the poorest region in the country and is hotbed of insurgency.