Counter-intuitively, the favourite sport of the Philippines is...basketball. In any corner of this country, a nation with 7,107 islands and well over 120 ethnicities, one can rest assured that they will see a paved basketball court in or around the municipal compound. Indeed, most barangays have one as well. Filipinos love basketball. Therefore, a metaphor that should be recognisable to most Filipinos. "Three Pointers," for those readers who are unaware, involves a basket shot from a long distance. In other words, a player, against all the odds, shoots- most often hurls- the ball down court in a desperate attempt to save the game...
On Thursday, November, 3rd 2011, the Chairmen of both the Government (GPH), Mario Victor "Marvic" Leonen, and the MILF Peace Panel Chairman, Mohagher Iqbal, sat across from each other on sofas in a carefully orchestrated, casual environment. Joining each man were two members of their respective Peace Panels, for the GPH:
1) Professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer
2) Senen Bacani
and for the MILF:
1) Datu Michael Mastura
2) Maulana "Bobby" Alonto
Additionally the MILF brought along a third Peace Panrlist, Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga but Mr.Lingga, like the nerd in gym class played the bench warmer (this I'd truly turning into a sports themed post). In any event, Professor Lyngga wasn't lonely as there were more than the usual gaggle of hangers on. Worth noting is that two men who wouldn't have usually even been in Kuala Lampur not only got a free but very short trip, but also got one of the highly coveted seats on those big comfy' couches;
1) Brigadier General Ariel Bernardo, Chairman of the GPH CCCH contingent. The CCCH, or Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities is the leading entity in a four-faceted Ceasefire Support Mechanism. The other three being:
A) IMT, or, International Monitoring Team, a consortium of foreign governmental and NGO (Non-Governmental Organizational) delegates who investigate any breeches that may lead to conflict and or any actual violations. Led by Malaysia, it has four facets itself:
a) Military
b) Rehabilitation
c) Socio-Economic
d) Civilian Protection
B) AHJAG, the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, composed of representatives from the MILF/BIAF and the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines. This entity was created specifically to allow the AFP to effectively deal with the large number of criminals who hide in and operate from MILF/BIAF controlled areas. An Anti-KFR (Kidnap for Ransom) operation in 2003 inadvertantly caused the Buliok Complex War when the AFP's aerial assault of the Pentagon Group (KFR organisation) came too close to the Buliok Complex, a MILF/BIAF camp that then served as the organizational headquarters and home of founder and then-Chairman, Hashim Salamat. All AHJAG really does is serve as early warning device, benefiting the MILF/BIAF, alerting it to AFP and/or PNP (Philippine National Prison) operations, a number of which aim to neutralise certain MILF/BIAF members.
C) LMT, the Local Monitoring Team, composed of five members from the following demographics:
a) MILF/BIAF (the BIAF being the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the military wing of the MILF), although the Terms of Reference (TOR) mandate that the representative be a member of a provincial political committee of the MILF. In practice this has rarely been the case.
b) LGU, or Local Government Unit (munucipal or provincial government) representative
c) Representative from an NGO nominated by the MILF
d) Representative of an NGO nominated by the GPH, or Government of the Philippines
e) Religious sector
Designed to allow the CCCH and IMT to keep one foot in the thick of it. A good illustration of this entity's utility was the July of 2007 Al Barka incident on Basilan. As the composite detachment led by Marines were pinned down by two BIAF, brigades the LMT was able to implement a Local Ceasefire through the effort of a LMT member who happened to be a high ranking BIAF "officer." The LMT has been un-officially mothballed since the beginning of 2008, though the MILF Central Committee recently issued a Resolution seeking to revive the group (in late September of 2011, ironically, two and a half weeks before the latest Al Barka Incident).
As for the CCCH, the aforementioned Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities... The CCCH is composed of two teams, one from the AFP, the other from the MILF, and is used as an interface between the AFP and MILF/BIAF in that it serves as a notification conduit, much like the AHJAG though the latter is more specialised in only co-ordinating the Government's anti-crime maneuvers. If an AFP detachment is scheduled to conduct a maneuver of any type in the vicinity of a BIAF camp the CCCH is used to notify the MILF/BIAF so that the group doesn't mis-construe the AFP action as aggressive, thereby sparking an armed conflict.
Also on hand at the Kuala Lampur meeting:
2) Major Carlos Sol, Chairman of the GPH CCCH Secretariat, which handles the administrative end of the CPH CCCH contingent.
3) Brigadier General Alan Luga, Chairman of the GPH contingent of AHJAG.
The purpose all three were serving of course was to convey the seriousnes of the October 18th, 2011 Al Barka incident. The three were there for show since anything worth knowing from a less than 6 hour meeting could have easily been conveyed through the de riguer post-meeting briefing back in Manila.
Also joining the GPH contingent was:
4) Chairman of its Peace Panel Secretariat, Iona Jalijali, the Secretariat being the entity responsible for administrative and other important but less noticeable activities.
Along with Ms.Jalijali:
5) Secretariat member, Johaira Wahab
Joining Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga in the waiting room:
6) Jun Mantawil, Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel Secretariat
7) MILF Peace Panel Secretariat Member, attorney Mike Pasigan
8) MILF Peace Panel Secretariat Member, Mohajirin Alim.
Also present in the waiting room was an unusually large ICG contingent. The ICG, or International Contact Group, consists of foreign Governmental representatives and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). It may be recalled that 72 days prior, at the 22nd Formal Exploratory Round, it was the ICG that prevented the entire Peace Process from going up in flames and that is certainly apt imagery given the guaranteed consequences of the Process ending abruptly. On the second of that planned three day 22nd Round, the MILF Peace Panel ended up screaming at their GHP counterparts after digesting the Government's long awaited Draft Comprehensive Agreement, a long awaited Interim Agreement meant to rapidly pave the way for an FPA, or Final Peace Agreement.
The GPH Chairman, Marvic Leonen, handed his MILF counterpart Mohagher Iqbal a watery mush that Leonen ridiculously describes as a "Three-in -One Agreement." The problem however, as the MILF correctly noted, was that the the "Three" major points- all of which I discussed at length on my Third Quarter entry analysing both the Round and the Draft so that for the sake pf brevity I will continue without touching upon both- is that nothing offered was new, and nothing offered even required negotiation. Three weeks before that Round both Chairmen had met at what was initially a secret meeting in a Tokyo suburb as President Aquino held his (initially) sectet tet a tet with MILF Chairman al Haj Murad Ebrahim. That meeting- again, analysed in depth in another one of my Third Quarter entries- was a bait and switch scam to alleviate some of the pressure coming to bear on the Aquino Administration after it had repeatedly failed to provide that Draft in repeatedly re-scheduled meetings since its actual due date in April of 2011. The date was pushed back to August 22nd when both sides were to convene for that repeatedly mentioned 22nd Formal Exploratory Round.
Then, after handing over the Draft, the Round imploded. Amid screaming GPH Chairman Leonen and his Panelists stormed out of that very same Boardroom where the couches had replaced the boardtable. Upon leaving the Talks the GPH Peace Panel pointedly sat down to a huge spread in the hotel's Chinese Resturant, on the same floor. Seeing as how it was Ramadan, the Islamic holiday in which adults forgo all food during daylight hours, Leonen's choice of meeting place seemed to many- myself included- to be a direct statement aimed at Iqbal, his Panel, and the MILF/BIAF on general.
It was then that the ICG represenatives on hand saved the day, quickly walking between the Boardroom and the resturant, ferrying messages and replies between the two Chairmen. In the end it produced tangible results with the GPH Panel returning to the Boardroom in the late afternoon, just enough time to agree to disagree but with civility and an eye on future Rounds.
Therefore, the ICG's cache has gone up considerably. At this "Informal Meeting," the ICG was represented by Political Officers from the Turkish, British, and the Japanese Embassies to Malaysia. On the NGO end, David Gorman from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Dr.Markus Sudibyo from the Indonesian-based Islamic-centered NGO "Muhammidiyah Foundation," Emma Leslie of Conciliation Resources and lastly, Dr.Stephen Rood of the Asia Foundation. I find the Asia Foundation's inclusion highly questionable in that it is a CIA front although it supposedly went independent back in the late 1960s, nearly two decades after it first began meddling in Mindanao from its Cotabato City offices. I could go off on a riff about the MILF hypocritically portraying itself as "Anti Colonialist" and "Anti Imperialist" and yet it pays fawning obesiance to both the American Embassy to the Philippines as well as to the Asia Foundation but alas, this is neither the time nor place for such observations. Don't despair fair reader because I do intend to out both sides in due time ("due time" being whenever I finally catch up in more pressing entries).
Regressing to attendees, one must not neglect to mention the Malaysian Facilitator, Dato Abdul Ghafaar Tengku Mohammed, who himself continued the ICG's Shuttle Diplomacy by spending the better part of the two and a half intervening months between the 22nd Exploratory Round and this latest meeting by flitting to and from in the Philippines. To his credit he even made what must have been excruciatingly maddening trips to the current MILF Headquarters, Camp Darapanan in the municipality of Sultan Kudarat (not the province of the same name) in Mindanao's Maguindanao Province. It was mostly due these exertions that this latest meeting was at all possible.
There was no Joint Statement at the end of the 6 hour meeting though it is clear that both unilateral Statements had been co-ordinated with each other, being nearly identical. I will not waste time analysing them because they offered absolutely nothing. Both sides agreed to meet again, sooner rather than later. Both sides agreed to allow the investigation being performed by the Ceasefire Mechanism entities- CCCH, IMT, and AHJAG- to serve as the Official Investigation of the October 18th, 2011 Al Barka incident, as opposed to the individual, parallel investigations performed by the MILF Central Committee and the AFP, the latter having been completed even before this November 3rd meeting transpired. Finally, the MILF agreed to co-operate with the AFP on operations in and around MILF/BIAF camps so long as the AFP abides by the protocols bi-laterally
implemented via the aforementioned four Ceasefire Mechanism entities: CCCH, IMT, AHJAG, and LMT. In other words, it is merely re-iterating its agreement from 2004 when it agreed to create and implement AHJAG.
Showing posts with label Mohagher Iqbal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mohagher Iqbal. Show all posts
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
GPH-MILF Peace Process for the Third Quarter of 2011, Part V
It certainly has been a rollercoaster ride these last two months. From the brink of war at the end of July over the Government's interminable delays in turning over its long promised Draft Comprehensive Compact, to near fever pitch excitement (if you root for the MILF) and trepidation (if you hope to see the nation remain intact) just a few days later with the secret meeting in Japan, to the entire Peace Process hitting a brick wall on August 23rd as the GPH Peace Panel stormed out of the conference room in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia over MILF abuse after the latter finally got its paws on the aforementioned GPH Draft Comprehensive Compact the day before. From the ashes of August 23rd glimmers have since appeared and when, on September, 6th, 2011 Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel, Mohagher Iqbal travelled to Davao City for a warm up "Focus Forum," observers began paying careful attention to what Iqbal had to say. The Davao Forum was merely a dry run before travelling north to the Central Philippines in a short but very meaningful round of "Focus Forums" well outside the MILF comfort zone of Central Mindanao. By the time the Visayan sojourn finished, on September 10th, any doubt that the Peace Process was still in existence had dissipated.
The Visayan Round, consisting of a press conference and two forums on three Visayan islands of:
1) Cebu
2) Bohol
3) Negros
was sponsored by the Davao City-based NGO, Initiative for International Dialogue, or IID, in conjunction with various local partners. In the warm up forum in Davao City, Iqbal was joined by Irish Minister of Parliament, Dominick Hannigan. MP Hannigan does double duty as the Chairman of the Committee of Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Signed in 1998 the document served as an FPA, or Final Peace Agreement between the IRA, or Irish Republican Army, Great Britain, and Britain's allies amongst the Protestant paramilitaries in Northern Ireland. Ireland is a traditionally Catholic nation but under domination from England mostly Scottish Protestants were transported into Ireland to help consolidate the English grip upon the land and its people. Shortly after the turn of the 20th Century the Irish rose up and eventually were able to achieve independence EXCEPT FOR for a northern portion that came to be called, "Northern Ireland."
Northern Ireland remained a British territory despite the vast majority of its inhabitants being indigenous Irish Catholics. The Scots-Irish, Protestants like the English, desired to remain one with England while virtually all Irish Catholics wanted either union with Ireland, or else indepence of its own. Britain doesn't relinquish land easily and so it was with Northern Ireland. Communal warfare ended up killing 3,000 under attacks that included a fair dose of terrorism on the part of the IRA and to a much lesser extent the Protestant paramilitaries. Finally, all three sides were able to reach the Good Friday Agreement satisfying all but a tiny iota of radicals in both the Catholic and the Protestant Communities.
The MILF has often looked towards the Good Friday Agreement as a working template for a Mindanowan peace agreement. To the laymen the conflict in Mindanao between the Government and the MILF certainly appears to be a conflict based upon ethno-religious sectarianism. In reality it is far more complicated. In Northern Ireland one can easily log the trajectory of the conflict from its baseline at the point where merry ole' England set its beady little eyes on poor old Ireland. One can observe all the incremental periods, all the issues neatly layered but what could one do with the MILF conflict in Mindanao? It isn't a case of proverbial "apples and oranges." It is much more like a case of "apples and goldfish."
In any event, MP Hannigan was spending three fun filled weeks in the Philippines fufilling a parliamentarian requirement to volunteer in charitable endeavours overseas. The programme, under the auspices of the NGO, Volunteers Overseas, or VSO, places skilled volunteers in the so called "Developing World." On the day in question, September 6th, MP Hannigan joined Chairman Iqbal, Peace Panelist, Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga, and Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel Secretariat, Jun Mantawil for the Forum in Davao, entitled, "Good Friday Agreement and the GPH Peace Agreement," at Ateneo de Davao University. The three hour programme at the school's Finster Building was moderated by Executive Director, Agusto "Gus" Miclat Jr. of the sponsoring NGO, the aforementioned IIC.
In Chairman Iqbal's speech he offered what he creatively labeled an "Update on the Peace Process," Iqbal gave a very condensed briefing about the "secret meeting" that took place between President Aquino and MILF Chairman al Haj Murad Iqbal on August 4th. Then, segueing into the August 22nd Government handover of its long awaited Draft Comprehensive Compact, where Iqbal spent the most time talking. No real suprises but a couple of interesting anecdotes. As Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel Iqbal met with his GPH counterpart, Mario Victor "Marvic" Leonen during the one hour Executive Session that took place first thing on August 22nd the two had a very heated exchange. According to Iqbal, Leonen tried to discuss the infamous Kumander Kato and his renegade military organisation, BIFF, or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Iqbal refused to discuss it, reminding Leonen that the first course of business was the scheduled submission of the GPH Draft Comprehensive Agreement. Chairperson Leonen wouldn't play ball. Everytime Iqbal reminded Leonen that the GPH Draft was supposed to have been submitted back in March of 2011, Leonen would get angrier and angrier. Finally, with assistance from Malaysian Facilitator Datuk Ab Tengku Ghafar Tengku Mohammed, Iqbal was able to remain focused enough so as to bend Leonen's considerable will and get his way.
With that highly contentious issue settled they immediately opened the door and quickly went into the prefunctory diplomatic niceties before getting to the meat and bones of the meeting, the GPH Draft. Iqbal and the MILF Peace Panel refused to comment and informed Leonen that they would adjourn and study the GPH Draft overnight and offer their take on it as the first order of business the next morning, August 23rd, in plenary session. From there it is just a rehash of the same information I have posted in other "GPH-MILF Peace Process for the Third Quarter of 2011" entries.
On September 8th, Iqbal, Lingga, and Mantawil flew from Davao City to Cebu Island where the group, accompanied by IID Executive Director Agusto "Gus" Miclat Jr. The next morning, September 9th, the group travelled to Cebu City's Barangay Lahug for a press confrence held at Pino Filipino Cuisine on Wilson Street. The conference lasted a bit more than 2 hours and was scantily attended by less than a dozen media outlets. After finishing at 1PM the group travelled to Mactan, a suburb of Cebu City, and boarded a speed boat for the ride to Bohol, the second stop on their Visayan Tour.
Arriving in Bohol's Tagbiliran City, site of the second Forum, entilted, "Civil Society Dialogue with the MILF Peace Panel," at the University of Bohol. After a ahort opening speech by the university's President, Iqbal once again stepped to the podium. The speech, entitled, "Peace is the Concern of All," began with Chairman Iqbal touching upon local history to pique the attention of the nearly 400 attendees. Iqbal mentiomed that Bohol is the site of two blood compacts between local chiefs and allied foreigners. As Iqbal noted, the first compact took place on March 16th, 1565 between Datu Sikatuna of Bo'ol, Datu Sigala of Loboc, and the Spanish Conquistador, Legazpi. The three vowed to regard each other peacefully. The second compact, according to Iqbal, took place between an unknown Boholano datu and Rajah Laut Buisan, the military commander of the Maguindanao Sultanate in what is today Central Mindanao, citing the claim of Cesar Majul.
Iqbal, in a congratulatory tone informed his listeners that Bohol was home to the Daguhoy Revolt, the longest single insurrection in the Philippines. Led by Francisco Daguhoy the rebellion lasted from 1744 to 1829. That is ironic given the Filipino Muslim spiel about how the Filipino Muslims are now engaged in a 500 year rebellion.
Next on the menu was the revolt led by Tamblot in 1621. Tamblot was a babaylan, or shaman, and led his warriors against the Spanish in a noble but failed effort to save his tribe's indigenous faith. Naturally Iqbal was attempting to draw parallels between Tamblon's efforts to save his religion and therefore his way of life and the Filipino Muslim's struggle to do the same. In another ironic twist, in my previous "GPH-MILF Peace Process for the Third Quarter of 2011" entry I discussed the MILF's incredibly silly, "Top 10 List of Spoilers of the Peace Process." On that list the MILF took Manila-based journalist Ramon "Mon" Tulfo to task for daring to maintain that the GPH-MILF conflict is religio-culturally based whereas the MILF is insistent that it is entirely political. The MILF, after 24 years, has still not managed to compose a coherent platform, nor a half-way believable historical narrative.
Finishing in Bohol the group returned to the speed boat and departed for the ride back to Cebu City where they retired for the evening. Very early the next morning, September 10th, the group hopped in the same speed boat for the long ride to Negros Island, the site of their third and last stop. Landing in Bacolod City they quickly met with the co-sponser of the Negros Forum, Director Rhoderick Samonte of the Negros-based NGO, Institute for Negros Development, before heading to Saint Lasalle University for their Forum at 130PM. Entitled, "Dialogue Mindanao," IIC Executive Director Gus Miclat gave a presentation on citizen participation in the Peace Process being absolutely vital to its success. Next up was Iqbal with a speech entitled, "The Collective Security of the Moros is Threatened."
Iqbal began an almost verbatim rendering of the arrogant nuttiness used by Peace Panelist, Datu Michael O.Mastura in just about every one of his speaking engagements. Iqbal stood there telling bold faced lie after bold faced lie. Some gems:
"A century ago Moros controlled 98% of Mindanao." OK, let us imagine that he wasn't referring to 1911 and instead take it back to the height of Islamic influence and/or power on Mindanao. IF so, Muslims controlled less than 15% of the entire island. From Cagayan del Oro City on the north coast, moving east, rounding the island onto its east coast and moving all the way to the southern coast, AND THEN, continuing along the southern coast as far as Sarangani Bay, ALL THAT was controlled by indigenous Bisaya. The Butuanons, the Suriganon, the Karaga, these were ALL Bisaya Tribes. Butuan was trading with China nearly 1,000 years before the Maguindanao Tribe entered existence, let alone formed the Maguindanao Sultanate.
"Today only 12% of Mindanao is controlled by Muslims." Yes indeed and that is all they have ever controlled. Seems quite fare to me.
"From 1903 to 1915, Moro Province with its five districts:
1) Cotabato (including North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat Provinces)
2) Lanao (including both Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur Provinces)
3) Zamboanga (including Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay Provinces)
4) Davao (Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley Provinces)
5) Sulu (Sulu, Basilan, and part of Tawi Tawi Province)
was 90% Moro and indigenous people." OK, even if we ignore how Iqbal slid "indigenous people" in as an afterthought, he still was 100% wrong. The Spanish never took a census outside of a couple of small settlements on the coast. Neither did the Americans, except for Christians and not including "los Conquistas," the Spanish term applied to first or second generation converts to Christianity. Examining the (US) Congressional Record, Edition #4791, "Report of the (Philippine) Commission," pp5 and 6, we find America extrapolating other data to come to a reasonable estimate of population in Moro Province, and demographically breaking it down. I will quote from pp5, verbatim, "There has never been an accurate census taken of the non-Christian population."
Within Moro Province there were, in 1904, 66,000 Christian Filipinos. The Americans state that the overall population of Moro Province was 500,000. It then says of the 444,0000 people tallied as "non-Christian," 290,000 were what we now call "Lumad," and what Iqbal creatively labeled "indigenous people." So, 290,000 Lumad, 66,000 Christian, and the remainder tallied as Muslims, less than 150,000. Of that less than 150,000 Muslims, they include the population of Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi Tawi. If we are discussing Mainland Mindanao there were just as many Christians as there were Muslims and Moro Province is but one of three provinces on Mindanao! Factor in Surigao and Misamis Provinces, both having zero Muslims at that time (even today Caraga Region, most of what was contained within Surigao Province, has less than 1,400 Muslims!). Iqbal, like the entire Bangsamoro narrative is a fraud.
Next Chairman Iqbal launched into an angry screed about Land Laws from the American Era; the Public Land Act #2874, of 1919 allowed land purchases up to a maximum of 24 hectares UNLESS one was Muslim in which case the maximum was 10 hectares. Sounds very unfair BUT one needs to be aware of the proper context before considering its fairness. Every Islamicised tribe in that era was ruled by potentates, whether a Datu, Rajah, OR Sultan who held each subject's life entirely in his hands. There was absolutely no private land ownership. The Datu, Rajah, OR Sultan owned 100% of the land in a given area. Slavery still existed but even so called "freemen" were bound to their ruler and had no choice in any matter, large OR small.
Since wresting the Southern Philippines from Spain in 1899 the Americans had been doing their best to subvert the power of the Datus, Rajahs, and the Sultans. The Americans correctly believed that if and when implementing private land ownership schemes, the Muslim Rulers would subvert the 24 hectare maximum limit simply by buying vast tracts of land in the names of their subjects. It wasn't that the Americans were trying to prejudice the system against Muslims but more like they were trying to offer an affirmative action type boost to disadvantaged non-Muslims.
Other than the Mastura-like diatribe I just related, both the Negros AND the Bohol speeches focused on two underlying themes:
1) The Peace Process began in 1997 and therefore has gone on far too long. Filipino-Muslims cannot negotiate forever.
2) The MILF has rejected four GPH entreaties to involve itself in the ARMM, or the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. It sees the ARMM as a failure and view it as being incompatible with the MILF vision and platform.
At least the MILF is still involving itself in the Peace Process. A lying and scheming MILF involved in Talks is still a whole lot better than an earnest and honest MILF rejecting the Peace Process as a waste of time.
The Visayan Round, consisting of a press conference and two forums on three Visayan islands of:
1) Cebu
2) Bohol
3) Negros
was sponsored by the Davao City-based NGO, Initiative for International Dialogue, or IID, in conjunction with various local partners. In the warm up forum in Davao City, Iqbal was joined by Irish Minister of Parliament, Dominick Hannigan. MP Hannigan does double duty as the Chairman of the Committee of Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Signed in 1998 the document served as an FPA, or Final Peace Agreement between the IRA, or Irish Republican Army, Great Britain, and Britain's allies amongst the Protestant paramilitaries in Northern Ireland. Ireland is a traditionally Catholic nation but under domination from England mostly Scottish Protestants were transported into Ireland to help consolidate the English grip upon the land and its people. Shortly after the turn of the 20th Century the Irish rose up and eventually were able to achieve independence EXCEPT FOR for a northern portion that came to be called, "Northern Ireland."
Northern Ireland remained a British territory despite the vast majority of its inhabitants being indigenous Irish Catholics. The Scots-Irish, Protestants like the English, desired to remain one with England while virtually all Irish Catholics wanted either union with Ireland, or else indepence of its own. Britain doesn't relinquish land easily and so it was with Northern Ireland. Communal warfare ended up killing 3,000 under attacks that included a fair dose of terrorism on the part of the IRA and to a much lesser extent the Protestant paramilitaries. Finally, all three sides were able to reach the Good Friday Agreement satisfying all but a tiny iota of radicals in both the Catholic and the Protestant Communities.
The MILF has often looked towards the Good Friday Agreement as a working template for a Mindanowan peace agreement. To the laymen the conflict in Mindanao between the Government and the MILF certainly appears to be a conflict based upon ethno-religious sectarianism. In reality it is far more complicated. In Northern Ireland one can easily log the trajectory of the conflict from its baseline at the point where merry ole' England set its beady little eyes on poor old Ireland. One can observe all the incremental periods, all the issues neatly layered but what could one do with the MILF conflict in Mindanao? It isn't a case of proverbial "apples and oranges." It is much more like a case of "apples and goldfish."
In any event, MP Hannigan was spending three fun filled weeks in the Philippines fufilling a parliamentarian requirement to volunteer in charitable endeavours overseas. The programme, under the auspices of the NGO, Volunteers Overseas, or VSO, places skilled volunteers in the so called "Developing World." On the day in question, September 6th, MP Hannigan joined Chairman Iqbal, Peace Panelist, Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga, and Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel Secretariat, Jun Mantawil for the Forum in Davao, entitled, "Good Friday Agreement and the GPH Peace Agreement," at Ateneo de Davao University. The three hour programme at the school's Finster Building was moderated by Executive Director, Agusto "Gus" Miclat Jr. of the sponsoring NGO, the aforementioned IIC.
In Chairman Iqbal's speech he offered what he creatively labeled an "Update on the Peace Process," Iqbal gave a very condensed briefing about the "secret meeting" that took place between President Aquino and MILF Chairman al Haj Murad Iqbal on August 4th. Then, segueing into the August 22nd Government handover of its long awaited Draft Comprehensive Compact, where Iqbal spent the most time talking. No real suprises but a couple of interesting anecdotes. As Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel Iqbal met with his GPH counterpart, Mario Victor "Marvic" Leonen during the one hour Executive Session that took place first thing on August 22nd the two had a very heated exchange. According to Iqbal, Leonen tried to discuss the infamous Kumander Kato and his renegade military organisation, BIFF, or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Iqbal refused to discuss it, reminding Leonen that the first course of business was the scheduled submission of the GPH Draft Comprehensive Agreement. Chairperson Leonen wouldn't play ball. Everytime Iqbal reminded Leonen that the GPH Draft was supposed to have been submitted back in March of 2011, Leonen would get angrier and angrier. Finally, with assistance from Malaysian Facilitator Datuk Ab Tengku Ghafar Tengku Mohammed, Iqbal was able to remain focused enough so as to bend Leonen's considerable will and get his way.
With that highly contentious issue settled they immediately opened the door and quickly went into the prefunctory diplomatic niceties before getting to the meat and bones of the meeting, the GPH Draft. Iqbal and the MILF Peace Panel refused to comment and informed Leonen that they would adjourn and study the GPH Draft overnight and offer their take on it as the first order of business the next morning, August 23rd, in plenary session. From there it is just a rehash of the same information I have posted in other "GPH-MILF Peace Process for the Third Quarter of 2011" entries.
On September 8th, Iqbal, Lingga, and Mantawil flew from Davao City to Cebu Island where the group, accompanied by IID Executive Director Agusto "Gus" Miclat Jr. The next morning, September 9th, the group travelled to Cebu City's Barangay Lahug for a press confrence held at Pino Filipino Cuisine on Wilson Street. The conference lasted a bit more than 2 hours and was scantily attended by less than a dozen media outlets. After finishing at 1PM the group travelled to Mactan, a suburb of Cebu City, and boarded a speed boat for the ride to Bohol, the second stop on their Visayan Tour.
Arriving in Bohol's Tagbiliran City, site of the second Forum, entilted, "Civil Society Dialogue with the MILF Peace Panel," at the University of Bohol. After a ahort opening speech by the university's President, Iqbal once again stepped to the podium. The speech, entitled, "Peace is the Concern of All," began with Chairman Iqbal touching upon local history to pique the attention of the nearly 400 attendees. Iqbal mentiomed that Bohol is the site of two blood compacts between local chiefs and allied foreigners. As Iqbal noted, the first compact took place on March 16th, 1565 between Datu Sikatuna of Bo'ol, Datu Sigala of Loboc, and the Spanish Conquistador, Legazpi. The three vowed to regard each other peacefully. The second compact, according to Iqbal, took place between an unknown Boholano datu and Rajah Laut Buisan, the military commander of the Maguindanao Sultanate in what is today Central Mindanao, citing the claim of Cesar Majul.
Iqbal, in a congratulatory tone informed his listeners that Bohol was home to the Daguhoy Revolt, the longest single insurrection in the Philippines. Led by Francisco Daguhoy the rebellion lasted from 1744 to 1829. That is ironic given the Filipino Muslim spiel about how the Filipino Muslims are now engaged in a 500 year rebellion.
Next on the menu was the revolt led by Tamblot in 1621. Tamblot was a babaylan, or shaman, and led his warriors against the Spanish in a noble but failed effort to save his tribe's indigenous faith. Naturally Iqbal was attempting to draw parallels between Tamblon's efforts to save his religion and therefore his way of life and the Filipino Muslim's struggle to do the same. In another ironic twist, in my previous "GPH-MILF Peace Process for the Third Quarter of 2011" entry I discussed the MILF's incredibly silly, "Top 10 List of Spoilers of the Peace Process." On that list the MILF took Manila-based journalist Ramon "Mon" Tulfo to task for daring to maintain that the GPH-MILF conflict is religio-culturally based whereas the MILF is insistent that it is entirely political. The MILF, after 24 years, has still not managed to compose a coherent platform, nor a half-way believable historical narrative.
Finishing in Bohol the group returned to the speed boat and departed for the ride back to Cebu City where they retired for the evening. Very early the next morning, September 10th, the group hopped in the same speed boat for the long ride to Negros Island, the site of their third and last stop. Landing in Bacolod City they quickly met with the co-sponser of the Negros Forum, Director Rhoderick Samonte of the Negros-based NGO, Institute for Negros Development, before heading to Saint Lasalle University for their Forum at 130PM. Entitled, "Dialogue Mindanao," IIC Executive Director Gus Miclat gave a presentation on citizen participation in the Peace Process being absolutely vital to its success. Next up was Iqbal with a speech entitled, "The Collective Security of the Moros is Threatened."
Iqbal began an almost verbatim rendering of the arrogant nuttiness used by Peace Panelist, Datu Michael O.Mastura in just about every one of his speaking engagements. Iqbal stood there telling bold faced lie after bold faced lie. Some gems:
"A century ago Moros controlled 98% of Mindanao." OK, let us imagine that he wasn't referring to 1911 and instead take it back to the height of Islamic influence and/or power on Mindanao. IF so, Muslims controlled less than 15% of the entire island. From Cagayan del Oro City on the north coast, moving east, rounding the island onto its east coast and moving all the way to the southern coast, AND THEN, continuing along the southern coast as far as Sarangani Bay, ALL THAT was controlled by indigenous Bisaya. The Butuanons, the Suriganon, the Karaga, these were ALL Bisaya Tribes. Butuan was trading with China nearly 1,000 years before the Maguindanao Tribe entered existence, let alone formed the Maguindanao Sultanate.
"Today only 12% of Mindanao is controlled by Muslims." Yes indeed and that is all they have ever controlled. Seems quite fare to me.
"From 1903 to 1915, Moro Province with its five districts:
1) Cotabato (including North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat Provinces)
2) Lanao (including both Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur Provinces)
3) Zamboanga (including Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay Provinces)
4) Davao (Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley Provinces)
5) Sulu (Sulu, Basilan, and part of Tawi Tawi Province)
was 90% Moro and indigenous people." OK, even if we ignore how Iqbal slid "indigenous people" in as an afterthought, he still was 100% wrong. The Spanish never took a census outside of a couple of small settlements on the coast. Neither did the Americans, except for Christians and not including "los Conquistas," the Spanish term applied to first or second generation converts to Christianity. Examining the (US) Congressional Record, Edition #4791, "Report of the (Philippine) Commission," pp5 and 6, we find America extrapolating other data to come to a reasonable estimate of population in Moro Province, and demographically breaking it down. I will quote from pp5, verbatim, "There has never been an accurate census taken of the non-Christian population."
Within Moro Province there were, in 1904, 66,000 Christian Filipinos. The Americans state that the overall population of Moro Province was 500,000. It then says of the 444,0000 people tallied as "non-Christian," 290,000 were what we now call "Lumad," and what Iqbal creatively labeled "indigenous people." So, 290,000 Lumad, 66,000 Christian, and the remainder tallied as Muslims, less than 150,000. Of that less than 150,000 Muslims, they include the population of Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi Tawi. If we are discussing Mainland Mindanao there were just as many Christians as there were Muslims and Moro Province is but one of three provinces on Mindanao! Factor in Surigao and Misamis Provinces, both having zero Muslims at that time (even today Caraga Region, most of what was contained within Surigao Province, has less than 1,400 Muslims!). Iqbal, like the entire Bangsamoro narrative is a fraud.
Next Chairman Iqbal launched into an angry screed about Land Laws from the American Era; the Public Land Act #2874, of 1919 allowed land purchases up to a maximum of 24 hectares UNLESS one was Muslim in which case the maximum was 10 hectares. Sounds very unfair BUT one needs to be aware of the proper context before considering its fairness. Every Islamicised tribe in that era was ruled by potentates, whether a Datu, Rajah, OR Sultan who held each subject's life entirely in his hands. There was absolutely no private land ownership. The Datu, Rajah, OR Sultan owned 100% of the land in a given area. Slavery still existed but even so called "freemen" were bound to their ruler and had no choice in any matter, large OR small.
Since wresting the Southern Philippines from Spain in 1899 the Americans had been doing their best to subvert the power of the Datus, Rajahs, and the Sultans. The Americans correctly believed that if and when implementing private land ownership schemes, the Muslim Rulers would subvert the 24 hectare maximum limit simply by buying vast tracts of land in the names of their subjects. It wasn't that the Americans were trying to prejudice the system against Muslims but more like they were trying to offer an affirmative action type boost to disadvantaged non-Muslims.
Other than the Mastura-like diatribe I just related, both the Negros AND the Bohol speeches focused on two underlying themes:
1) The Peace Process began in 1997 and therefore has gone on far too long. Filipino-Muslims cannot negotiate forever.
2) The MILF has rejected four GPH entreaties to involve itself in the ARMM, or the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. It sees the ARMM as a failure and view it as being incompatible with the MILF vision and platform.
At least the MILF is still involving itself in the Peace Process. A lying and scheming MILF involved in Talks is still a whole lot better than an earnest and honest MILF rejecting the Peace Process as a waste of time.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
GPH-MILF Peace Process for the Third Quarter of 2011, Part I: The Peace Process Totters on the Abyss
The 22nd Round of Exploratory Talks between the Government (GPH) and the MILF was brimming with expectation as Talks began on Monday, August 22nd, 2011. At the beginning of the 20th Round on February 9th, 2011 the MILF had handed its GPH counterparts a Revised Draft of its Comprehensive Compact, a tongue twister of a title when they could have simply labeled it, "Blueprint for Peace." A 26 page document that focused on 11 salient points, it was given to the GPH Peace Panel with the understanding that the Government would reciprocate with its own Draft Comprehensive Compact to be given to the MILF Peace Panel during the 21st Round of Exploratory Talks, to take place on March 29th and 30th.
On March 15th the 21st Round was scrubbed. Though this took place at the behest of the Philippine Government the explanation offered to the public was that the cancellation resulted from a request by the Malaysian Facilitator of the Peace Process, Dato Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed [sic]. Why? The verbatim explanation, "He had other, more pressing matters to attend to." Suuuure. Most realised that it was because the GPH Peace Panel needed time to formulate an apt response to the points raised in the MILF's Revised Draft without boxing themselves into a corner. Besides, the 21st Round was quickly re-scheduled for April 27th and 28th, there wouldn't be long to wait.
When the 21st Round transpired however the GPH Peace Panel did nothing but tread water. It begged off producing its long awaited Draft, vowing to turn it over during the 22nd Round, scheduled to take place on June 27th and 28th. In the meantime they wasted two valuable days of face time reviewing certain turns of phrase contained within the MILF document and tackled a couple of very simple side table issues.
Then, in late June the GPH Peace Panel notified its MILF counterpart that it still wasn't ready to submit its Draft but
rather then simply scrubbing the June Meeting, they would be amenable to an Executive Session, if the MILF was in agreement. The Executive Session took place and the 22nd Round was re-scheduled for August 2nd and 3rd. At the end of July the GPH Peace Panel once again informed its MILF counterpart that it would be unable to submit its Draft but offered a magnanimous gesture to appease a now livid MILF Central Committee; on August 4th President Aquino held a secret face to face meeting with MILF Chairman al Haj Murad Ebrahim in a suburban Tokyo hotel. In a nation obsessed with "face" the meeting in Japan was the ultimate face saving gesture. Where as the MILF had been just about to trash the Peace Process over GPH inaction it now was more than agreeable to yet another re-scheduling. The 22nd Round was then set for August 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.
The 22nd Round opened on August 22nd with an Executive Session in the Sri Bandahara Conference Room, in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia's Chulan Royale Hotel at 940AM. Both Panel Chairmen, Mario Victor "Marvic" Leonen for the GPH and his counterpart for the MILF, Mohagher Iqbal along with one Panelist each:
1) Professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer for the GPH
2) Datu Michael O.Mastura for the MILF
and Malaysian Facilitator Dato Ab Ghafar Tegku Mohamed spent exactly an hour as Chairman Leonen tried to soften the blow and salvage at least some of the 14 year GPH-MILF Peace Process. When they all emerged at exactly 1040AM on the dot not one face among them was smiling. Surely an inauspcious beginning to what was to be a pivotal Round in this long, drawn out process.
At 1045AM all participants took their places in the Executive Board Room for the Formal Opening and like the previous Round, it was held behind closed doors. Emerging for a 15 minute breather at 12PM all participants then continued uninterrupted from 1215PM until the end of the First Day Session at 140PM. In deference to both the MILF Peace Panel and their Malaysian Hosts the 3 Days were scheduled as Half Days to end by 2PM. In the midst of the month long Islamic holiday of Ramadan where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, proceedings had to take circumstances into account.
After Opening Remarks by both Chairmen as well as by Facilitator Mohamed, GPH Chairman Leonen then handed over the GPH Draft Comprehensive Compact to MILF Chairman Iqbal. Patterned after the MILF Revised Draft submitted to Leonen on February 9th, it focused on 11 salient points. Leonen though creatively described it as a "Three for One Deal," with the "three" aspects being:
I) Socio-Economic Improvement
II) Inclusion and Respect for the Bangsamoro narrative
III) A Political Settlement.
I will condense each of the 11 points as following:
GPH Revised Comprehensive Compact
I) In partnership with the MILF the GPH seeks a permanent and just solution that will focus on sustainable improvements in all facets. Unlike past Administrations the Aquino Government is sincere and ready to prove it by adressing relevant issues.
II) The solution will be based upon a real partnership with the MILF and it may in fact lead to legal reforms.
III) It is a comprehensive solution that seeks to meet the needs of all three of the Mindanowan demographics:
A) Muslims
B) Lumad (Animist Hill Tribes)
C) Christians
The solution is cognisant of the socio-economic disparities that exist between Mindanao and the rest of the Philippines as well as the role played by shifts in demography.
IV) The solution is cognisant of the short term realities and limitations imposed by President Aquino's term in office expiring in 2016 and so focuses on those issues with the best chance of rectification within that limited period. At the same time the solution offers urgent help to those who need it the most, the victims of "colonial oppression, post-colonial neglect, misguided leaders and past abuses of some national leaders." It also sets the stage for longer term solutions.
V) The solution aims for the best outcome in the shortest amount of time.
VI) The solution is cognisant of the limitations in Executive power but also aims to construct a platform for continued dialog and if and when it becomes necessary, judicial, legal, and even Constitutional Reforms.
VII) The solution is cognisant of Bangsamoro identity and history. It doesn't aim to provide a simple solution for a highly complex problem. Although the ARMM, or Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao failed in the past, it was more than likely because of inept national leadership and corrupt regional leadership as opposed to inherent flaws in the ARMM framework. The solution will foster genuine autonomy.
VIII) The solution will provide an avenue for continued "debate" with regards to revenue sharing as well as utilising revenue sharing to further enhance regional autonomy while also focusing on the need to foster sustainability of natural resources.
IX) The solution begins the process of disarmament, de-mobilisation and reintegration of MILF and BIAF, or Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (military wing of the MILF) members.
X) The solution will require stakeholder commitment to suceed.
XI) The solution will lead to a re-writing of the Filipino narrative to include the Bangsamoro narrative and identity as being part and parcel of the Philippines.
Now, aside from being extremely vague on all pertinent issues it fails to mention anything about the MILF's "State:Sub-State Assymetrical Government" mantra. The MILF Peace Panel took extreme umbrage at this and made no bones about telling GPH Chairman Leonen that they would unanimously recommend rejection of the GPH Draft when conferring with the MILF's Central Committee. Leonen was not a happy camper but by Tuesday night, August 23rd his frown had morphed into a crooked smile and he was selling it as a positive development because the MILF Peace Panel hadn't simply thrown the document back at him after reading it.
To recall the 11 salient points included in the MILF document were, again condensed:
I) After exhausting all avenues within the Democratic process in trying to solve the Bangsamoro's ethno-nationalist conflict the MILF looks toward other similar situations on the world stage, particularly Northern Ireland and South Sudan and finds very good examples of just solutions.
II) The Draft seeks to correct the domineering and exploitative relationship between the Philippine Government and the Bangsamoro people.
III) The Draft merely offers the Bangsamoro a mere share of respect that is already owed, a people whose homeland, Mindanao, has never been conquered. Even into the American Colonial Era the Bangsamoro homeland had been considered as a separate entity and not a part of the Philippines per se.
IV) The Draft offers the Bangsamoro a mere 7 to 9% of an island that had been 98% theirs just a century before.
V) The Draft offers a balance between state sovreignity and the people's right to self determination, something never before seen anywhere in the world.
VI) The Draft focuses on an Assymetrical State:Sub-State Relationship with clearly defined separation of powers between national and regional governments.
VII) The Draft recognises Bangsamoro identity without negating Philippine citizenship.
VIII) The Draft recognises the Bangsamoro struggle and desire to obtain regional autonomy while recognising the supremacy of the national govt.
IX) The Draft melds the Democracatic maxim that sovereignity lies within each person with the Islamic principle of "Shura," or "Consultation."
X) The Draft provides a complete modus operandi with which to segue from full implementation of the FPA, or Final Peace Agreement into disarmament, de-mobilisation, and re-integration of MILF and BIAF members under International supervision to safeguard Bangsamoro interests.
XI) Peace will benefit everyone, including Malaysia.
Not that the Government has been at all sincere in trying to reach an Agreement, because clearly it is impossible to believe they have after yesterday's meltdown, but IF the MILF/BIAF insist on fantasy there will never even be an inkling of a chance. Bangsamoro? As I have noted in other entries the term is a piece of fiction created by Filipino Muslim intellectuals of the late-1960s as an attempt to overcome the ethnic, tribal, and linguistic divides amongst the 13 Islamicised groups living in the Southern Philippines. You cannot invent an "ethnicity." The "Palestinians" are surely trying and look where it has gotten them. Without a genuine historical narrative the fantasy collapses.
Another figment is the claim, contained within the MILF Draft, Point IV, that at the start of the 20th Century the "Bangsamoro" controlled up to 98% of Mindanao. If one interpolates "Muslim" with "Bangsamoro" it still fails. It only works IF applied to Mindanao's island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi. On Mainland Mindanao Muslims never controlled more than Central Mindanao (Maguindanao and North Cotabato Provinces) and a large portion of Lanao. In fact, that "7 to 9%" is actually what they controlled 100 years ago and THAT was the maximum they have ever controlled.
It will be impossible to find peace until Filipino Muslims find truth. Have they always gotten a fair shake from Manila? Of course not. Yet, how does a group where 12 out of 13 tribes reject secular education expect to close the socio-economic gap? The other end of the equation is infrastructure and investment. How can they complain about a lack thereof when bombs are popping off every 4 or 5 days and even surveyors are kidnapped for ransom? Filipino Muslims need to accept a large part of the blame and stop always blaming others.
Tuesday's Session, August 23rd, began at 940AM and ended abruptly at 1140AM. At that point GPH Chairman Leonen stormed out of the Closed Door Session and brusquely commanded an underling to fetch all GPH staffers for an impromptu lunch meeting.
All that had transpired in those 2 hours was a quick discussion on the TORs, or Terms of Reference for the IMT, or International Monitoring Team's Humanitarian, Rehabilitation, and Development component. That component consists of two women, a Frenchwoman and a British subject deployed by the European Union. They have been in-country for four months already but working without clearly defined TORs. Then the Panels moved onto a very contentious subject, the Governments offering of tenders for Exploration Tenements on oil and gas drilling. A handful of tenders fall within the MILF AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation"). Between that and the lackluster document handed to MILF Chairman Iqbal the day before the subject was too much to bear and the MILF Panel lost their composure. Finally Chairman Iqbal bluntly told his counterpart, Chairman Leonen, that there was no point in continuing this Round under the current circumstances.
As Chairman Leonen et al departed the ICG, or International Contact Group, composed of representatives from four foreign governments:
1) Turkey (not present)
2) United Kingdom, Political Officer of the British Embassy in the Philippines, Chris Wright
3) Japan, Political Officer of the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines, Keiko Takakawa
4) Saudi Arabia (not present)
and four NGOs:
1) CHD, or Centre for Humanitarian Dialog, based in Geneva, Switzerland, represented by David Gorman
2) Concilliation Resources, based in London, England (not present)
3) Muhammadiyyah, a Jarkata-based organisation devoted to Islamic issues (not present)
4) The Asia Foundation. This favourite of the MILF began life as a CIA project and though it now claims to be entirely removed from the CIA it still serves as a conduit for American Intelligence, represented by Dr.Steven Rood
tried to placate the MILF Panel. GPH Chairman Leonen then held a de-briefing with his team in the hotel's Tai Ping Resturant, just down the hall from the Executive Conference Room. That was probably not an intended insult but in the end, eating while others have to fast isn't the height of decorum. As The GPH Panel enjoyed a sumptious lunch a member of the IVG shuttled between the conference room where the MILF Panel remained and the resturant trying to keep a 14 year long process from imploding. Pundits have hailed the ICG's utility after this last Rpund. Myself? They definitely deserve credit because at 2:20PM both Panels and the Facilitator returned to the table. Still, the mood remained extremely volatile with the MILF Panel telling their counterparts that they reject it out of hand. GPH Chairperson Leonen then lost his cool as well, screaming, "I reject your rejection" shortly before the two parties called it a day at 3:33PM. Later MILG Chairman Iqbal described the differences between the two Drafts as "heaven and earth."
A disaster from start to finish.
On March 15th the 21st Round was scrubbed. Though this took place at the behest of the Philippine Government the explanation offered to the public was that the cancellation resulted from a request by the Malaysian Facilitator of the Peace Process, Dato Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed [sic]. Why? The verbatim explanation, "He had other, more pressing matters to attend to." Suuuure. Most realised that it was because the GPH Peace Panel needed time to formulate an apt response to the points raised in the MILF's Revised Draft without boxing themselves into a corner. Besides, the 21st Round was quickly re-scheduled for April 27th and 28th, there wouldn't be long to wait.
When the 21st Round transpired however the GPH Peace Panel did nothing but tread water. It begged off producing its long awaited Draft, vowing to turn it over during the 22nd Round, scheduled to take place on June 27th and 28th. In the meantime they wasted two valuable days of face time reviewing certain turns of phrase contained within the MILF document and tackled a couple of very simple side table issues.
Then, in late June the GPH Peace Panel notified its MILF counterpart that it still wasn't ready to submit its Draft but
rather then simply scrubbing the June Meeting, they would be amenable to an Executive Session, if the MILF was in agreement. The Executive Session took place and the 22nd Round was re-scheduled for August 2nd and 3rd. At the end of July the GPH Peace Panel once again informed its MILF counterpart that it would be unable to submit its Draft but offered a magnanimous gesture to appease a now livid MILF Central Committee; on August 4th President Aquino held a secret face to face meeting with MILF Chairman al Haj Murad Ebrahim in a suburban Tokyo hotel. In a nation obsessed with "face" the meeting in Japan was the ultimate face saving gesture. Where as the MILF had been just about to trash the Peace Process over GPH inaction it now was more than agreeable to yet another re-scheduling. The 22nd Round was then set for August 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.
The 22nd Round opened on August 22nd with an Executive Session in the Sri Bandahara Conference Room, in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia's Chulan Royale Hotel at 940AM. Both Panel Chairmen, Mario Victor "Marvic" Leonen for the GPH and his counterpart for the MILF, Mohagher Iqbal along with one Panelist each:
1) Professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer for the GPH
2) Datu Michael O.Mastura for the MILF
and Malaysian Facilitator Dato Ab Ghafar Tegku Mohamed spent exactly an hour as Chairman Leonen tried to soften the blow and salvage at least some of the 14 year GPH-MILF Peace Process. When they all emerged at exactly 1040AM on the dot not one face among them was smiling. Surely an inauspcious beginning to what was to be a pivotal Round in this long, drawn out process.
At 1045AM all participants took their places in the Executive Board Room for the Formal Opening and like the previous Round, it was held behind closed doors. Emerging for a 15 minute breather at 12PM all participants then continued uninterrupted from 1215PM until the end of the First Day Session at 140PM. In deference to both the MILF Peace Panel and their Malaysian Hosts the 3 Days were scheduled as Half Days to end by 2PM. In the midst of the month long Islamic holiday of Ramadan where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, proceedings had to take circumstances into account.
After Opening Remarks by both Chairmen as well as by Facilitator Mohamed, GPH Chairman Leonen then handed over the GPH Draft Comprehensive Compact to MILF Chairman Iqbal. Patterned after the MILF Revised Draft submitted to Leonen on February 9th, it focused on 11 salient points. Leonen though creatively described it as a "Three for One Deal," with the "three" aspects being:
I) Socio-Economic Improvement
II) Inclusion and Respect for the Bangsamoro narrative
III) A Political Settlement.
I will condense each of the 11 points as following:
GPH Revised Comprehensive Compact
I) In partnership with the MILF the GPH seeks a permanent and just solution that will focus on sustainable improvements in all facets. Unlike past Administrations the Aquino Government is sincere and ready to prove it by adressing relevant issues.
II) The solution will be based upon a real partnership with the MILF and it may in fact lead to legal reforms.
III) It is a comprehensive solution that seeks to meet the needs of all three of the Mindanowan demographics:
A) Muslims
B) Lumad (Animist Hill Tribes)
C) Christians
The solution is cognisant of the socio-economic disparities that exist between Mindanao and the rest of the Philippines as well as the role played by shifts in demography.
IV) The solution is cognisant of the short term realities and limitations imposed by President Aquino's term in office expiring in 2016 and so focuses on those issues with the best chance of rectification within that limited period. At the same time the solution offers urgent help to those who need it the most, the victims of "colonial oppression, post-colonial neglect, misguided leaders and past abuses of some national leaders." It also sets the stage for longer term solutions.
V) The solution aims for the best outcome in the shortest amount of time.
VI) The solution is cognisant of the limitations in Executive power but also aims to construct a platform for continued dialog and if and when it becomes necessary, judicial, legal, and even Constitutional Reforms.
VII) The solution is cognisant of Bangsamoro identity and history. It doesn't aim to provide a simple solution for a highly complex problem. Although the ARMM, or Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao failed in the past, it was more than likely because of inept national leadership and corrupt regional leadership as opposed to inherent flaws in the ARMM framework. The solution will foster genuine autonomy.
VIII) The solution will provide an avenue for continued "debate" with regards to revenue sharing as well as utilising revenue sharing to further enhance regional autonomy while also focusing on the need to foster sustainability of natural resources.
IX) The solution begins the process of disarmament, de-mobilisation and reintegration of MILF and BIAF, or Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (military wing of the MILF) members.
X) The solution will require stakeholder commitment to suceed.
XI) The solution will lead to a re-writing of the Filipino narrative to include the Bangsamoro narrative and identity as being part and parcel of the Philippines.
Now, aside from being extremely vague on all pertinent issues it fails to mention anything about the MILF's "State:Sub-State Assymetrical Government" mantra. The MILF Peace Panel took extreme umbrage at this and made no bones about telling GPH Chairman Leonen that they would unanimously recommend rejection of the GPH Draft when conferring with the MILF's Central Committee. Leonen was not a happy camper but by Tuesday night, August 23rd his frown had morphed into a crooked smile and he was selling it as a positive development because the MILF Peace Panel hadn't simply thrown the document back at him after reading it.
To recall the 11 salient points included in the MILF document were, again condensed:
I) After exhausting all avenues within the Democratic process in trying to solve the Bangsamoro's ethno-nationalist conflict the MILF looks toward other similar situations on the world stage, particularly Northern Ireland and South Sudan and finds very good examples of just solutions.
II) The Draft seeks to correct the domineering and exploitative relationship between the Philippine Government and the Bangsamoro people.
III) The Draft merely offers the Bangsamoro a mere share of respect that is already owed, a people whose homeland, Mindanao, has never been conquered. Even into the American Colonial Era the Bangsamoro homeland had been considered as a separate entity and not a part of the Philippines per se.
IV) The Draft offers the Bangsamoro a mere 7 to 9% of an island that had been 98% theirs just a century before.
V) The Draft offers a balance between state sovreignity and the people's right to self determination, something never before seen anywhere in the world.
VI) The Draft focuses on an Assymetrical State:Sub-State Relationship with clearly defined separation of powers between national and regional governments.
VII) The Draft recognises Bangsamoro identity without negating Philippine citizenship.
VIII) The Draft recognises the Bangsamoro struggle and desire to obtain regional autonomy while recognising the supremacy of the national govt.
IX) The Draft melds the Democracatic maxim that sovereignity lies within each person with the Islamic principle of "Shura," or "Consultation."
X) The Draft provides a complete modus operandi with which to segue from full implementation of the FPA, or Final Peace Agreement into disarmament, de-mobilisation, and re-integration of MILF and BIAF members under International supervision to safeguard Bangsamoro interests.
XI) Peace will benefit everyone, including Malaysia.
Not that the Government has been at all sincere in trying to reach an Agreement, because clearly it is impossible to believe they have after yesterday's meltdown, but IF the MILF/BIAF insist on fantasy there will never even be an inkling of a chance. Bangsamoro? As I have noted in other entries the term is a piece of fiction created by Filipino Muslim intellectuals of the late-1960s as an attempt to overcome the ethnic, tribal, and linguistic divides amongst the 13 Islamicised groups living in the Southern Philippines. You cannot invent an "ethnicity." The "Palestinians" are surely trying and look where it has gotten them. Without a genuine historical narrative the fantasy collapses.
Another figment is the claim, contained within the MILF Draft, Point IV, that at the start of the 20th Century the "Bangsamoro" controlled up to 98% of Mindanao. If one interpolates "Muslim" with "Bangsamoro" it still fails. It only works IF applied to Mindanao's island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi. On Mainland Mindanao Muslims never controlled more than Central Mindanao (Maguindanao and North Cotabato Provinces) and a large portion of Lanao. In fact, that "7 to 9%" is actually what they controlled 100 years ago and THAT was the maximum they have ever controlled.
It will be impossible to find peace until Filipino Muslims find truth. Have they always gotten a fair shake from Manila? Of course not. Yet, how does a group where 12 out of 13 tribes reject secular education expect to close the socio-economic gap? The other end of the equation is infrastructure and investment. How can they complain about a lack thereof when bombs are popping off every 4 or 5 days and even surveyors are kidnapped for ransom? Filipino Muslims need to accept a large part of the blame and stop always blaming others.
Tuesday's Session, August 23rd, began at 940AM and ended abruptly at 1140AM. At that point GPH Chairman Leonen stormed out of the Closed Door Session and brusquely commanded an underling to fetch all GPH staffers for an impromptu lunch meeting.
All that had transpired in those 2 hours was a quick discussion on the TORs, or Terms of Reference for the IMT, or International Monitoring Team's Humanitarian, Rehabilitation, and Development component. That component consists of two women, a Frenchwoman and a British subject deployed by the European Union. They have been in-country for four months already but working without clearly defined TORs. Then the Panels moved onto a very contentious subject, the Governments offering of tenders for Exploration Tenements on oil and gas drilling. A handful of tenders fall within the MILF AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation"). Between that and the lackluster document handed to MILF Chairman Iqbal the day before the subject was too much to bear and the MILF Panel lost their composure. Finally Chairman Iqbal bluntly told his counterpart, Chairman Leonen, that there was no point in continuing this Round under the current circumstances.
As Chairman Leonen et al departed the ICG, or International Contact Group, composed of representatives from four foreign governments:
1) Turkey (not present)
2) United Kingdom, Political Officer of the British Embassy in the Philippines, Chris Wright
3) Japan, Political Officer of the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines, Keiko Takakawa
4) Saudi Arabia (not present)
and four NGOs:
1) CHD, or Centre for Humanitarian Dialog, based in Geneva, Switzerland, represented by David Gorman
2) Concilliation Resources, based in London, England (not present)
3) Muhammadiyyah, a Jarkata-based organisation devoted to Islamic issues (not present)
4) The Asia Foundation. This favourite of the MILF began life as a CIA project and though it now claims to be entirely removed from the CIA it still serves as a conduit for American Intelligence, represented by Dr.Steven Rood
tried to placate the MILF Panel. GPH Chairman Leonen then held a de-briefing with his team in the hotel's Tai Ping Resturant, just down the hall from the Executive Conference Room. That was probably not an intended insult but in the end, eating while others have to fast isn't the height of decorum. As The GPH Panel enjoyed a sumptious lunch a member of the IVG shuttled between the conference room where the MILF Panel remained and the resturant trying to keep a 14 year long process from imploding. Pundits have hailed the ICG's utility after this last Rpund. Myself? They definitely deserve credit because at 2:20PM both Panels and the Facilitator returned to the table. Still, the mood remained extremely volatile with the MILF Panel telling their counterparts that they reject it out of hand. GPH Chairperson Leonen then lost his cool as well, screaming, "I reject your rejection" shortly before the two parties called it a day at 3:33PM. Later MILG Chairman Iqbal described the differences between the two Drafts as "heaven and earth."
A disaster from start to finish.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
GPH-MILF Peace Process, Second Quarter of 2011, Part II: Bangsamoro Development Agency, AHJAG, and the CCCH
The BDA, or Bangsamoro Development Agency is the MILF arm for economic and social development. Enabled by the GPH-MILF Tripoli Agreement of 2001 (June 22nd, 2001) just as the Peace Process re-started after the EDSA II Coup that installed Gloria M.Arroyo as President. Then, on June 2nd, 2002 the MILF Central Committee passed the Resolution that created the entity. With 36 staff members in 5 Regional Management Offices (though they claim 6):
1) Cotabato City, Central Mindanao
2) General Santos City (GenSan), Southern Mindanao
3) Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan Island
4) Marawi City, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte
5) Davao City, Davao Region
On May 2nd, 2011 the MILF Central Committee announced plans to expand the BDA AOR (Area of Responsibility, as in Area of Operation) into Sulu and Tawi Tawi Provinces. Both provinces have virtually no MILF/BIAF (the latter being the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the military wing of the MILF). There is a BIAF Base Command, the 117th, but it operates only in parts of two municipalities in Tawi Tawi and is centered upon its Sanga Sanga Island. Despite its rhetoric the MILF/BIAF has never come close to eclipsing the nearly universal support enjoyed by the MNLF before it bowed to then dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1976.
The Central Committee is also making noises about the BDA moving into Palawan as well. Unlike Sulu and Tawi Tawi Palawan is not a part of Mindanao, administratively or otherwise. The MNLF first claimed the island as part of its theoretical MinSuLuPa, an independent Muslim nation it foresaw being created out of all area with a historical connection to Islam. While Palawan was CLAIMED by the Sultanate of Brunei who then gifted it to the Sultanate of Sulu in 1658 for sending nearly 500 warriors that enabled the Sultan of Brunei to maintain his throne, the Muslim connection is tenuous at best. There is an ethnicity known as the Palawani, composed of Islamic converts from various coastal tribes on Palawan, but they are an indistinct group along the lines of the so-called "Balik Islam," or the "Islamic Reverts." According to Islam every human is born a Muslim, it is humankind's natural state. Ergo, when one finally acknowledges themselves as a Muslim they are merely REverting, not CONverting. More than this however, the Balik Islam are Filipinos of other religions who accept Islam with the perception that ALL Filipinos either were, or would have been Muslims if not for Spanish intervention. This warped view holds that Rajah Solaiman, the ruler of Manila when the Spanish arrived there, was a Muslim. Indeed he was BUT he was from Brunei, NOT Manila. He ruled Manila as a conqueror, just like the Spanish.
The BDA shouldn't be confused with the BDAF, or Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund, which was created via Executive Order #872 in March of 2010 by then President Arroyo. The BDAF is a GPH, or Government of the Philippines entity that is meant as a catalyst for social and economic development vis a vis the parallel GPH-MNLF Peace Process. It was one of several steps taken by the Government to bring that Process' 1996 Jakarta Agreement, the FPA, or Final Peace Agreement meant to finally end THAT insurgency, to an end. Two different agencies with the same exact mandate, is it any wonder why this island is wracked with war?
On May 9th, 2011 the Chairman of the MILF CCCH, or MILF Co-ordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, Said Shiek issued a little noticed directive stating that his GPH counterpart shouldn't even bother trying to liason with him over security for any developmental issues that aren't first vetted through the BDA. The CCCH is a bilateral entity composed of two components, one GPH, the other MILF. Among other things, if a foreign delegation wishes to survey a particular area for a farm to market road project, or say an outpatient health clinic, they would apply to the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines, who would delegate the responsibility to the GPH CCCH, which is composed of AFP personnel. In turn the GPH CCCH would liason with their MILF counterpart so as to avoid an attack or KFR (Kidnap for Ransom). Now the MILF wants a bite out of any project in its AOR, pay to play, like the true gangsters the MILF truly are.
Speaking of the MILF CCCH, Chairman Shiek says that he will file a Violation Complaint with the relatively new Civilian Component of IMT-6, or International Monitoring Team, Deployment #6. The Cotabato City-based IMT (though it is attempting to re-locate its headquarters to Zamboanga City) is a Malaysian-led multi-national entity mandated to act as a sort of referee when ceasefire-related disagreements crop up. The MILF is angry (what else is new) over what it says is a case of arbitrary arrest and incarceration of two men it claims are merely "farmers." At 6AM on May 18th, 2011 in Sitio Balang Kayan in the municipality of Lebak's Barangay Dumpilas, in Sultan Kudarat Province, Muslimin Mambulao and Paks Guiama were taken into custody by MBLT-7, or Marine Battalion Landing Team #7. That happens to be the perimeter of the main camp of the BIAF's 104 Base Command. The two "farmers" were brought to a Marine garrison in the municipality of Kalamansig, in that same province. As it turns out both men were released on May 19th without ever having been charged so I'm at a loss as to what the MILF CCCH will file.
The NDFP/CPP/NPA (National Democratic Front of the Philippines/Communist Party of the Philippines/New Peoples Army) aren't the only Insurgency Organisation bent out of shape over GPH inaction over detainees. The MILF has its own wish list of 25 MILF/BIAF detainees it wants released. Topping that list is Abraham Yap Alonto of Saragani Province who uses the alias Eduard Guerra. An engineer by degree Alonto served as one of the organisation's conduits for foreign money. He was nabbed by PNP CIDG-10 (Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for Region 10) on September 22nd, 2010 while sitting in a plane on the tarmac at Davao International Airport with one of his wives, waiting to fly to Manila where he was to catch a flight to Geneva, Switzerland. He had been scheduled to address the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Commission) on September 27th. Instead he has been kept in the basement at IS-AFP (AFP Intelligence Service) at Fort Bonifacio charged with so called MILF-SOG, or MILF Special Operation Group bombings. On April 23, 2011 MILF Peace Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal and the MILF Chairman of the Peace Panel Secretariat, Jun Mantawil, met with the families of most of those 25 detainees at CCCH Joint Headquarters, in Cotabato City. Once again Iqbal vowed to get all the detainees released.
On May 25th, 2011 the MILF's BDA held its 6th Annual Implementation Support Mission wrap up meeting at Cotabato City's Etosan Hotel. Ironically, the Etosan is known for its casino but I guess convenience trumps religious convictions (gambling is verboten for Muslims). The BDA's Vice Chairman Dr.Rizaldy L.Piang met with a World Bank delegation led by Matthew Stephens, a European Union delegation, and a host of local NGOs, most MILF/BIAF affiliated which is how the MILF obtains a large chunk of its arms budget. Foreign do-gooders channel money to Islamo-fascist organisations like the MILF, who then use these funds to terrorise most of the island, quite the scam but the MILF didn't invent it. No, that credit goes to the MNLF and its various developmental conduits. Not that former President Arroyo doesn't have a lot to be ashamed about but at least she neutralised the MNLF in THAT area (with the aforementioned BDAF). My favourite MNLF cash cow? It is difficult to choose with there having been so many but the White Orchid Textbook Contract at close to 100 Million Pesos that simply evaporated into thin air is good for starters. Insurgent Organisations should NEVER be given carte blanche with developmental funds.
The to do at the Etosan Hotel was to tie up all the loose ends from PPA3, or, Programme Partnership Agreement #3. The particular agreement had the World Bank and EU (European Union) funding the Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Programme, with disbursements to two Trust Fund Recipients, or TFRs:
1) CFSI, or Community and Family Services International
2) Mindanao Land Foundation Incorporated
The two organisations work to re-settle and monitor IDPs, or Internally Displaced Persons (Refugees).
Also worth mentioning, kind of, as I mentioned in my "GPH-MILF Peace Process, First Quarter of 2011" entry, the AHJAG, or Ad Hoc Joint Action Group was re-constituted during the 20th Round of Exploratory Talks, February 9th and 10th, 2011. On April 19th, 2011 it held its first meeting since gaining its current mandate, at Davao City's Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases [sic]. The AHJAG is a bilateral organisation composed of members of both the MILF and the GPH, four members from each, that aims to avoid the circumstances that launched the 2003 Buliok Complex War. After the 2000 War MILF founder and Chairman Hashim Salamat installed his headquarters in a camp located in Barangay Buliok, in the town of Pikit, in North Cotabato Province. With roughly 1,000 guerillas from two Brigades (Base Commands would only truly take form after this war), located within the no man's land of Liguasan Marsh, the MILF/BIAF felt secure after almost being torn apart in the 2000 War. Then, in an anti-KFR Operation aimed at the infamous Pentagon Group, also located inside Ligusan Marsh, AFP gunships "mistakenly" fired on BIAF guerillas, or so the story goes. In the end more than 300 BIAF dead littered Buliok.
40 people attended this first meeting in Davao City, including GPH Peace Panel Chairman Mario Victor "Marvic" Leonen who gave the keynote speech. This is why side table entities like AHJAG end up as just another useless waste of everybody's time. Are there not enough KFR victims within the MILF/BIAF AOR? Why then should they take the first AHJAG meeting to have taken place in a year and a half and waste it with more nonsense from a Panel Chairman who has nothing to do with this particular issue? They were given a 12 month mandate, but it was effective March 1st, 2011. That means that when that 40 person circle jer* took place on April 19th, they had already wasted 1.5 months! I guess I shouldn't be suprised, it isn't as if AHJAG has ever really accomplished anything to begin with. Both GPH and the MILF have been patting themselves on the back over the release of Angelina "Angie" Soken Chew Mantigue when all the MILF really did was deliver her ransom, and I have no doubt they took a healthy "commission" for their "good deed."
Seriously, AHJAG has offices in 5 locales:
1) Maguindanao Province
2) Lanao and Misamis, covering del Sur and del Norte in the former and Oriental and Occidental in the latter
3) Zamboanga Peninsula and ARMM Islands, covering all 3 provinces in the former, and Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi in the latter
4) South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Saragani Provinces
5) Davao Region, covering all 4 provinces there, the 3 Davaos and ComVal (Compostela Valley)
There are also 3 Secretariat Offices:
1) Davao City
2) Zamboanga City
3) Cotabato City
The third one is co-housed at AHJAG Headquarters but all the others? Bloated isn't the word. It is a self-serving bureaucracy.
On April 27th, 2011 the MILF Central Committee appointed a 3 member delegation:
1) Nasrullah Mohammad, Chairman
2) Abdullah B. Adam, holding a Masters in Islamic Studies
3) Zainal D. Kulidtod, Guest Lecturer at Mindanao State University in Marawi City for the last 15 years
to liason with the two European Union members of the IMT. Giving senior status by the EU is Cynthia Petreigh, a Frenchwoman who spent her formative years in Lebanon and working with her is Susan Robertson, a British Subject. The two person EU contingent is attached to the IMT's Humanitarian Rehabilitation and Development facet, a new module introduced in IMT-6.
Finally, on April 1st, 2011 the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a Note Verbale to the GPH Peace Panel via the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta expressing its willingness that the GPH finally process its entry into the IMT. This comes after the Arroyo Government had tendered the invitation in December of 2009. Now, just after President Aquino's state visit to Jakarta the Indonesians decided its time. It is couching the message as a reciprocal gesture for AFP participation in a Peacekeeping Mission to Aceh, an area of Indonesia wracked by Islamo-fascist insurgency. Neither nation can solve its own problems so they look to muck it up with foreign intervention, brilliant.
1) Cotabato City, Central Mindanao
2) General Santos City (GenSan), Southern Mindanao
3) Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan Island
4) Marawi City, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte
5) Davao City, Davao Region
On May 2nd, 2011 the MILF Central Committee announced plans to expand the BDA AOR (Area of Responsibility, as in Area of Operation) into Sulu and Tawi Tawi Provinces. Both provinces have virtually no MILF/BIAF (the latter being the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the military wing of the MILF). There is a BIAF Base Command, the 117th, but it operates only in parts of two municipalities in Tawi Tawi and is centered upon its Sanga Sanga Island. Despite its rhetoric the MILF/BIAF has never come close to eclipsing the nearly universal support enjoyed by the MNLF before it bowed to then dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1976.
The Central Committee is also making noises about the BDA moving into Palawan as well. Unlike Sulu and Tawi Tawi Palawan is not a part of Mindanao, administratively or otherwise. The MNLF first claimed the island as part of its theoretical MinSuLuPa, an independent Muslim nation it foresaw being created out of all area with a historical connection to Islam. While Palawan was CLAIMED by the Sultanate of Brunei who then gifted it to the Sultanate of Sulu in 1658 for sending nearly 500 warriors that enabled the Sultan of Brunei to maintain his throne, the Muslim connection is tenuous at best. There is an ethnicity known as the Palawani, composed of Islamic converts from various coastal tribes on Palawan, but they are an indistinct group along the lines of the so-called "Balik Islam," or the "Islamic Reverts." According to Islam every human is born a Muslim, it is humankind's natural state. Ergo, when one finally acknowledges themselves as a Muslim they are merely REverting, not CONverting. More than this however, the Balik Islam are Filipinos of other religions who accept Islam with the perception that ALL Filipinos either were, or would have been Muslims if not for Spanish intervention. This warped view holds that Rajah Solaiman, the ruler of Manila when the Spanish arrived there, was a Muslim. Indeed he was BUT he was from Brunei, NOT Manila. He ruled Manila as a conqueror, just like the Spanish.
The BDA shouldn't be confused with the BDAF, or Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund, which was created via Executive Order #872 in March of 2010 by then President Arroyo. The BDAF is a GPH, or Government of the Philippines entity that is meant as a catalyst for social and economic development vis a vis the parallel GPH-MNLF Peace Process. It was one of several steps taken by the Government to bring that Process' 1996 Jakarta Agreement, the FPA, or Final Peace Agreement meant to finally end THAT insurgency, to an end. Two different agencies with the same exact mandate, is it any wonder why this island is wracked with war?
On May 9th, 2011 the Chairman of the MILF CCCH, or MILF Co-ordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, Said Shiek issued a little noticed directive stating that his GPH counterpart shouldn't even bother trying to liason with him over security for any developmental issues that aren't first vetted through the BDA. The CCCH is a bilateral entity composed of two components, one GPH, the other MILF. Among other things, if a foreign delegation wishes to survey a particular area for a farm to market road project, or say an outpatient health clinic, they would apply to the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines, who would delegate the responsibility to the GPH CCCH, which is composed of AFP personnel. In turn the GPH CCCH would liason with their MILF counterpart so as to avoid an attack or KFR (Kidnap for Ransom). Now the MILF wants a bite out of any project in its AOR, pay to play, like the true gangsters the MILF truly are.
Speaking of the MILF CCCH, Chairman Shiek says that he will file a Violation Complaint with the relatively new Civilian Component of IMT-6, or International Monitoring Team, Deployment #6. The Cotabato City-based IMT (though it is attempting to re-locate its headquarters to Zamboanga City) is a Malaysian-led multi-national entity mandated to act as a sort of referee when ceasefire-related disagreements crop up. The MILF is angry (what else is new) over what it says is a case of arbitrary arrest and incarceration of two men it claims are merely "farmers." At 6AM on May 18th, 2011 in Sitio Balang Kayan in the municipality of Lebak's Barangay Dumpilas, in Sultan Kudarat Province, Muslimin Mambulao and Paks Guiama were taken into custody by MBLT-7, or Marine Battalion Landing Team #7. That happens to be the perimeter of the main camp of the BIAF's 104 Base Command. The two "farmers" were brought to a Marine garrison in the municipality of Kalamansig, in that same province. As it turns out both men were released on May 19th without ever having been charged so I'm at a loss as to what the MILF CCCH will file.
The NDFP/CPP/NPA (National Democratic Front of the Philippines/Communist Party of the Philippines/New Peoples Army) aren't the only Insurgency Organisation bent out of shape over GPH inaction over detainees. The MILF has its own wish list of 25 MILF/BIAF detainees it wants released. Topping that list is Abraham Yap Alonto of Saragani Province who uses the alias Eduard Guerra. An engineer by degree Alonto served as one of the organisation's conduits for foreign money. He was nabbed by PNP CIDG-10 (Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for Region 10) on September 22nd, 2010 while sitting in a plane on the tarmac at Davao International Airport with one of his wives, waiting to fly to Manila where he was to catch a flight to Geneva, Switzerland. He had been scheduled to address the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Commission) on September 27th. Instead he has been kept in the basement at IS-AFP (AFP Intelligence Service) at Fort Bonifacio charged with so called MILF-SOG, or MILF Special Operation Group bombings. On April 23, 2011 MILF Peace Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal and the MILF Chairman of the Peace Panel Secretariat, Jun Mantawil, met with the families of most of those 25 detainees at CCCH Joint Headquarters, in Cotabato City. Once again Iqbal vowed to get all the detainees released.
On May 25th, 2011 the MILF's BDA held its 6th Annual Implementation Support Mission wrap up meeting at Cotabato City's Etosan Hotel. Ironically, the Etosan is known for its casino but I guess convenience trumps religious convictions (gambling is verboten for Muslims). The BDA's Vice Chairman Dr.Rizaldy L.Piang met with a World Bank delegation led by Matthew Stephens, a European Union delegation, and a host of local NGOs, most MILF/BIAF affiliated which is how the MILF obtains a large chunk of its arms budget. Foreign do-gooders channel money to Islamo-fascist organisations like the MILF, who then use these funds to terrorise most of the island, quite the scam but the MILF didn't invent it. No, that credit goes to the MNLF and its various developmental conduits. Not that former President Arroyo doesn't have a lot to be ashamed about but at least she neutralised the MNLF in THAT area (with the aforementioned BDAF). My favourite MNLF cash cow? It is difficult to choose with there having been so many but the White Orchid Textbook Contract at close to 100 Million Pesos that simply evaporated into thin air is good for starters. Insurgent Organisations should NEVER be given carte blanche with developmental funds.
The to do at the Etosan Hotel was to tie up all the loose ends from PPA3, or, Programme Partnership Agreement #3. The particular agreement had the World Bank and EU (European Union) funding the Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Programme, with disbursements to two Trust Fund Recipients, or TFRs:
1) CFSI, or Community and Family Services International
2) Mindanao Land Foundation Incorporated
The two organisations work to re-settle and monitor IDPs, or Internally Displaced Persons (Refugees).
Also worth mentioning, kind of, as I mentioned in my "GPH-MILF Peace Process, First Quarter of 2011" entry, the AHJAG, or Ad Hoc Joint Action Group was re-constituted during the 20th Round of Exploratory Talks, February 9th and 10th, 2011. On April 19th, 2011 it held its first meeting since gaining its current mandate, at Davao City's Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases [sic]. The AHJAG is a bilateral organisation composed of members of both the MILF and the GPH, four members from each, that aims to avoid the circumstances that launched the 2003 Buliok Complex War. After the 2000 War MILF founder and Chairman Hashim Salamat installed his headquarters in a camp located in Barangay Buliok, in the town of Pikit, in North Cotabato Province. With roughly 1,000 guerillas from two Brigades (Base Commands would only truly take form after this war), located within the no man's land of Liguasan Marsh, the MILF/BIAF felt secure after almost being torn apart in the 2000 War. Then, in an anti-KFR Operation aimed at the infamous Pentagon Group, also located inside Ligusan Marsh, AFP gunships "mistakenly" fired on BIAF guerillas, or so the story goes. In the end more than 300 BIAF dead littered Buliok.
40 people attended this first meeting in Davao City, including GPH Peace Panel Chairman Mario Victor "Marvic" Leonen who gave the keynote speech. This is why side table entities like AHJAG end up as just another useless waste of everybody's time. Are there not enough KFR victims within the MILF/BIAF AOR? Why then should they take the first AHJAG meeting to have taken place in a year and a half and waste it with more nonsense from a Panel Chairman who has nothing to do with this particular issue? They were given a 12 month mandate, but it was effective March 1st, 2011. That means that when that 40 person circle jer* took place on April 19th, they had already wasted 1.5 months! I guess I shouldn't be suprised, it isn't as if AHJAG has ever really accomplished anything to begin with. Both GPH and the MILF have been patting themselves on the back over the release of Angelina "Angie" Soken Chew Mantigue when all the MILF really did was deliver her ransom, and I have no doubt they took a healthy "commission" for their "good deed."
Seriously, AHJAG has offices in 5 locales:
1) Maguindanao Province
2) Lanao and Misamis, covering del Sur and del Norte in the former and Oriental and Occidental in the latter
3) Zamboanga Peninsula and ARMM Islands, covering all 3 provinces in the former, and Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi in the latter
4) South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Saragani Provinces
5) Davao Region, covering all 4 provinces there, the 3 Davaos and ComVal (Compostela Valley)
There are also 3 Secretariat Offices:
1) Davao City
2) Zamboanga City
3) Cotabato City
The third one is co-housed at AHJAG Headquarters but all the others? Bloated isn't the word. It is a self-serving bureaucracy.
On April 27th, 2011 the MILF Central Committee appointed a 3 member delegation:
1) Nasrullah Mohammad, Chairman
2) Abdullah B. Adam, holding a Masters in Islamic Studies
3) Zainal D. Kulidtod, Guest Lecturer at Mindanao State University in Marawi City for the last 15 years
to liason with the two European Union members of the IMT. Giving senior status by the EU is Cynthia Petreigh, a Frenchwoman who spent her formative years in Lebanon and working with her is Susan Robertson, a British Subject. The two person EU contingent is attached to the IMT's Humanitarian Rehabilitation and Development facet, a new module introduced in IMT-6.
Finally, on April 1st, 2011 the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a Note Verbale to the GPH Peace Panel via the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta expressing its willingness that the GPH finally process its entry into the IMT. This comes after the Arroyo Government had tendered the invitation in December of 2009. Now, just after President Aquino's state visit to Jakarta the Indonesians decided its time. It is couching the message as a reciprocal gesture for AFP participation in a Peacekeeping Mission to Aceh, an area of Indonesia wracked by Islamo-fascist insurgency. Neither nation can solve its own problems so they look to muck it up with foreign intervention, brilliant.
Monday, May 2, 2011
GPH-MILF Peace Process,First Quarter of 2011,Part II:21st Round of Exploratory Talks
The 21st Round of the Exploratory Talks were held in the Imperial Sheraton Hotel,Kuala Lampur,Malaysia on April 27 and April 28,2011.Having originally been schedualed for the 29th and 30th of March but delayed per MILF request.The talks opened at 930AM with a Closed Door Executive Session with only the Chairmen of both Panels and 1 Panel Member each.The MILF Chairman Mohagher Iqbal was accompanied by Datu Michael O.Mastura.GPH Chairman Mario Victor"Marvic"Leonen was with Panel Member Prof.Miriam Coronel Ferrer.Joining them in the hotel's Penang Room was embattled Facilitator Datuk Othman bin 'Abd Razak who was accompanied by his replacement (yep,they finally mamaged to get the spy out of the process),Tengku Dato' Abd' Ghafar bin Tengku Mohammad.Ghafar,as he is known in shorthand,actually predates Razak's own involvement in the Talks.Back in the Winter of 2001 as new President Gloria M.Arroyo was desperately seeking Malaysian intervention to re-ignite the failed GHP-MILF Peace Process Ghafar had been delegated by his government to liason with MILF founder Chairman Hashim Salamat.In fact,Ghafar made more than 1 trip to Buliok Complex,Salamat's new headquarters after the fall of Camp Abubakar in the 2000 War.
Razak informally introduced his replacement and after a few brief exchanges on the schedule of the two day long Talks they all left the room at 1109AM.At 1112AM the Full Panels convened along with the ICG (International Contact Group).ICG is composed of foreign governmental representatives and NGO delegates who participate in the Peace Process as Observers.In Closed Door Session (Session I) the Formal Introduction of Ghafar took place and the 1st Session adjourned for Lunch at 1159AM.Razak left the hotel at 1230PM and so ends his 9 years as Facilitator.
At 2PM Session II began with both Panels' Chairmen offering their Opening Remarks,no suprises there.Both read for 3 pages of notes though as always Iqbal took longer.
The 2nd Day's proceedings,Session III began at 930AM with an"Update"on the 25 MILF/BIAF members incarcerated by the Philippine Government.The list is considerably longer but the MILF has had to pick and choose after realising there was no way that all its members were going to be released for jail.The highest ranking member among the 25 is Central Committee member Eduard"Abraham Yap Alonto"Guerra.
At 10AM the AFP's (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Advisor to the GPH Peace Panel,Brigadier General Restituto Aguilar and his compatriot Major General Carlos Sol,GPH Chairperson of the CCCH (Committee on Cessation of Hostilities) Secretariat were ushered into the Session to offer their opinions on Kumander Kato.Ustadz Ameril Ombra Kato is the former Commanding Officer of the BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces,MILF's military arm) 105 Base Command.After single handedly igniting the 2008 War with his invasion of the Ilonggo Triangle in North Cotabato Province,Kato and the MILF Central Committee turned on each other.In early 2010 Kato was relieved of his Command and transferred to the MILF Shari'a Court (Islamic Court) as a Legal Aide.Naturally this angered Kato and so he threw down the gauntlet.In March of 2010 he founded an entirely new,much more radical insurgency group,"BIFF."BIFF,or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters,have remained low key thus far but are very well armed and are roughly 600 strong.600 is more than any single BIAF Base Command.
GPH Panel Chairman Marvic Leonen pushed aggressively for a quantification of the issue from his MILF counterpart but all Iqbal would do is offer that while they are doing their best to rein Kato in they still consider him part of the apparattus and therefore consider it an entirely internal matter.In the words of Iqbal;"Don't worry about Kato,leave him to us."Yes Iqbal,because until now you have done a great job at controlling Kato,or anyone in the BIAF really.Session III ended at 1039AM with a coffee break.Resuming at 1100AM the Talks focused on AHJAG,the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group.AHJAG was created very early on in the Peace Process,in May of 2002,though not implemented until December,2004.Its sole purpose is to provide a platform for interaction and co-operating on the criminality within the MILF/BIAF AOR (Area of Responsibility,i.e."Area in which the MILF has a determined presence").Specifically it aims to curtail the rampant KFR (Kidnap for Ransom) that innundates most any Base Command AOR.To realise the importance of this little discussed entity,consider that the 2003 Buliok Complex War took place because an AFP anti-KFR operation came a tad bit too close to a BIAF Base Command.Had the MILF/BIAF and AFP been interacting as they were supposed to have been doing (the AHJAG Agreement was already 14 months old at that point but had never been implemented) the conflict almost certainly would have never taken place.
AHJAG's re-activation had been settled during the previous Round,Round 20 which took place on the 9th and 10th of February,and which gave AHJAG a brand new 12 month mandate to have begun on March 1,2011.At the MILF's request this was delayed until April 1.On April 19,2011 the entity had its first conclave under this new mandate.Held at the Ritz Hotel's Garden Oases [sic] in Davao City.AHJAG's HQ element,or"Core,"has 8 members.4 from the Government and 4 from the MILF/BIAF with 1 from each side serving as Co-Chairman.
Next on the agenda of course was the infamous 2 hour lunch,from 12PM to 2PM.With only 48 precious hours to try and save the lives of many thousands of their terrorised countrymen and women the noble Panelists stuffed their faces on the Malaysian tab.Returning at 2PM for the 4th and final Session,Closed Door,the group got into an Update on the status of IMT-5.The IMT,or International Monitoring Team is composed of members from Malaysia,which leads it,along with Brunei,Libya,Japan,and this year the EU and Norway.The last 2 will be serving on their first IMT Mission.I will delve into all the ins and outs of both the IMT AND AHJAG in entries all their own.
The Panel then devoted the better part of 4 hours clarifying and re-iterating the text of the Revised Comprehensive Compact Draft.Even the spelling was dissected.Close to 4PM Datu Michael O.Mastura blew his cool,which he does nearly every Round.Screaming,he accused the GPH Peace Panel of"nitpicking."Surely an attorney would understand just how vulnerable documents are to misinterpretation.Surely an ex-Constitutional Delegate would acknowledge the gravity of such proceedings.Surely an ex-Congressman would know fully well that every"t"needs to be crossed and every"I"needs to have its dot.Talk about immaturity,petulance and just plain gauche,that my friends is Datu Mike.
The meeting took a"time out"to let Mastura's blood pressure drop and resumed proceedings after almost 15 minutes.From that point on it was relatively smooth sailing.Finishing the"nitpicking"everyone leaving the Penang Room at 645PM that evening was in a jubilant mood.The GPH Panel has agreed to relegate Kumander Kato and BIFF to an internal MILF matter.AHJAG and IMT went as expected and merely were Progress Reviews.The GPH has also agreed to turnover its own Revised Comprehensive Compact Draft having registered the MILF's current vision on the those vital issues.The 2 sides have tenatively scheduled the 22nd Round for April 28 and 29th,again in Kuala Lampur.
Razak informally introduced his replacement and after a few brief exchanges on the schedule of the two day long Talks they all left the room at 1109AM.At 1112AM the Full Panels convened along with the ICG (International Contact Group).ICG is composed of foreign governmental representatives and NGO delegates who participate in the Peace Process as Observers.In Closed Door Session (Session I) the Formal Introduction of Ghafar took place and the 1st Session adjourned for Lunch at 1159AM.Razak left the hotel at 1230PM and so ends his 9 years as Facilitator.
At 2PM Session II began with both Panels' Chairmen offering their Opening Remarks,no suprises there.Both read for 3 pages of notes though as always Iqbal took longer.
The 2nd Day's proceedings,Session III began at 930AM with an"Update"on the 25 MILF/BIAF members incarcerated by the Philippine Government.The list is considerably longer but the MILF has had to pick and choose after realising there was no way that all its members were going to be released for jail.The highest ranking member among the 25 is Central Committee member Eduard"Abraham Yap Alonto"Guerra.
At 10AM the AFP's (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Advisor to the GPH Peace Panel,Brigadier General Restituto Aguilar and his compatriot Major General Carlos Sol,GPH Chairperson of the CCCH (Committee on Cessation of Hostilities) Secretariat were ushered into the Session to offer their opinions on Kumander Kato.Ustadz Ameril Ombra Kato is the former Commanding Officer of the BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces,MILF's military arm) 105 Base Command.After single handedly igniting the 2008 War with his invasion of the Ilonggo Triangle in North Cotabato Province,Kato and the MILF Central Committee turned on each other.In early 2010 Kato was relieved of his Command and transferred to the MILF Shari'a Court (Islamic Court) as a Legal Aide.Naturally this angered Kato and so he threw down the gauntlet.In March of 2010 he founded an entirely new,much more radical insurgency group,"BIFF."BIFF,or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters,have remained low key thus far but are very well armed and are roughly 600 strong.600 is more than any single BIAF Base Command.
GPH Panel Chairman Marvic Leonen pushed aggressively for a quantification of the issue from his MILF counterpart but all Iqbal would do is offer that while they are doing their best to rein Kato in they still consider him part of the apparattus and therefore consider it an entirely internal matter.In the words of Iqbal;"Don't worry about Kato,leave him to us."Yes Iqbal,because until now you have done a great job at controlling Kato,or anyone in the BIAF really.Session III ended at 1039AM with a coffee break.Resuming at 1100AM the Talks focused on AHJAG,the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group.AHJAG was created very early on in the Peace Process,in May of 2002,though not implemented until December,2004.Its sole purpose is to provide a platform for interaction and co-operating on the criminality within the MILF/BIAF AOR (Area of Responsibility,i.e."Area in which the MILF has a determined presence").Specifically it aims to curtail the rampant KFR (Kidnap for Ransom) that innundates most any Base Command AOR.To realise the importance of this little discussed entity,consider that the 2003 Buliok Complex War took place because an AFP anti-KFR operation came a tad bit too close to a BIAF Base Command.Had the MILF/BIAF and AFP been interacting as they were supposed to have been doing (the AHJAG Agreement was already 14 months old at that point but had never been implemented) the conflict almost certainly would have never taken place.
AHJAG's re-activation had been settled during the previous Round,Round 20 which took place on the 9th and 10th of February,and which gave AHJAG a brand new 12 month mandate to have begun on March 1,2011.At the MILF's request this was delayed until April 1.On April 19,2011 the entity had its first conclave under this new mandate.Held at the Ritz Hotel's Garden Oases [sic] in Davao City.AHJAG's HQ element,or"Core,"has 8 members.4 from the Government and 4 from the MILF/BIAF with 1 from each side serving as Co-Chairman.
Next on the agenda of course was the infamous 2 hour lunch,from 12PM to 2PM.With only 48 precious hours to try and save the lives of many thousands of their terrorised countrymen and women the noble Panelists stuffed their faces on the Malaysian tab.Returning at 2PM for the 4th and final Session,Closed Door,the group got into an Update on the status of IMT-5.The IMT,or International Monitoring Team is composed of members from Malaysia,which leads it,along with Brunei,Libya,Japan,and this year the EU and Norway.The last 2 will be serving on their first IMT Mission.I will delve into all the ins and outs of both the IMT AND AHJAG in entries all their own.
The Panel then devoted the better part of 4 hours clarifying and re-iterating the text of the Revised Comprehensive Compact Draft.Even the spelling was dissected.Close to 4PM Datu Michael O.Mastura blew his cool,which he does nearly every Round.Screaming,he accused the GPH Peace Panel of"nitpicking."Surely an attorney would understand just how vulnerable documents are to misinterpretation.Surely an ex-Constitutional Delegate would acknowledge the gravity of such proceedings.Surely an ex-Congressman would know fully well that every"t"needs to be crossed and every"I"needs to have its dot.Talk about immaturity,petulance and just plain gauche,that my friends is Datu Mike.
The meeting took a"time out"to let Mastura's blood pressure drop and resumed proceedings after almost 15 minutes.From that point on it was relatively smooth sailing.Finishing the"nitpicking"everyone leaving the Penang Room at 645PM that evening was in a jubilant mood.The GPH Panel has agreed to relegate Kumander Kato and BIFF to an internal MILF matter.AHJAG and IMT went as expected and merely were Progress Reviews.The GPH has also agreed to turnover its own Revised Comprehensive Compact Draft having registered the MILF's current vision on the those vital issues.The 2 sides have tenatively scheduled the 22nd Round for April 28 and 29th,again in Kuala Lampur.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
GPH-MILF Peace Process,Second Quarter of 2011: MILF's Davao Consultations
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Tuesday, December 14, 2010
GPH-MILF Peace Process,Last Quarter of 2011:The MILF, Treading Water as Always
In the Honeymoon Phase both (then) newly elected-President Aquino and the MILF could not help but trip over themselves as they gushed sweet nothings,promising a full scale resumption of the GHP-MILF Peace Process.Of course both sides saw no reason to jump back onto that bicycle built for two just then and instead vowed to get down to the task at hand immediately after Ramadan,a month long Muslim"holiday."Well Ramadan has come and gone.After that breather both sides yawned,stretched and finally noticed that it was rather close to the Haj,the time of year when most Muslims who are able,make a pilgrimage to the al Hajaz region of Saudi Arabia.Then,afterwards,came Islamic New Year...besides,the Philippine Xmas Season officially begins on December 16...so let's just hold the darn thing in early 2011.
Of course before both sides can begin to talk to each other,they need people to do the"talking."While the Philipine Government began empanelling its representatives in early July,just about 2 weeks after President Aquino was inagurated.On the flip side,the MILF did what it does best,it put a finger in each ear and tried to find an extra hand so that they could point a finger at someone else (really doesn't matter WHO,anyone will do in a pinch). Finally,as the nation waited with baited breath (hey,it COULD happen) the MILF finally deigned to reveal the names on their re-constituted Peace Panel:
Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman.
Datu Michael O.Mastura
Maulana"Bobby"Alonto
Datu Antonio Kinoc
Abdullah Camilan
Professor Abhoud Sweed (Syed) Linga.
No suprises there, indeed not even any new names since 2 of the 3 new people (Kinoc and Camilan) were long involved on the Technical end of the Process.The 3rd,Lingga,is a flunky who is moderately well known to observers for his involvement in very minor MILF entities.I will go into great depth when I devote an entire post to the MILF Panel.
The next day,September 14, 2010,OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process) Secretary Teresita Q.Deles announced that President Aquino had approved the blueprint for the latest Round of the GHP-MILF Peace Process,without elaborating as to what said blueprint will consist of.The decision came after Aquino met with Malaysian Foreign Minister,Dato Sri Hanifa HJ Aman.Ms.Deles made her remarks during a short speech at the Turn Over Ceremony for MinDA (Mindanao Development Authority).She also announced that the 2 sides plan to hold an informal get together sometime before December so as to iron out any large wrinkles ahead of formal resumption.When asked why it might take additional time before said resumption,in light of both sides having repeatedly vowed to implement resumption just after the end of Ramadan,Deles dropped the ball and said that they are now awaiting word from Malaysia,which as Facilitator of the Peace Process has the responsibility to set the date.
Speaking of MinDA,longtime Chairman Jesus Dureza,who concurrently served as Deles' predecessor as the last Secretary of OPAPP under the Arroyo Administration,handed over control of MinDA to old hand Luwalhati Antonino.Ms.Antonino,a native of Upi,Maguindanao Province (though in her day it was still a part of N.Cotabato Province) made her mark as one of the infamous"Tres Marias" (3 Marias).As the Congresswoman representing South Cotabato Province from 1992 to 2001,Ms.Antonino was an active opponent of the MILF (as well as the MNLF,as well as most anything Muslim).As the so called"Final Agreement" (aka "Jakarta Accorf of 1996") between the Philippine Government and the MNLF began shaping up in 1995 she joined together with 2 other female politicians who vehemently opposed any kind of settlement with Filipino-Muslims at the expence of non-Muslim Filipinos,Daisy Fuentes and the legendary,late Maria Clara Lobregat.
Along with her 2 contemporaries,Ms.Fuentes and the late Ms.Lobregat (mother of Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City and at the time Mayor herself) Ms.Antonino did all that she could possibly do to mitigate the effects of Jakarta 96 (once the Agreement itself became inevitable). Though generally known as the "Tres Marias," the MILF (and most other Filipino-Muslims) referred to the trio as the,"Black Marias."It only took a few days for Secretary Antonino to run afoul of the MILF once again.The issue that caused the consternation? Ms.Antonino hand the gall to tell the media that the MILF's BADF (Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund) was a product of the GPH-MILF Peace Process.That statement caused Chairman of the then newly re-constituted MILF Peace Panel Secretariat,Jun Mantawil to angrily point out that while the MILF's BDA (Bangsamoro Development Agency) WAS such a development,the BDAF was NOT. The BDA was created out of the (GPH-MILF) Tripoli 2001 Agreement (June 22, 2001) with the mandate to "determine, lead, and manage" relief,rehabilitation and development projects within the targeted area.On the other hand,the BDAF was created by virtue of Executive Order #872, by former-President Arroyo (March 16, 2010) as an implementation mechanism for the afore mentioned economic reforms that were to have been realised by Jakarta 96.Ergo the BDAF is MNLF-centric where as the BDA is MILF-centric.
Septmber 27,2010 saw the MILF jump into the fray surrounding the proposed"Pulangi V"hydro-electric project in Bukidnon Province.The"El Nino"-related drought that effected Mindanao in the Summer of 2010 severely limited the island's hydro-electric output.With 55% of Mindanao deriving its electricity from hydro-electricty,droughts can be catastrophic.How much more so when that 55% of the island relies on 2 plants?The 2 plants,Agus in Lanao del Sur and Pulangi in Bukidnon are in dire straits.For the sake of brevity I will desist from going into great detail, sufficient to say that even in the best of times these 2 plants are struggling.
There is,without an iota of doubt,an extremely pressing need for viable,sustainable energy sources.However,the proposed"Pulangi V"project would utilise a dam on the Upper Cotabato Basin that would flood roughly 32,000 hectares of land that composed 80% of a single CAD (Certificate of Ancestral Domain,a claim by a tribe on its historical, ancestral lands).Among these flooded lands would be the holiest shrine of most Manobo Tribes,a site also holy to other tribes as well.I plan to do an entry on the Pulangi Project as well as its dire ramifications in an entry on"Development Aggression."
With a new president comes a new Peace Panel and THIS Panel's Chairperson,Mario Victor"Marvic"Leonen naturally wants to prove himself capable.How does Mr.Leonen try to do this?He has taken aim at long time Facilitating Nation,the nation of Malaysia,by denigrating its long time representative,Datuk Othman bin 'Abd Razak.On November 16, 2010 the Philippines formally requested that Datuk Razak ("Datuk" is the Malay equivalent of the Southern Philippine title "Datu"),be replaced claiming that Razak had long exhibited a bias against the Philippines.The MILF Central Committee then passed a Resolution in which,aside from lauding Razak,asked Malaysia not to acede to GRP's demands.
Said Resolution was then concurred by the Chairman of the MILF,al Haj Murad Ebrahim.Leonen continued his personal crusade on a Manila radio station during an interview on November 20 where he said that aside from Othman's extreme bias against the Philippine Government he also has been more than a bit keen on taking credit for past GHP-MILF Agreements which contravenes the modus operandi of an effective Facilitator.More over says Leonen,an objective Facilitator would resign post haste upon learning that 1 or both parties he was facilitating had lost all confidence in him.Razak's reluctance to do so is proof positive of his lack of objectivity.
As this minor soap opera unfolded another avoidable snafu was taking place.Since mid-September the MILF has been up in arms about the IMT Programme.IMTs, or International Monitoring Teams,are a product of the 2002 phase of the GPH-MILF Peace Process.Currently with 39 people from 4 nations (Malaysia,which administers the programme overall has 20; Brunei,15;Libya,3 and Japan has a single representative) the programme functions as a Ceasefire Security Mechanism, to minimise the number of armed engagements between the MILF's armed wing,the BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces) and the APF (Armed Forces of the Philippines).
Currently in its 5th deployment,the IMT's mandate is set to expire on February 28, 2011 despite the deployment having began on December 09, 2009 (though this disparity between"Mandate"and"Deployment"has led to controversy and confusion).Because Team deployments last only 12 months the nations involved had been set to withdraw their personnel on December 08, 2010.When the Philippine Government shrugged off its inertia and began to join the MILF in its request for an extension until at least February 28,the official termination date,the MILF suddenly lost interest and then took the opposite stance.The Philippine Government transmitted this request formally on Deceber 01 via a Note Verbale to the diplomatic missions of each of the 4 IMT nations.Finally the MILF"reluctantly agreed"to the same request,an extension until the official termination date via formal letters,from Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel,Mohagher Iqbal on December 03.
The MILF has been expressing concerns over the stated,and even more so,the unstated intentions of the UNWFP (UN World Food Programme) with regard to Ligusuan Marsh.On December 10,2010 the WFP (as it is known in shorthand) Deputy Director for the Philippines,Asaka Nyangara visited a WFP funded tree nursery in the town of Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao Province.The nursery which is equipped to raise 100,000 seedlings is primed to take part in a huge rehabilitation of Ligusuan Marsh.The wetlands span the provinces of North Cotabato,Maguindanao,Sultan Kudarat and Lanao del Sur Provinces and covers a total of 288,000 hectares.The MILF has been observing all the to do and rather quietly noting that the WFP whose primary mission is to provide food staples in extreme locations such as the conflict affected areas of Mindanao is now aiming to do a massive rehabilitation of an ecosystem.This ecosysten just happens to sit atop what some feel may be massive reserves of natural gas and oil.
On December 11,Secretary of the MILF's Central Committee Muhammad Ameen publicly asked why the WFP's envisioned rehab of the marsh was needed on such a grand scale?He also cautioned the UN to coordinate all activities within MILF AOR with the MILF itself.It was such lack of coordination that caused the 2003 GPH-MILF War (aka "Buliok Complex War") in and around that same marsh.
Since MILF founder Salamat Hashim died from natural causes in 2003 the organisation has been Chaired by al Haj Murad Ebrahim.Though Hashim was never one for the limelight he was a rock star compared to his successor,al Haj Murad. Ergo it is hard to discern fact from rumour with regard to reports that Murad is lying in a hospital bed in Malaysia's Sabah State.What is known for sure is that the reclusive leader had enjoyed an all expence paid junket to attend a conference sponsored by a Swiss NGO devoted to fair governance and independent judiciaries being held in Geneva,Switzerland from September 23 to September 28.Murad then travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Haj Pilgrimage (once again).It is believed, according to
IS-AFP (Military Intelligence), that he then travelled to Malaysia, on MILF business.While in Malaysia Murad is said to have made his way from Kuala Lampur to Sabah,which sits on the island of Borneo.It was in Sabah reports say that Murad suffered a massive stroke that as of December 03 has kept him confined to a hospital bed with half of his body paralysed.0f course the MILF is denying that its erstwhile leader is even ill but refuses to disclose his whereabouts,much less what has happened to him since al Haj (not Murad per se,but the Islamic Pilgrimage itself) ended roughly 2 months ago and Murad hasn't ben seen since. If the Intelligence Reports are accurate it would have catastrophic results for the GPH-MILF Peace Process.One should remember that founder Hashim Salamat died in the middle of July,2003 and his death was only publicly revealed by the MILF on August 06 of that year.In the 3 week interval between the 2 dates the MILF was promising that Salamat would be attending the upcoming round of Talks in Malaysia.
On October 04, 2010,an all female NGO based in Aleosan,North Cotabato Province joined the afore mentioned IMT via the entity's CPC (Civil Protection Component).Led by 2 ex-nuns and calling itself the"Female Peace Corps,"it describes itself as"totally committed" to helping maintain the current Ceasefire."The 2 "ex-nuns,"Analiza Ugay formerly a Carmelite sister,and Adel Nayal,a sister in the Oblates of Notre Dame,remain committed while understanding that they may not get very much time to help given the issues related to the expiration of the IMT mandate.The CPC was an innovation of the post-2008 War meetings and was handed a mandate that asked constituent organisations to"provide a functional system and effective mechanisms for monitoring,verifying and reporting" on implementation and maintenance of the Ceasefire and pursuant requisites."In other words,very little work relating to civilians and a whole lot of work with combatants.Oh well,at least it was a great idea,right?
With the rapid pace of modern life I for one,always take comfort in life's constants.One case in point is the constant hypocrisy of the MILF.Here is an organisation that seriously demotes lifelong members who have contravened Rule#1,"No Philippine politics."That in itself might actually be understandable,and in the case of longtime MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu having gotten suspended for 6 months over doing just that,even welcomed... but then we see the MILF constantly engaging politicians and even actively campaigning for politicians that THEY feel will further the MIlF agenda.Supporting candidates is only the converse of denigration of candidates (denigration is something that the MILF has mastered).If one disdains politicking then one disdains ALL politicking.
Towards this end, Secretary of the Central Committee,Muhammad Ameen and Vice Chairman for Political Affairs,Ghazali Jafaar signed off on a memorandum distributed to all BIAF unit commanders with regard to the (then) upcoming synchronised Barangay and SK (Provincial Board) Elections.Dated October 01,2010,the memo said in no uncertain terms that there was to be absolutely no interaction with the election OR its candidates.It went so far as to prohibit even letting a candidate use one's vehicle.The memo went on to describe the Philippine democratic process, and Liberal Democracy in general in less than glowing terms:"The so-called Democratic process of choosing leaders is not only divisive, acrimonious and creates anomosity and intrigues,but it also failed miserably to produce the best qualified people to run their affairs [sic],and the consequence is a corrupt and strife torn society."
The same day that the afore mentioned memorandum was distributed the MILF once again warned the AFP about uncoordinated movements within MILF AOR.This has been a hot issue since July,2007 when 14 AFP Marines were mowed down in an ambush by the MILF 114 Base Commamd on Basilan Island.At the time the AFP had been moving heavily and frequently as it searched high and low for the kidnapped Irish priest, Father Michael Sinott.The elderly Columban Missionary had been abducted from the Columban compound in Pagadian City,across the strait from Basilan Island.The killing of those 14 Marines gained even more notariety when it was discovered that 10 of the Marines were decapitated after being shot to death.Of course,in order to preserve the mostly non-existent Ceasefire the government played ball when the MILF insisted that although the MILF DID mow those Marines down,somehow Abu Sayyaf guerillas had crept into the Kill Zone before the smoke cleared and sawed off 10 heads.Furthermore,the accepted narrative went,it was the Marines' fault for moving within an MILF/BIAF bailiwick without prior notification and
co-ordination (actually THAT issue is valid since the AFP is signatory to an Agreement in which they vow to notify and co-ordinate its movements in such areas).
In the end Fr.Sinott had never even been brought to Basilan.He had been taken by 113 Base Command on the Lanao del Norte/Zamboanga Peninsula Border,but that is another sordid tale.
The MILF concerns this time revolved around AFP Riverine Exercises in and around the rivers and mangroves of Kabuntulan,Maguindanao Province.Trying out those new Australian Air Boats (that were brilliantly offloaded in Polloc, Maguindanao (the ARMM Port...in BROAD DAYLIGHT) ended up having caused a coventional patrol craft to capsize off shore spilling its 4 man AFP crew.Luckily all 4 were rescued but an M60 (machinegun) was among the valuable gear lost.The MILF is correct to note that Special Forces in maneuver could very easily ignite a malestrom IF their presence and intent were never telegraphed to the MILF).
The next day, October 02,2010 in Barangay Nupo,Upi,Maguindanao Province the MILF dispatched a small delegation to the"Second Timfada Lumad"(Second Lumad Conference) sponsored by the local NGO,"TJG"(Timuay Justice and Governance). "Lumad" is the Cebuano (Bisaya) word that generically describes all Mindanowan (Mindanaon) animist tribes except Negritos.It is the local equivalent of the generic Tagalog word,"Igarot,"that is used to desribe Animists (except Negritos) on Luzon.This"Congress"only focuses on the Teduray,Lambangian and Dulangan Manobo Tribes,the 3 Animist tribes of Maguindanao Province.Lumad and Muslims have sometimes had an uneasy co-existence but more often than not muted animosity has exploded into outright violence (despite the propaganda of Muslim-Filipinos and their apologists).Indeed,it was the Teduray Tribe,1 of the 3 sponsoring this event,who initiated the Ilaga-Muslim War of the late 1960s/early 1970s but that deserves an entry all its own).
Much has been made about the Muslim-Filipino disregard for Lumads and the right of Lumads to control their own land.The MILF has been belatedly trying to rectify this huge public relations nightmare,ergo an MILF delegation at a minor Lumad gathering at a municipal gym,albeit with as about a minor a personage as one could find in the MILF,but at least they came...The "minor personage"?The MILF delegation was led by a former member of the MILF Peace Panel's TWG (Technical Working Group),Amor B.Pendaliday.
Mr.Pendaliday read a lengthly speech that he said had been authored by Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel Mohagher Iqbal (maybe he held the pen in his mouth),in which the main focus was what Pendaliday/Iqbal called,"4 Point Policy,"which I will resist describing for the sake of brevity (though I might elaborate upon it in a future entry).
Of course before both sides can begin to talk to each other,they need people to do the"talking."While the Philipine Government began empanelling its representatives in early July,just about 2 weeks after President Aquino was inagurated.On the flip side,the MILF did what it does best,it put a finger in each ear and tried to find an extra hand so that they could point a finger at someone else (really doesn't matter WHO,anyone will do in a pinch). Finally,as the nation waited with baited breath (hey,it COULD happen) the MILF finally deigned to reveal the names on their re-constituted Peace Panel:
Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman.
Datu Michael O.Mastura
Maulana"Bobby"Alonto
Datu Antonio Kinoc
Abdullah Camilan
Professor Abhoud Sweed (Syed) Linga.
No suprises there, indeed not even any new names since 2 of the 3 new people (Kinoc and Camilan) were long involved on the Technical end of the Process.The 3rd,Lingga,is a flunky who is moderately well known to observers for his involvement in very minor MILF entities.I will go into great depth when I devote an entire post to the MILF Panel.
The next day,September 14, 2010,OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process) Secretary Teresita Q.Deles announced that President Aquino had approved the blueprint for the latest Round of the GHP-MILF Peace Process,without elaborating as to what said blueprint will consist of.The decision came after Aquino met with Malaysian Foreign Minister,Dato Sri Hanifa HJ Aman.Ms.Deles made her remarks during a short speech at the Turn Over Ceremony for MinDA (Mindanao Development Authority).She also announced that the 2 sides plan to hold an informal get together sometime before December so as to iron out any large wrinkles ahead of formal resumption.When asked why it might take additional time before said resumption,in light of both sides having repeatedly vowed to implement resumption just after the end of Ramadan,Deles dropped the ball and said that they are now awaiting word from Malaysia,which as Facilitator of the Peace Process has the responsibility to set the date.
Speaking of MinDA,longtime Chairman Jesus Dureza,who concurrently served as Deles' predecessor as the last Secretary of OPAPP under the Arroyo Administration,handed over control of MinDA to old hand Luwalhati Antonino.Ms.Antonino,a native of Upi,Maguindanao Province (though in her day it was still a part of N.Cotabato Province) made her mark as one of the infamous"Tres Marias" (3 Marias).As the Congresswoman representing South Cotabato Province from 1992 to 2001,Ms.Antonino was an active opponent of the MILF (as well as the MNLF,as well as most anything Muslim).As the so called"Final Agreement" (aka "Jakarta Accorf of 1996") between the Philippine Government and the MNLF began shaping up in 1995 she joined together with 2 other female politicians who vehemently opposed any kind of settlement with Filipino-Muslims at the expence of non-Muslim Filipinos,Daisy Fuentes and the legendary,late Maria Clara Lobregat.
Along with her 2 contemporaries,Ms.Fuentes and the late Ms.Lobregat (mother of Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City and at the time Mayor herself) Ms.Antonino did all that she could possibly do to mitigate the effects of Jakarta 96 (once the Agreement itself became inevitable). Though generally known as the "Tres Marias," the MILF (and most other Filipino-Muslims) referred to the trio as the,"Black Marias."It only took a few days for Secretary Antonino to run afoul of the MILF once again.The issue that caused the consternation? Ms.Antonino hand the gall to tell the media that the MILF's BADF (Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund) was a product of the GPH-MILF Peace Process.That statement caused Chairman of the then newly re-constituted MILF Peace Panel Secretariat,Jun Mantawil to angrily point out that while the MILF's BDA (Bangsamoro Development Agency) WAS such a development,the BDAF was NOT. The BDA was created out of the (GPH-MILF) Tripoli 2001 Agreement (June 22, 2001) with the mandate to "determine, lead, and manage" relief,rehabilitation and development projects within the targeted area.On the other hand,the BDAF was created by virtue of Executive Order #872, by former-President Arroyo (March 16, 2010) as an implementation mechanism for the afore mentioned economic reforms that were to have been realised by Jakarta 96.Ergo the BDAF is MNLF-centric where as the BDA is MILF-centric.
Septmber 27,2010 saw the MILF jump into the fray surrounding the proposed"Pulangi V"hydro-electric project in Bukidnon Province.The"El Nino"-related drought that effected Mindanao in the Summer of 2010 severely limited the island's hydro-electric output.With 55% of Mindanao deriving its electricity from hydro-electricty,droughts can be catastrophic.How much more so when that 55% of the island relies on 2 plants?The 2 plants,Agus in Lanao del Sur and Pulangi in Bukidnon are in dire straits.For the sake of brevity I will desist from going into great detail, sufficient to say that even in the best of times these 2 plants are struggling.
There is,without an iota of doubt,an extremely pressing need for viable,sustainable energy sources.However,the proposed"Pulangi V"project would utilise a dam on the Upper Cotabato Basin that would flood roughly 32,000 hectares of land that composed 80% of a single CAD (Certificate of Ancestral Domain,a claim by a tribe on its historical, ancestral lands).Among these flooded lands would be the holiest shrine of most Manobo Tribes,a site also holy to other tribes as well.I plan to do an entry on the Pulangi Project as well as its dire ramifications in an entry on"Development Aggression."
With a new president comes a new Peace Panel and THIS Panel's Chairperson,Mario Victor"Marvic"Leonen naturally wants to prove himself capable.How does Mr.Leonen try to do this?He has taken aim at long time Facilitating Nation,the nation of Malaysia,by denigrating its long time representative,Datuk Othman bin 'Abd Razak.On November 16, 2010 the Philippines formally requested that Datuk Razak ("Datuk" is the Malay equivalent of the Southern Philippine title "Datu"),be replaced claiming that Razak had long exhibited a bias against the Philippines.The MILF Central Committee then passed a Resolution in which,aside from lauding Razak,asked Malaysia not to acede to GRP's demands.
Said Resolution was then concurred by the Chairman of the MILF,al Haj Murad Ebrahim.Leonen continued his personal crusade on a Manila radio station during an interview on November 20 where he said that aside from Othman's extreme bias against the Philippine Government he also has been more than a bit keen on taking credit for past GHP-MILF Agreements which contravenes the modus operandi of an effective Facilitator.More over says Leonen,an objective Facilitator would resign post haste upon learning that 1 or both parties he was facilitating had lost all confidence in him.Razak's reluctance to do so is proof positive of his lack of objectivity.
As this minor soap opera unfolded another avoidable snafu was taking place.Since mid-September the MILF has been up in arms about the IMT Programme.IMTs, or International Monitoring Teams,are a product of the 2002 phase of the GPH-MILF Peace Process.Currently with 39 people from 4 nations (Malaysia,which administers the programme overall has 20; Brunei,15;Libya,3 and Japan has a single representative) the programme functions as a Ceasefire Security Mechanism, to minimise the number of armed engagements between the MILF's armed wing,the BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces) and the APF (Armed Forces of the Philippines).
Currently in its 5th deployment,the IMT's mandate is set to expire on February 28, 2011 despite the deployment having began on December 09, 2009 (though this disparity between"Mandate"and"Deployment"has led to controversy and confusion).Because Team deployments last only 12 months the nations involved had been set to withdraw their personnel on December 08, 2010.When the Philippine Government shrugged off its inertia and began to join the MILF in its request for an extension until at least February 28,the official termination date,the MILF suddenly lost interest and then took the opposite stance.The Philippine Government transmitted this request formally on Deceber 01 via a Note Verbale to the diplomatic missions of each of the 4 IMT nations.Finally the MILF"reluctantly agreed"to the same request,an extension until the official termination date via formal letters,from Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel,Mohagher Iqbal on December 03.
The MILF has been expressing concerns over the stated,and even more so,the unstated intentions of the UNWFP (UN World Food Programme) with regard to Ligusuan Marsh.On December 10,2010 the WFP (as it is known in shorthand) Deputy Director for the Philippines,Asaka Nyangara visited a WFP funded tree nursery in the town of Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao Province.The nursery which is equipped to raise 100,000 seedlings is primed to take part in a huge rehabilitation of Ligusuan Marsh.The wetlands span the provinces of North Cotabato,Maguindanao,Sultan Kudarat and Lanao del Sur Provinces and covers a total of 288,000 hectares.The MILF has been observing all the to do and rather quietly noting that the WFP whose primary mission is to provide food staples in extreme locations such as the conflict affected areas of Mindanao is now aiming to do a massive rehabilitation of an ecosystem.This ecosysten just happens to sit atop what some feel may be massive reserves of natural gas and oil.
On December 11,Secretary of the MILF's Central Committee Muhammad Ameen publicly asked why the WFP's envisioned rehab of the marsh was needed on such a grand scale?He also cautioned the UN to coordinate all activities within MILF AOR with the MILF itself.It was such lack of coordination that caused the 2003 GPH-MILF War (aka "Buliok Complex War") in and around that same marsh.
Since MILF founder Salamat Hashim died from natural causes in 2003 the organisation has been Chaired by al Haj Murad Ebrahim.Though Hashim was never one for the limelight he was a rock star compared to his successor,al Haj Murad. Ergo it is hard to discern fact from rumour with regard to reports that Murad is lying in a hospital bed in Malaysia's Sabah State.What is known for sure is that the reclusive leader had enjoyed an all expence paid junket to attend a conference sponsored by a Swiss NGO devoted to fair governance and independent judiciaries being held in Geneva,Switzerland from September 23 to September 28.Murad then travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Haj Pilgrimage (once again).It is believed, according to
IS-AFP (Military Intelligence), that he then travelled to Malaysia, on MILF business.While in Malaysia Murad is said to have made his way from Kuala Lampur to Sabah,which sits on the island of Borneo.It was in Sabah reports say that Murad suffered a massive stroke that as of December 03 has kept him confined to a hospital bed with half of his body paralysed.0f course the MILF is denying that its erstwhile leader is even ill but refuses to disclose his whereabouts,much less what has happened to him since al Haj (not Murad per se,but the Islamic Pilgrimage itself) ended roughly 2 months ago and Murad hasn't ben seen since. If the Intelligence Reports are accurate it would have catastrophic results for the GPH-MILF Peace Process.One should remember that founder Hashim Salamat died in the middle of July,2003 and his death was only publicly revealed by the MILF on August 06 of that year.In the 3 week interval between the 2 dates the MILF was promising that Salamat would be attending the upcoming round of Talks in Malaysia.
On October 04, 2010,an all female NGO based in Aleosan,North Cotabato Province joined the afore mentioned IMT via the entity's CPC (Civil Protection Component).Led by 2 ex-nuns and calling itself the"Female Peace Corps,"it describes itself as"totally committed" to helping maintain the current Ceasefire."The 2 "ex-nuns,"Analiza Ugay formerly a Carmelite sister,and Adel Nayal,a sister in the Oblates of Notre Dame,remain committed while understanding that they may not get very much time to help given the issues related to the expiration of the IMT mandate.The CPC was an innovation of the post-2008 War meetings and was handed a mandate that asked constituent organisations to"provide a functional system and effective mechanisms for monitoring,verifying and reporting" on implementation and maintenance of the Ceasefire and pursuant requisites."In other words,very little work relating to civilians and a whole lot of work with combatants.Oh well,at least it was a great idea,right?
With the rapid pace of modern life I for one,always take comfort in life's constants.One case in point is the constant hypocrisy of the MILF.Here is an organisation that seriously demotes lifelong members who have contravened Rule#1,"No Philippine politics."That in itself might actually be understandable,and in the case of longtime MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu having gotten suspended for 6 months over doing just that,even welcomed... but then we see the MILF constantly engaging politicians and even actively campaigning for politicians that THEY feel will further the MIlF agenda.Supporting candidates is only the converse of denigration of candidates (denigration is something that the MILF has mastered).If one disdains politicking then one disdains ALL politicking.
Towards this end, Secretary of the Central Committee,Muhammad Ameen and Vice Chairman for Political Affairs,Ghazali Jafaar signed off on a memorandum distributed to all BIAF unit commanders with regard to the (then) upcoming synchronised Barangay and SK (Provincial Board) Elections.Dated October 01,2010,the memo said in no uncertain terms that there was to be absolutely no interaction with the election OR its candidates.It went so far as to prohibit even letting a candidate use one's vehicle.The memo went on to describe the Philippine democratic process, and Liberal Democracy in general in less than glowing terms:"The so-called Democratic process of choosing leaders is not only divisive, acrimonious and creates anomosity and intrigues,but it also failed miserably to produce the best qualified people to run their affairs [sic],and the consequence is a corrupt and strife torn society."
The same day that the afore mentioned memorandum was distributed the MILF once again warned the AFP about uncoordinated movements within MILF AOR.This has been a hot issue since July,2007 when 14 AFP Marines were mowed down in an ambush by the MILF 114 Base Commamd on Basilan Island.At the time the AFP had been moving heavily and frequently as it searched high and low for the kidnapped Irish priest, Father Michael Sinott.The elderly Columban Missionary had been abducted from the Columban compound in Pagadian City,across the strait from Basilan Island.The killing of those 14 Marines gained even more notariety when it was discovered that 10 of the Marines were decapitated after being shot to death.Of course,in order to preserve the mostly non-existent Ceasefire the government played ball when the MILF insisted that although the MILF DID mow those Marines down,somehow Abu Sayyaf guerillas had crept into the Kill Zone before the smoke cleared and sawed off 10 heads.Furthermore,the accepted narrative went,it was the Marines' fault for moving within an MILF/BIAF bailiwick without prior notification and
co-ordination (actually THAT issue is valid since the AFP is signatory to an Agreement in which they vow to notify and co-ordinate its movements in such areas).
In the end Fr.Sinott had never even been brought to Basilan.He had been taken by 113 Base Command on the Lanao del Norte/Zamboanga Peninsula Border,but that is another sordid tale.
The MILF concerns this time revolved around AFP Riverine Exercises in and around the rivers and mangroves of Kabuntulan,Maguindanao Province.Trying out those new Australian Air Boats (that were brilliantly offloaded in Polloc, Maguindanao (the ARMM Port...in BROAD DAYLIGHT) ended up having caused a coventional patrol craft to capsize off shore spilling its 4 man AFP crew.Luckily all 4 were rescued but an M60 (machinegun) was among the valuable gear lost.The MILF is correct to note that Special Forces in maneuver could very easily ignite a malestrom IF their presence and intent were never telegraphed to the MILF).
The next day, October 02,2010 in Barangay Nupo,Upi,Maguindanao Province the MILF dispatched a small delegation to the"Second Timfada Lumad"(Second Lumad Conference) sponsored by the local NGO,"TJG"(Timuay Justice and Governance). "Lumad" is the Cebuano (Bisaya) word that generically describes all Mindanowan (Mindanaon) animist tribes except Negritos.It is the local equivalent of the generic Tagalog word,"Igarot,"that is used to desribe Animists (except Negritos) on Luzon.This"Congress"only focuses on the Teduray,Lambangian and Dulangan Manobo Tribes,the 3 Animist tribes of Maguindanao Province.Lumad and Muslims have sometimes had an uneasy co-existence but more often than not muted animosity has exploded into outright violence (despite the propaganda of Muslim-Filipinos and their apologists).Indeed,it was the Teduray Tribe,1 of the 3 sponsoring this event,who initiated the Ilaga-Muslim War of the late 1960s/early 1970s but that deserves an entry all its own).
Much has been made about the Muslim-Filipino disregard for Lumads and the right of Lumads to control their own land.The MILF has been belatedly trying to rectify this huge public relations nightmare,ergo an MILF delegation at a minor Lumad gathering at a municipal gym,albeit with as about a minor a personage as one could find in the MILF,but at least they came...The "minor personage"?The MILF delegation was led by a former member of the MILF Peace Panel's TWG (Technical Working Group),Amor B.Pendaliday.
Mr.Pendaliday read a lengthly speech that he said had been authored by Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel Mohagher Iqbal (maybe he held the pen in his mouth),in which the main focus was what Pendaliday/Iqbal called,"4 Point Policy,"which I will resist describing for the sake of brevity (though I might elaborate upon it in a future entry).
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