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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Mindanao Blackmail
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on July 28, 2008 For the Standard Today, July 29 issue On the belief that nothing happens in the politics of this country without someone or some organization manipulating events towards a pre-determined outcome, I would like to consider the following developments in Mindanao. Sometime last April, Malaysia announced that it was withdrawing its contingent from the international team that has been monitoring the "peace" between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao. There was no explanation given by Malaysia on why it was withdrawing from the monitoring team Just before this, the MILF announced that it was demanding that part of Palawan Island be included in the ancestral domain that it wants to be officially recognized by the GRP. My interpretation of this turn of event is that the Malaysians knew that the MILF would make some demands on the GRP that the GRP would not be able to meet. In negotiations such as this, when one side makes demands that it knows the other party cannot meet, it is a sign that that party (the MILF) wants to break off the talks, but wants to put the blame on the other party (the GRP) for the termination of the talks. Hence, the announced withdrawal of the Malaysians, programmed to be complete by middle or end of August. The prolonged withdrawal of such a small contingent (about 25 men) means they want to give the parties, especially the GRP, time to reconsider its inflexible position of not giving in to the territorial demands of the MILF. The implied threat here is that if the GRP does not give in to the territorial demands of the MILF, hostilities would be resumed. It is really blackmail. Last July 16, the Arroyo administration, in "peace talks" being held in Kuala Lumpur, agreed with the MILF that the current area covered by the present Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be expanded to include 712 additional barangays or villages in five other provinces that are not part of the present ARMM. (July 23 update: Not surprisingly, Malaysia agreed to remain in the monitoring team for another year, after the GRP agreed to the MILF demands. (And, after an initial, pro-forma refusal, the Arroyo administration, as the negotiating party representing the GRP, has given in to this blackmail, on condition that the expansion would be subject to a plebiscite in the areas affected. (But shouldn't this be the other way around? Shouldn't the people in those areas be polled first on whether they want to be handed over to the MILF, instead of being presented with a fait accompli?) The present ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi Tawi and Shariff Kabunsuan. The additional 712 villages that would be added to the present ARMM territory are in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga-Sibugay and Palawan. After this annexation, the resulting territory will be known as the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity or BJE. The GRP also agreed with the MILF that jurisdiction and control of resources found within 15 kilometers from the shoreline would be with the BJE, and any resources found in the BJE territory � such as oil and gas � would be shared as follows: 75 percent to the BJE, 25 percent to the GRP. The MILF is also demanding, and President Arroyo has eagerly accepted, that the elections for a new set of local officials � governors, mayors, etc - for ARMM, long set for August 11, 2008, be postponed. The Arroyo administration is talking of timing the ARMM elections simultaneously with the presidential elections in May 2010. This in spite of the protest of Comelec chair, former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo, that the Comelec was ready for the August 11 elections, which would have inaugurated �finally � the long-postponed computerization of elections. In the meantime, the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, former AFP CoS Gen. Hermogenes Esperon � he of 'Hello Garci' tape fame � without anyone asking him for his opinion, has come out openly for a shift to the federal form of government. By a strange coincidence, Sen. Nene Pimentel's Senate Resolution no. 10 calls for a shift to the federal form of government, and he wants this to happen before the end of President Arroyo's term in June 2010. And Sen. Pimentel wants this shift to be engineered by a constituent assembly (ConAss) in which the Lakas/Kampi dominated- Lower House will overwhelm the 24 Senators, even though six or seven of them are eyeing the presidency and vice-presidency in 2010. The stage is obviously being set for a Bangsamoro Federal State to be proclaimed at more or less the same time that the Philippine Republic formally shifts to a federal union, before June 2010. In this orchestrated scenario, there is nothing to prevent the Lakas-Kampi juggernaut from inserting the parliamentary issue into the constituent assembly and thus engineer a simultaneous shift to parliamentary, thus giving President Arroyo the constitutional right to remain in power as prime minister. It should be kept in mind that the MILF spun off from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by Nur Misuari in the 1990s. The MNLF was fighting for greater autonomy within the Philippine Republic and was secular in orientation. On the other hand, the MILF faction wanted separation and total independence from the Philippine Republic, and wanted/wants to establish an Islamic state under Sharia law. (Neither side is talking about holding a plebiscite in the present ARMM to ask the Christian majorities in the ARMM cities if they want to live in an Islamic state under Sharia law. This could trigger a Christian backlash.) When it broke away from the MNLF, the MILF had an estimated strength of about 300 armed fighters. But because of the consensual leadership style of President Fidel V. Ramos � he signed "peace agreements" with all malcontents except the Communists, who refused: military rightists, Moro autonomists and Muslim separatists � the MILF was allowed to keep its base, Camp Abubakar in Northern Cotabato. That one base became two, three, four, etc until it became 20. Before he became Ramos' press secretary, Rigoberto Tiglao was a correspondent for the Hong Kong-based Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER). He was allowed to visit Camp Abubakar and he wrote a series of articles for the FEER in which he reported that Camp Abubakar had become a sophisticated military base, with anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank artillery, sophisticated radio equipment, a munitions factory as well as a military academy to train its (then), 20,000 fighters. Tiglao reported that the MILF had set a Zero-Hour, at which time MILF fighters in all 20 camps would simultaneously rise up in revolt. Tiglao also reported that the MILF was planning to acquire jet planes from sympathetic Muslim countries.. Since the MILF was separatist right from the start of its organizational life, it is safe to assume that it remains separatist to this day. Its "peace talks" with the PG are merely to dribble the ball until it gains sufficient strength in territory, armed fighters and political status, hence the additional 712 villages, the transitory Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, the postponement of the ARMM elections, and the Bangsamoro Federal State in a Philippine federal union. I would not be surprised if the Bangsamoro, at this point, were to declare itself an independent country and secede from the federal union � like Bangladesh from federal Pakistan, like Biafra from federal Nigeria - and there would be nothing that a Prime Minister or President -for-Life Gloria Arroyo or Gen. Esperon's poorly equipped and poorly motivated Philippine military would be able to do about it. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. More articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com. . To subscribe, send as blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to "Mindanao Blackmail" Mindanao solon slams MILF annexation Tony ---Ii wonder if you got this press release which already suggests trouble as you are predicting. (I did. See below. ACA) Boo Chanco, (by email), July 29, 2008 Philippine Star wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww So Senator Pimentel and his fellow believers in a Federal System of government are slowly and inexorably going in the same direction as the Power Elite in Malacanang. They would have the have the same long-term interests. How about Jemaah Islamiyah? Could they be part of the equation? And the American presence in Southern Philippines to watch out for developments in Southeast Asia, especially in the Straits of Malacca. Would this mean also that the MNLF and MILF would coalesce? How about the National Democratic Front? They will just concentrate on Luzon and the Visayas? How about the pagpag eaters and garbage subsisters? Cesar Torres, (by email), July 30, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww GREAT ARTICLE AND ANALYSIS, MR ABAYA. IS IT PRESUMPTIOUS TO SPECULATE THAT THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS WE HAVE AN INEPT GOVERNMENT ALMOST AKIN TO SOMALIA? THAT EVERY OTHER NATIONAL LEADER KNOWS THAT WITH ENOUGH PRESSURE THEY CAN GET ANYTHING THEY WANT FROM THE PHILIPPINES BECAUSE THE BUREAUCRACY IS ONLY PREOCCUPIED WITH ABUSING THE SYSTEM. FOR SURE, THE COUNTRY MAY YET LOOSE IT'S SOVERIEGNITY OVER IT'S ENTIRE TERRITORY IF THE OTHER PARTY CAN PROVE THAT BEFORE THE LAST ICE AGE MELTDOWN, OUR ISLANDS WERE SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THEM OR THAT THEIR RELATIVES ONCE WALKED ALONG OUR SHORES.. IN SHORT THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS WE ARE IN A STATE OF CHAOS SUCH THAT EVEN A SMALL RAG TAG CONTINGENT OF INSURGENTS CAN MOCK THE GOVERNMENT. MAYBE WE ARE THE ONES DREAMING WE HAVE STILL A COUNTRY. WORSE, WHO IS TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE A FIFTH COLUMN TEACHING OUR ENEMIES HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US, IF THERE IS ENOUGH PROFIT FOR THEM? IF AMERICA IS SOMETIMES RIDICULED AS A PAPER TIGER BECAUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF EVERYTHING, IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT MONEY, THEN OUR COUNTRY IS PROBABLY PERCEIVED AS A PAPER-MOUSE. NOT EVEN THE ANTS ARE AFRAID OF US LAS, [email protected], Washington DC, Aug. 30, 2008 LSGH68 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hello, Just read your article and just wanted to make a comment. The purpose of a federal form of government is to free it from administrative tasks that are better off delegated to the local government. Let the federal government worry about the big picture(economy, taxation, defense) and let the states do the actual governing of the people. If laws enacted by the states differ from federal laws then federal law supersedes state law. Dividing a country into different states does not weaken a country actually it makes it stronger. The people are better represented and their demands are better met. If the people are satisfied your country will be at peace. The current form of government creates a huge bottleneck and the needs of the people are met very slowly if at all. And so what exists is a country where the people are very unsatisfied and pessimistic because their needs are not being met. The people don't trust their government. How long before the people take arms to put forward their rights? A change of government is long over due. Philippines needs a government that fits the people and is for the people. Not a government where the people are forced to conform to government. Taher Mangubat, (by email), July 30, 2008 (So how do you explain the effective, resourceful and successful governments of Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand�.all of which are unitary states, like the Philippines? ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony: What's happening to the integrity of Philippine sovereignty? First, I've heard that deals were made by the president to cede Spratly Islands to the Chinese. Now over 700 villages are being negotiated for transfer to Moro Islamic Liberation Force which members account only in the hundreds of Moros in Mindanao far to small to the law abiding and non-violent Moros in the island. It's sickening to think our government is giving in to the obscene demands by MILF. It's pure and simple blackmail or large scale extortion. First, MNLF/MILF got the Autonomous Region, now they are demanding and getting over 700 villages including the big island of Palawan, and next will be the rest of Mindanao. That's what extortionists do, they are never be satisfied. I worry very much because I was borned and raised in Mindanao. With your journalistic exposes of all kinds of machinations, I dare to hope. Thanks a lot. Martin Celemin, (by email), Las Vegas, Nevada, July 30, 2008 (The MILF are not demanding the whole island of Palawan, only a small part at the southern tip, at least for the time being. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww An independent Islamic Moro republic has been the ultimate goal of the Muslims in Mindanao. Call it blackmail or whatever, but the notice to secede from the republic has been served a long time ago as everybody knows. I felt some forty years ago that the infamous Jabidah Massacre instigated by Pres. Marcos could be the turning point for the reawakening of the Moro people to liberate them from the atrocious acts of the infidels. I foresaw that cruel event would give rise to a strong leader from Muslim Mindanao. It began with Nur Misuari and the MNLF that eventually led to the creation of the ARMM. The Muslims the world over see their time has come to assert themselves and live independently from the infidels. The same is true in Muslim Mindanao. They have seen the way towards achieving the ultimate goal of an independent Moro state and they are cleverly doing this patiently step by step. From a constricted autonomous region to an expanded federal state and finally to a ceded independent Moro republic. The GMA government is not dumb not to read the signs. They don't panic; they don't take this as blackmail, but rather a coincidental opportunity to go with the political schemes they are planning for a federal/parliamentarian form of government. GMA can no longer run in 2010, but she can still be head of state in a parliamentary. Looks like everything is in place and I wonder if federalist Sen. Pimentel has taken notice. The opposition is not even looking. Cesar de los Reyes, (by email), July 30, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Mang Tony, As I understand it, our richest marine resources are in this region, particularly Sulu sea where we have the Tubataha Reef. Later on MILF may also gain control of all the GenSan area. What will happen to the common access rights of other Filipinos over these resources? Why is the president alone decide on the constitutional and sovereign rights of the people? The plebiscite should include all electorate of the country not only the people in the area being claimed. All Filipino have access rights to all common property that lie around the area. I'm afraid that though we have the national laws, MILF will impose their own. Regards, Edel Anit, (by email), July 30, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I encountered several Muslim brothers in Metro Manila and based from this discussion many of them are not really socialized to this Bangsa Moro politics. In fact, they are in constant contact with the Muslim in the South. I understand the historical complexities of this issues. In fact, I recognized the historical truth that before the coming of Catholicism, Islam is already spreading in this islands with the coming of Mudum, Kabungsuan and Abu Bakr. However, this is the same with the Chinese who are already with us long before the coming of Islam and the Spaniards as well. This is also true to the Malay, the Hindu and some of the Japanese who are with us already interacting long before the coming of the current significant religion in our coastlines. Many Muslim see themselves as Filipinos and not different from the Visayans, the Tagalogs or any ethnic groups in the country. They love to be identified with the Philippine Republic. On the other hand, there are local leaders who belong to the old clans and to the empowered Moro Filipino tribe who are more vocal compared to other remaining Moro tribes along the 13 Filipino Moro tribes. There are also local scholars and politicians who are schooled and learned from foreign schools outside the country who are pushing for this Mindanao agenda because this are the things that they learn from their foreign education. What is clear is that along this Mindanao and ARMM issues, many ordinary Moro tribes are not really involved and not interested from the advocacy of other tribes and for that matter they are not really part of this. What they want is that their community be free from armed conflict and for them not to become victim of armed conflict that they are not represented. They want that their children and family to have a better life and their local government be free from nepotism, feudal hold from their localities and to deliver effective social services in their respective communities. If the Moro or Filipino Muslim groups really want to separate from this Republic and they themselves strongly want to support or reflect the vision and aspiration of the MNLF or MILF, therefore we can constantly see and witness a violent street fighting in Quiapo between Christians and Muslim brothers. Yet, they live together peacefully and what we can see are the enterprising Maranaos who energetically sell their DVD or VCD if not their pirated local and foreign CD's including ex-rated movies along the street of Carriedo or Hidalgo. Looking from this, I wish that RP be free from foreign interest using the local political stage as part of their economic, political and global agenda. Albert Banico, (by email), July 30, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony The bottom line, after shifting thru all the elements is the political clans wanting to go Federal, MILF having its own version of a clan included. The constitution, the highest law of the land prohibits it, no ifs or buts. But our people are hoodwinked by family trapos who will never come up with the so called enacting laws. Simple reason0, the old boys club, even which side of the fence, or sitting on it, agree not to push the laws on political dynasties. If needs critical thinking and moves by anti -dynasty groups like Ang Kapatiran Party to have our constitution followed. The people will prevail, not just 500 families. No justice No peace. Know justice Know peace. Best and God bless us all. Eric Manalang, (by email), July 30, 2008 Ang Kapatiran Party wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Why should the government negotiate with these terrorist group in the first place? We all know that the MILF mentality is to have the API mentality and lagi silang kawawa. Having this kind of mentality will allow them to seek and have whatever they want like VAST lands, rights, military control and others just because, " kawawa kami" mentality. I have written this 10 years ago and I will say it again that one of the effective ways of settling this issue is for the transfer of the government branches in the Mindanao regions. Malacanan in the beatiful place of Gen San, legislative ( mga buwayang congressman and senators) somewhere in Basilan or Sulu and Supreme court in Davao. Suggestion lang naman but the assignment of places may vary. My point is, the Muslim groups never views the government as government. Maybe for them, the image has always been the military that represents the government and I understand them. If a government structure is present in their areas and government workers are present, it would create an environment of seriousness. Mike Delgado, (by email), July 30, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You are right re the Bangsa Moro situation in Mindanao. Ramos sold part of it, now Arroyo is selling everything, including the souls of all peace-loving people. Our Christian population have no other alternative but arm and learn to protect themselves. Do you know that even the recruitment of policemen here are rumored to be for sale at 50 thousand per head? I don't know if this is true but where there's smoke there's fire, as the saying goes!!! Well??? If Arroyo's predilections for power and money . . .at all cost, even if they cost more lives . . and Soul??? then "The Filipino", not only people from Mindanao, better prepare for the worst to come . . . even before 2010!!!!! Can you tell me otherwise? You know the situation better than anyone. Jose Regino, (by email), Zamboanga City, July 31, 2008 A Mindanaoan wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The MILF are really for an independent State. Leopoldo Rivas, (by email), July 31, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The ultimate goal of the MNLF and MILF is to secede from the Republic of the Philippines and form their own Bangsa Moro Republic Narciso Ner, (by email), Davao City, July 31, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I had always objected to holding negotiations on our insurgency problems abroad especially when I was involved in the peace process with the military rebels and at the start of the negotiations with the MILF. Note that negotiations with the CPP in the Netherlands for years never reached first base; the agreement with the MNLF signed in Indonesia could hardly be implemented except for the absorption of some qualified MNLF members into the AFP and PNP; and now with the MILF in Malaysia insisting on postponing the ARMM election in order for it to be expanded as part of its idea of ancestral domain or the MILF's juridical entity. Negotiating in a foreign land cannot avoid the host country from inputting its interest during the negotiation. Note that Malaysia threatened to withdraw its peacekeepers in Mindanao. Note also that Malaysia hosted the training of MNLF contingents and was part of the highway used in the delivery of weapons and equipment from the Middle East during the Muslim separatist rebellion in the 70's. Fortunato Abata, (by email), July 31, 2008 Former Secretary of National Defense wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Great article! You wrote: Shortly after this, I would not be surprised if the Bangsamoro were to declare itself an independent country and secede from the federal union, and there would be nothing that a Prime Minister or President-for-Life Gloria Arroyo or Esperon's poorly equipped and poorly motivated Philippine military would be able to do about it. Answer: Bingo! Hello, PG thinkers! It's BINGO again and beyond! A group like MILF (hardcore Muslims) doesn't stop there (as Bangsamoro state). After this Bangsamoro state, no doubt in my little brains that they want more and more. You give them your hands, they want your entire arms! Very scary! The same thing in Palestine and others. This is what happens when current and previous administrations were/are too busy kissing asses, politicking and thinking about how to milk the public funds than cutting rebels to zero while they were still weak with few fighters. If MILF's arms/fire power is true per your article, then it's too late Juans. What is ancestral domain anyway? If we keep on backdating ownership, then Datu Puti's descendants should fight for ownership in Iloilo, Aklan, Bacolod and other islands. They can even fight for the royalties from Datu Puti vinegar, patis and soy sauce:) Where does this end? What is the agreeable date/s that we can claim as our ancestral lands? Well, Ifugao's should fight for entire Kalinga-Apagao, Baguio and other regions. How about the Ibanag's, Manobo's, Kongkings, Aetas and others? We should arm them too to have such commanding claims like MILF's? If the world agrees, then please return Middle East countries to the British or the half of the world to Spain and the other to Purtugal. And on and on and on� And Palawan too? 75% and 25% share? This deal is f*cked up! It's better off when Philippines was an American Commonwealth where $1 is equal to P1. Well, Puerto Rico is booming. Palau is booming. Well, US has the grip today but their help was more back then than right now. Well, in all sides of the coin, they still hold Philippines' neck anyway and even Kapten Barbel can't do anything about it. Mark my word, as soon as Bangsamoro state is fulfilled, other powerful Muslim nations will flock and will be all over this tiny state. This is not all about ancestral claim, it's Quran and the Sharia Law� total dominion. On the other hand, you can't blame Bangsamoro people (and their hatred and frustrations, etc) since any administration paid/pay no or less attention on their progress. Any progress and much allotted/budgeted parts (infras and etc) of the Philippines (under any administration) were/are in the Imperial parts of Manila. In my entire life, I never heard any big projects there being publicized on T.V. The politicians there budgeted more on private armies but not real projects for the people. The only thing we hear about Mindanao is during election time. Well, not mentioning MILF has a strong 20,000 Manchurians, 20 MILF bases and powerful/advanced arms and ammunitions� And nlackmail? You're so right! Perfecto! They can even get the entire Mindanao if they want it! Hey, what about Sabah? They should include it as part of Bangsamoro. Well, if Bangsamoro state will come true, MILF should recognize the descendants of Sultan of Sulu. LF, [email protected], Aug. 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, There is a seething cauldron of anger in Mindanao that is about to explode into an ethnic cleansing. Blame it on the so-called opposition politicians who were caught napping while La Gloria and her lackeys were surreptitiously dismembering the body-politic of Mindanao into exclusive parts through the Memorandum of Agreement of Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). Anyone who thinks that the MOA-AD without local consultations will end the conflict in Mindanao is either high on drugs or low in IQ. Why such betrayal? Why such incompetence? The answer lies in our dysfunctional democratic subculture that allows a cast of characters who play impromptu roles, often with tragic effects. Consider this plot. To save face from the controversy and the growing protest, the opposition seeks for a TRO while Malaca�ang acquiesces by leaving it up to the Supreme Court (SC) to determine the constitutionality of the agreement. Without a modicum of due diligence from the opposition and transparency from the administration, ginawa ang SC "basurahan" nang kanilang dumi. Anong klaseng katarantaduhan 'to? Should we continue acting out our dysfunctional democratic subculture? Should we continue to follow our cultic proclivities to be lax and forgiving at the expense of accountability and justice? If we can't go on anymore with the status quo, how do we get out from this repetitive rotten mess? These are difficult but grave questions that must be answered once and for all. And yet, we have key answers to these questions. What are they? The first key answer is making the decision of who must we become. Do we want a hopelessly docile, dogmatically gullible, and poverty-stricken people? Do we want to continue to exercise the futility of wasteful elections? Do we still want to subject ourselves to the endless chicaneries of our leaders? How long do we want to live under the machinations of mediocre and unimaginative politicians? How about having a highly-competitive and a highly-educated people? How about having a disciplined and polite people? How about having a people living in new towns and cities that are beautiful, clean, and safe? How about having a people who are no longer being pushed to migrate and shamed by their host countries? The second key answer is making the decision of what is to be done. This is a no-brainer given the failure of the status quo. What then are our urgent options to hopefully start turning things around in the island? Let me offer some options. Given the national prerogative and bureaucratization, there is a more difficult option but a possible one. We need an educated, ethical, and no-nonsense provincial leader who will commit his/her life to this task of city-state building, no matter what. With this kind of leader, I believe we might have a palpable chance to enjoy the ideals of democracy in the future---one province at a time. This will also spare us from the unending shame and insult caused by simpletons pretending as saviors and demagogues masking as democrats performing in the national scene. Of course, there is a less difficult option that cuts through the current sytem---a temporary governance based on compulsion! Our country needs that transition to firmly lay down law and order and discipline vital to a society trying to develop. With the current system's legacy of corruption and instability, it is hard for investors to feel secure enough to enter into long-term economic contracts. Instead, they might just look for short-term gains, reinforcing a spiraling skepticism about our current system's relevance and prospect. Finally, there is the easiest or perhaps, the most difficult option---we can simply kiss our people's life chances a painful goodbye. Efren. Padilla, (by email), Hayward, CA, Aug. 06, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished by Evelyn Opilas) Hello Tita Evelyn, Sorry this is rather long, but this issue is close to my heard as I still have relatives in Mindanao. Please let me know if this is too extreme. If so, please promptly delete it. Here goes. This article you sent me is so foreboding. It essentially foreshadows the next Fil-Islamic war that will be fought probably in the near future. May I add that this does not surprise me. I came across a site that studied the Koran and Islam, www.prophetofdoom.net. Try to pass this along. In this site, the author noted that Islam as a religion is a fraud. It really condones terrorism. Its really is true that Muslims regards Christians and other non-Muslims as infidels, something to kill or enslave. In the Koran, Mohammed encourages Muslims to make peace and treaties with infidels to lull them in a false sense of hope. So that when they attack (and break the treaty) they will be easy pickings. The Koran also encourages Muslims to break any agreements with infidels anytime they wish, as long as they will gain an advantage. Agreements with infidels are considered worthless, much like how despots and tyrants consider peace treaties. Muslims are also hungry for territory. Muslims are encouraged by their Koran to slowly encroach on their neighbor's territories, using any means necessary. Their favoured method is terrorism. They would in the past routinely raid neighboring villages and kill everyone. This would destabilise the area and make it economically unviable. The local inhabitants are encouraged to leave. They would then move in. We are seeing this now in Mindanao and to some degree in the Thai/Malaysian border. Basically if you border a Muslim nation, you will never be at peace and you will always have disputes in territory. Sometimes if the locals are fierce and stronger than them, they would just move in and settle remote areas in their neighbors territories. The local inhabitants would all of a sudden realise that there are several Muslim villages there, squatting without their permission. This is what happened in Kosovo, admittedly with Tito's blessings. The Serbs in Kosovo were simply out-populated by Muslim Albanians. Apparently the Muslims in Mindanao constantly squat in unsettled lands. Only vigilant mayors in most cities prevent them from taking root. But in other areas, they take land as if it is still in the middle ages. Muslims wants territory. Muslims want wealth. You are an infidel. You are fair game. Back to the plight of our beloved but weakened country. What can we do about it? GMA, apart from the fact that she is weak and incompetent, really has her hands tied. This is because the Muslims have more tham 1 million Filipinos as hostages. Where are those hostages you ask? They are our overseas workers in Muslim countries. GMA is afraid that if she moves against the Moros, it will attract the ire of the Muslim countries who we depend for remittances. She would then lose valuable plunder/graft money. So would her tutas. This clearly cannot happen! So she does what Neville Chamberlain and all weak and vacillating leaders do - roll over and play dead, I mean talk peace! Estrada would have just told them to go jump and promptly launch another war. But he allowed himself to be painted to a corrupt corner and be maneuvered out of office. What a waste. It is not surprising that Malaysia is playing cover for her brethren in our country. It is in her interest to see the Moros succeed and carve out an Islamic state in Mindanao. It is in her interest (and the rest of SEAsia for that matter) to see a weak Philippines. A strong Philippines would act too much like the US, and field modern frigates and an aircraft carrier, even modern jet fighters and an efficient large army. This would make our neighbors very nervous. So to prevent this, if they can weaken us any way they can, they will. Let's not forget that Muslims recognise no laws but Sharia laws. Muslims living in other countries would dearly love Sharia law but are forced to obey local laws, if it has teeth. We all know Philippine laws have no teeth. They would break these non-Sharia laws at first opportunity. Muslims around the world consider themselves first a Muslim, then an American/Australian/Philippine etc citizen. I doubt that our Muslim "Brothers" even consider themselves a Filipino Citizen. They probably think their Malaysians or Bangsa Moros. What I am trying to get at is that Muslims respect no political borders and consider themselves as part of the Nation of Islam (Dar Al-Islam). The same name used by the black Islamic radicals in the US. To prove this, during the Gulf War, a black Islamic US soldier assassinated the entire command staff of a unit of US infantry prior to the invasion of Iraq. His lame excuse was Muslim civilians would be killed, so he tried to prevent a massacre. If you have Muslims in your organisation and are about to engage a Muslim nation/entity, watch out! What can we do? what can we do? I am in agony because I am just a powerless, penniless individual who can see the danger but cannot do anything. All I can do is spread the word and offer some solutions (no matter how outlandish and naive). So here goes: - The Philippine military should act independently of the corrupt government and begin preparing for a war. I do not know if GMA is preparing for war, but judging by her incompetence, she probably is redirecting all the military funds to her husband's business interests. - The Military has established a good militia for countering these pests. Granted that some militias went feral and became full-blown crime organisations (eg the Kuratong Baleleng), they should endeavour to double the amount of militias trained and armed. And make sure none of the militias are Muslim. - Can we rely on the US? Yes and no. Yes, in that if the Muslims threaten Del-Monte facilities and bomb a MacDonalds outlet, then they would probably send supplies and advisers. Half of the supplies would go to the Philippine Military, half would be sold to the Muslims by the corrupt government as per standard procedure. No in that the US military is stretched by Iraq and Afghanistan. They will probably send some loser diplomat to talk "peace" .. Never mind the Muslims not wanting peace. While we infidels are alive, they are always at war. We would be just an unwelcome sideshow, who cannot even afford to pay for the millions of rounds of ammunitions and surplus US second hand army gear that we will need to even stay alive. - Regional governments like the leaders of Cotabato, Davao and Zamboanga City are already aware of the threat. They see the paralysis of the government as sign that the Muslims will strike soon, while the government is weak and vacillating. They should raise private armies and arm them. They should hire foreign mercenaries and disaffected Army officers to train these private armies. Who cares about civil war risk of having so many private armies. Civil war (and this is exactly what it is) is upon us sooner than we think. In the ensuing chaos, the Christians of Mindanao should ensure that when the cloud and dust eventually settles, that they are the ONLY ONES STANDING. Again, apologies for this long rant, but the threat to the lives of my relatives in Mindanao is just too hard to ignore, and I rage against an incompetent and corrupt central government who is letting this happen by default. Worst case scenario is that Philippines will lose Mindanao and become even more impoverished. Then maybe China can take Palawan. Vietnam will take Luzon. And the rest of the islands will be taken piecemeal by the Muslim horde, where the remaining Filipinos will either be converted forcibly to Islam or be slaughtered like pigs. ***** Michael, August 07, 2008 (Tapatt welcomes articles or letters that will dispute or reply to the points raised by the above author. ACA) Hi, Michael! Many thanks for sharing your thought-provoking insights. I note the 'passion' your e-mail has articulated and I am sharing them with friends, on BCC, that they may be able to form their own stand on such a serious matter. For too long many of us seem to have become fence-sitters, content with being spectators when, even as 'penniless' individuals we can do something, such as making our voices heard (remember the biblical David and Goliath story has been played out time and again through victories of seemingly 'powerless' folks). I have CC'd Mr. Abaya who wrote the article which was forwarded to me by my former boss at the PPI/PFA, Mr. J. Mercado. I have confidence they will take note of your viewpoint. I wish you and the family well, hoping we will be able to touch base sometime soon. Take care and God bless. Regards, Evelyn Opilas (by email), August 09, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mindanao solon slams MILF annexation Cotabato Rep. Emmylou Tali�o-Mendoza has questioned the proposed 30-percent expansion of the territory of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) under a new memorandum of agreement (MOA) set to be signed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Under the proposed new MOA, Tali�o-Mendoza said up to 712 barangays that currently do not belong to the ARMM would be "annexed" to the self-governing region. At present, the ARMM has a total of 2,470 barangays in Marawi City and 111 municipalities across six provinces -- Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Shariff Kabunsuan. Tali�o-Mendoza said government and MILF negotiators "should stop using Mindanao villages, whether chiefly Christian or Muslim, as pawns to be playfully bargained away." "Have government negotiators bargained away the whole store? How many times to we have to capitulate just to appease the MILF? How many plebiscites do we have to conduct just to satisfy them?" Tali�o-Mendoza asked. The Mindanao lawmaker also urged government negotiators to "fully disclose" every detail of the proposed new MOA with the MILF. "The people of Mindanao are entitled to know the fine points of the proposed new accord now, even before it is signed by both parties," Tali�o-Mendoza said. "We are Filipinos born and raised in Mindanao. We deserve to know exactly what the government negotiators promised the MILF, and precisely what the MILF pledged in return," she said. "It is bad enough negotiators never consulted us from the start. Now, it turns out that some of our villages were apparently reduced as bargaining chips in the talks," Tali�o-Mendoza lamented. She added: "So many lives have been lost because of failed approaches to the peace process in the past. Up to now, many problems in Mindanao, affecting both Christians and Muslims, were never effectively addressed by previous talks." According to Hermogenes Esperon, the government's chief adviser on the peace process, both parties would soon set a date for the signing of the MOA, and formal substantive peace talks would proceed thereafter. Esperon said the parties have agreed to enlarge the ARMM, with the addition of a total of 712 barangays from Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga Sibugay and Palawan. The integration of the additional villages in the ARMM would be subject to ratification in a plebiscite to be held six months after the MOA is signed. The MOA also proposes to allow a new Bangsamoro legal entity to control certain forest, mineral and aquatic resources. The MILF is also seeking the postponement of the Aug. 11 ARMM elections, warning the polls would only delay the transition period for the new Bangsamoro entity that would be established by a final peace agreement. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to [email protected]. Tony on YouTube on www.tapatt.org. 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