MINDANAO CHRISTIAN AND HIGHLANDERS
ALLIANCE (MICHA)
Cotabato chapter
POLITICAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION OF HIS EXCELLENCY
BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III ON THE GPH and MILF PEACE NEGOTIATION
July 14, 2011
I. BACKGROUND/FACTS:
After
the aborted signing of Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain
(MOA-AD), the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) representatives met to discuss the resumption
of the peace talks. On July 7, 2009 a
secret meeting was held at Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia and revealed by the MILF in an
interview over the radio at Cotabato
City
Subsequently, the panel met again on
July 28, 2009 at Kuala Lumpur ,
Malaysia
On the December 08-09, 2009 resumption
of GRP-MILF formal talks, the parties made a joint statement which states among
others that: With the resumption of the
Talks, the Parties agree to begin in earnest the negotiations on a
Comprehensive Compact;
Based on the joint statement, the peace talks between
the GRP and MILF has reached this important stage where the parties AGREE to
BEGIN the NEGOTIATIONS on a COMPREHENSIVE COMPACT skipping other substantive
aspects of importance before negotiating a comprehensive compact agreement, and
with clear implications of recognition of the (defunct) MOA-AD.
As MILF demanded, they have now the International
Contact Group (ICG) to guarantee whatever shall be agreed or entered in the
resumption of the peace talks, continued presence of International Monitoring
Team (IMT), safe return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), continued
existence of Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), except the presence of a UN
peace keeping force, a suspect but hidden in the new terms of reference of IMT.
On April 21, 2010, the GRP-MILF panels concluded their
18th round of exploratory talks and made a joint statement with the
following excerpts of important points:
1.
In these 18th
exploratory talks, They (GRP and MILF) were joined by representatives of the
International Contact Group (ICG) during the two-day session.
2.
In Kuala Lumpur, the two parties met to review drafts
on arrangements transitioning towards a Comprehensive Compact as well as xxx,
support for the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) and xxx.
3.
The Parties agreed to mobilize technical and
administrative resources including the facility for the Bangsamoro Leadership
and Management Institute (BLMI) to fulfill its role as a capacity building
center for emerging Bangsamoro leaders and professionals.
4.
The parties formally exchanged amended drafts proposal
and matrices, discussed their proposals and agreed on areas of common ground, subject
to endorsement by the Panels to their respective principals. This would be the basis of crafting the
interim document in early May 2010.(Taken
from paper of Concern Christians/Lumads of Central Mindanao (CCCM) submitted to
Hon. Rafael Seguis, Chairman of then GRP Peace Panel).
To date, people of Mindanao have not seen the amended
draft proposals between the parties. The Arroyo administration left without the
intended May 2010 interim document.
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT
AQUINO
In its legislative brief on 28 September 2010, the
Government Peace Negotiating Panel under OPAPP made the statement that, Earlier
in June of this year (2010 under the outgoing Arroyo Administration), the Declaration
on the Continuity of the GRP-MILF
Negotiations was signed by the parties. It contained consensus points achieved
by both sides on the continuing engagement of the GRP and MILF Panels until the
conclusion of the comprehensive compact. It acknowledged past gains and put a
closure to this stage of the peace negotiations and laid down the foundation
for the continuation of the peace process well into the next administration (referring
to the new Aquino Administration).
The new administration stated five (5) parameters to
guide the conduct of negotiations, and one of which is: (d) The sentiment
of the general public, which is far as practicable, shall be taken into
consideration;
II. IMPORTANT ISSUES AND CONCERNS
Based on the joint statements and developments, the
new administration has to consider much of the document in existent between
former GRP Negotiating panel and MILF to include the MOA-AD and the MILF draft
of the Comprehensive Compact MILF submitted on January 27, 2010 at Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia under the GRP Negotiating panel led by Hon. Rafael Seguis.
MILF had made a great leap and paving the way towards
signing of the Comprehensive Compact and towards transfer of power from local
leaders to the MILF. Their insistence and tenacity in the negotiation had
brought them victory against erstwhile GRP Panels.
Several
position papers were sent by MICHA to GRP panels from the time of Estrada
government then to the two terms of Arroyo. It thanked God and the Seguis
negotiating panel that the signing of comprehensive compact was not pushed
through in 2010.
Lately, the MICHA reviewed the MILF draft of
Comprehensive Compact submitted on January 27, 2010 and found it full of
pitfalls and ruses. MILF had it mixed up to hide certain provisions with sugary
and idealistic coatings which if left in the comprehensive compact will still
lead to independence. Deception is intertwined with the draft.
The following general examples are briefly stated:
1.
Bases of the
compact, “having in mind the principles embodied in the Initialed MOA-AD and
its annexure xxx, (par. 5 of Preamble MILF Comprehensive Compact). Comment: It
still seek to include MOA-AD when in fact it is already declared
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and the GRP promise that it shall not be
signed in whatever face it is.
2.
Parties
affirmation to end the Conflict in Mindanao “xx traced to Historical injustices
xxx”; acknowledgement of consolidation without
derogation of prior agreements xxx”; Recording of inclusions of
conceptual network of the initialed MOA-AD xxx constituted comprehensive clauses
xxx”; and recognition of “the conclusion of the agreement on ancestral domain
xxx” (pars.: a, b, c and d of Section 1 Article 1, ibid). Comment: The same as
to MOA-AD.
3.
Parties
affirmation of the legitimacy of whatever choice the Bangsamoro People in regard
to their national identity and the right to determine their political status,
etc.; and that two sides acknowledged the present wish of a majority of the
Bangsamoro people in Mindanao is a Territorial unit comprising their ancestral
domain for asymmetrical compact of free association; It is understood that, the
interim jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro
STATE covers the land base and territorial waters set out in the AGREED
schedules (Annex 2), Category A,B & C) xxx (Sec. 1 & 2 of Principles and Purposes, Article II, ibid).
Comment: It seeks to legitimize the concept of first nation and ancestral
domain by having the GRP affirm the identity, political status, governance and
territory of the so-called Bangsamoro.
4.
Transfer of power
and authority to Bangsamoro; the Bangsamoro Basic Law; Concept and Definition
of who are Bangsamoro; Eligibility to public office based on citizenship (Article X on Basic Rights and Safeguards,
ibid). Comment: Simply stated, MILF tries to tell the government that since you
can no longer govern us, you better transfer us the authority, then we make our
laws, we determine who are our cohorts who shall only be eligible to public
office, you not included as you are not Bangsamoro (Art. X, sec. 5).
5.
Moro province xxx
in its entirety remain the heartland geographical areas of the Bangsamoro
Ancestral domain and patrimony (sec. 1, Patrimony and Land Ownership, Art. XVI,
ibid). Comment: xxx same. Do not forget that we the Bangsamoro has Moro
province which comprise the entire Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan to start with,
and wait until we can invade you in the future to seek redress of your
conversion of our brothers in Visayas and Luzon.
6.
Bangsamoro also
demands: reparation and restitution from GRP due to these historical
injustices. Comment: xxx same, you pay us back for you lost the war and you
consented to be subdued.
These are samples of the many basic dangerous parts of the aims
and
principles in the negotiation inside this MILF Comprehensive Compact which if
PUT IN SUBSTANCE will lead to sub-state
and eventually to independence.
It is worth stating that what MICHA dislikes so much
is that MILF reverses the situation as if it was the government that is
troublesome when in fact it was them. They alluded to the MICHA and those who opposes
the GRP-MILF MOA-AD as spoilers of
peace, when in fact they were
ones who started the fighting and all this trouble in Jolo, Basilan, Zamboanga,
Lanao, North Cotabato and Maguindanao in Mindanao. Not to mention Christians
and Highlanders and few Moro they massacred, kidnapped, beheaded and women
raped including religious missionaries. Definitely, MILF has turned a deaf ear
to these and often help to release victims of kidnapping but let the kidnappers
(“kuno”) free with hefty board and lodging ransom. Added insult to injury, they
get financial support from the comrades in ARMM and fellows in the government
to finance their nefarious activities
(frying the government by its own oil) and laughed at previous GRP panels as
they nearly got the MOA-AD out of their magic. A warning that the new GRP Panel
should take note as under Muslim traditions even pledges/promises in words are
binding like contracts in civil law and they will insist on performance no
matter what even through violence. In addition, per our information MILF had
inserted a mole to create a hole in the negotiating panel. This is following
the strategy of infiltration, conversion
and intimidation, to deceive the panel to get at their aims.
These are the some of the reasons why Christians and non-Moro
of Mindanao ignore MILF cravings for a Bangsamoro State. Christians and
Highlanders do not want all these evils and scary pictures that this MILF and
their terrorist cohorts were doing. That is MICHA is anathema to changes
towards Bangsamoro State and so with the hideous Bangsamoro Basic Law which
will legally force incorporation of the non-Moro to their lifestyle of
hospitality and retaliation (Rido),
the Islamic way.
As to the issue of alleged historical injustices, it
is opined that based on the facts and direct observations of the Christians,
Highlanders and even their fellow Filipino Moros, the root of injustice was
traced from the Datuism in the area whereby many of the Datus denied or robbed
their fellow hapless ordinary Moro of their lands and basic needs. To stress
this point, when settlers of Mindanao arrived, ordinary Moros have no lands of
their own and were used by their Datus as their workers and goons. It is only
their Datus who have vast lands, and who dictate and regulate their living. It
is hard to accept that long ago majority of the Moros are either slaves or
purely workers of Datus and historically suffering from injustices. With
definiteness, these alleged injustices were not caused by colonization or by
settlers in Mindanao per se.
Another note of caution, the MILF had been following
the archaic examples of the Ottoman Empire and was well into the pan_Islamic idea. This conflict they
stage stemmed from religious impositions by Prophet Muhammad and dream of
having a nation of all Muslims. To reiterate, for the prophet, religion is
non-negotiable, you have to subdue and convert. And that this conflict will
follow the same pattern and cannot be resolved by negotiation as they will ask
for the whole, not fractions, as we can see, many more groups will be born and
seek another territory in Mindanao. That is the least we can think of if we
lack foresight, but we are definite that they will ask for more, including the
Visayas and Luzon. This is following the rule that if you cannot fight us now
then you can never in the future – this knowing the psychological disposition
of the government think tanks of economics of war and fear of bombings, hostage
taking and kidnappings.
This is the reason and basic aim of
entrenchment and transfer of power, formulating basic law (to impose Shar’ia
Law), reformulation of public land law based on ancestral domain and the withdrawal
of GRP troops in Mindanao to
hasten the subjugation and take over. It is clear that upon signing of the
Comprehensive Compact and bearing in mind the MILF insistence of the defunct
MOA-AD, etc., the Christians, Lumads and few Muslims against the MILF agenda
together with their properties shall become the booty of war. All these are in
the name of peace.
The 1996 GRP-MNLF agreement is a
litmus paper that showed clear and evidentiary result out of the GRP
negotiation with MNLF. Out of which MILF surfaced. The war raged between GRP
and MILF, but the MNLF sat down, watched, and many of them supported the MILF.
Now GRP has not even concluded its negotiation with MILF, here comes now,
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Ombra Kato, and other
organizations like Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiah which will bear so many children
in the future. To be definite, the BIFF as son of MILF (though they deny)
conducts kidnapping to finance their activity and deceive the GRP that the same
is distinct from them. Will the government ever learn out of this manipulative
style of MILF? Will the GRP close its eyes on the massacre of innocent
Christians that MILF did at Lanao? To rewind, part of those kidnappers killed
and nabbed in Pigcawayan and Midsayap in the Province of North Cotabato were
from Municipality of Sultan Kudarat, Province of Maguindanao, the present
political base of MILF hierarchy at Barangay Darapanan and Simuay where
Gadzhali Jaafar also has residence. And some kidnappers were known to be staff
of MILF commanders.
MICHA will not elaborate on these points stated above
as its stand was then and now is to scrap the MOA-AD and that the government
should address only the basic problem of rehabilitation and development of
Mindanao. If MILF continue to disrupt the peace in Mindanao or rebel against
the duly constituted government then it is the responsibility of the government
to address this with police action, notwithstanding the cost as its
constitutional mandate. If the government needs MICHA and its sympathizers,
then it will fight for the government until normalcy and peace reign in
Mindanao.
III.
The PROPOSITION:
Considering the above facts, the MICHA
proposes to the new administration of His
Excellency Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to be circumspect in entering into
any agreement with the MILF and beware of their deceptive hospitality, as any
agreement entered into affects the 80% majority Christians and Lumads of
Mindanao and other non-Christians outside of MILF.
MICHA also proposes to de-emphasize so
much illegitimacy and memories of historical injustices and instead to discuss
with them plans how to live and work for the better future of all Mindanaons
and the Republic of the Philippines.
MICHA members pray that the members of the GRP panel, especially
the Honorable and Panel Chairman Atty.
Marvic Leonen and his team be guided by the Almighty Father, the God of Abraham,
and of Aaron in handling the peace talks.
For the MILF, MICHA members also wish
that they (MILF members) go back to the mainstream of the Philippine society
and live as good Filipinos in every aspect of their life, living in their
normal Islamic way without necessarily bringing forth secessionist ideals and
terrorists’ activities brought about by
concept of new identity as Bangsamoro.
And
lastly, MICHA also pray that in all phases of negotiation, the GRP panel
should be transparent and ascertain first from the majority people in Mindanao
their true position in the on-going peace talks before any decision is made.
As always, MICHA embraces peace and
denounces war, but is ready for war if time calls for it.
(Sgd.)
MIKE SANTIAGO
Chief,
MICHA Information Office
