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Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Editorial: Worrisome provision
THE admission so to speak by the Palace that there are plans to allot territories for the Bangsa Moro people may come as a shock and a new source of concern to most Filipinos, especially those living in heavily populated Bangsa Moro areas.
While the Palace insists that this agreement is still to be firmed up in the next two months the anxiety this may cause to Filipinos may approximate the strong opposition raised by some people towards the creation of the Southern Philippine Development Council (SPDC).
If we recall the council was intended to facilitate the implementation of projects in some areas of Mindanao, including Zamboanga City, General Santos City, Iligan City and even Surigao provinces.
The uproar it caused back in 1996 when it was first floated certainly threatened to break the momentum created with the enactment of the peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
As it is the arrest and continuing detention of MNLF founder Nur Misuari continues to be a sore spot for the other MNLF leaders who insist to this day the implementation of the peace agreement and the immediate release of their founder.
The SPDC row may well follow along the lines of this new disclosure about the impending peace agreement between the national government and the MILF. The conditions for the granting of territories are especially a sensitive sticking point.
Most likely these MILF territories may already exist areas occupied by the rebels. If that is the case then there may be little opposition to that proposal since it is mostly occupied by the rebels and acknowledged unofficially at least as their territories.
But it is the proposal for the creation of an MILF "Bangsa Moro Republic" with their own laws and taxes and military forces that would certainly be worrisome for the neighboring regions and local government units (LGUs).
It cannot be ignored that there is still a strong sense of distrust and animosity built over decades of bias between some in the Christian populace and the Bangsa Moro. While the Bangsa Moro who are generally Muslims have taken steps towards bridging this gap still the mistrust remains.
Thus it is best for both the national government and the MILF to disclose terms of this latest provision to the public to enlighten them on this matter and not create another storm of controversy which this administration needs like another hole in the head.
(October 25, 2005 issue)
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