Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Soft and hard power to achieve peace: Arroyo By Carlo P. Mallo
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo bared last Monday her two-pronged approach on resolving the peace and order situation in Western Mindanao: the use of hard and soft power while employing the "paradigm of peace."
"For those na hindi na mako-convert, we would have to use hard power," Arroyo said in an interview. By hard power, the president was referring to the use of hard military offensive to eradicate the terrorist groups in Western Mindanao.
However, Arroyo added that the use of soft power is preferable because it does not involve bloodshed. The use of soft power, according to the president, would mean wooing the people to give up their arms and stop their terrorist acts altogether. "We build schools, bridges, roads and other infrastructure projects," Arroyo said.
The President further elaborated that the hard military offensive is only intended for the Abu Sayyaf terror group. She said that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is not included. Arroyo also added that the peace talks between the MILF and the government will be pursued.
