Sunday, April 16, 2006
Local officials slam moves to split Armm
OFFICIALS in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) are up in arms over moves in the House of Representatives to divide the region into two.
Armm Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan castigated the authors of House Bill 5366 for pushing the initiative without consulting regional leaders and the constituency.
Representatives Gerry Salapuddin of Basilan, Hussin Amin of Sulu, and Herminaldo Mandanas of Batangas sponsored the bill.
"The proponents cannot just introduce any amendments to the present Armm without prior consultation with our people and the political leaders of the region. Even the Organization of Islamic conference, which helped in the forging of the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the MNLF, must be consulted about it," Ampatuan said.
Ampatuan claimed that the proposed bill is divisive and violates the letter and spirit of the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front, with the OIC taking a crucial role in it.
The 1996 peace agreement paved the way for the creation of the autonomous Muslim region.
Ampatuan said regional leaders are strongly opposed to the division of the region, stressing that instead of splitting it moves should focus on expanding the region.
"Dividing the Armm is counterproductive to the peace efforts of the government in Mindanao," he said.
Ampatuan said the filing of the bill caught the Armm leadership by surprise.
The proponents of dividing the autonomous Muslim region cited the revival of the Sultanate of Sulu as reason for their move.
House Bill 5369 states: "The long history of the people of the Sulu archipelago has left an indelible mark in their culture and tradition. While they share the same religion as the Maranaos, Maguindanaoans, and other Muslims in Mindanao, they are a people apart with their own tongues, customs, traditions and ways of thinking (like their Christians counterpart)."
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(April 10, 2006 issue)
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