DIVERSION
I decided to skip writing about the present conflict in Mindanao to take a rest. Somehow, my coverage of the Mindanao situation has taken a toll on me personally. No other topic of local and national relevance has shaken my spirit than this conflict in Mindanao. Particularly affecting me is the escalation of violence. The recent bus bombings in Digos, Davao del Sur all the more add to my frustrations that the people whom we are talking to about peace have lost their sanity and can afford to sacrifice human lives to an agenda that should not be pursued in this inhuman manner.
For the he uninitiated, the common transportation all over Mindanao is the bus, unless of course, if you can afford to buy your own vehicle. Things that happened in Digos, Davao del Sur sent shivers to my spine. But what can you do? Terrorists would do everything just to achieve what they want mindless of the pain they can inflict on other people.
With the current state of the peace talks, average Mindanaoans like me, are resigned to the reality that the Mindanao conflict will not end soon and even in my lifetime and one would just try to make one’s life to be as normal as possible. I want peace. Who else do not want it? But that peace should be achieve thru genuine desire to achieve it and not as a means to further a higher agenda.
I could have written more about this conflict. But the information is just too much. There are so many conspiracy theories going on, including that of rebels possessing surface to air missiles which was used to shoot down the C-130 plane that crashed in Davao Gulf. These things did not help much in calming down the situation but escalated the fear among people and agitated people to hate.
Before I would end this entry, let me say a comment or two on three things.
On the issue that the Moro people are oppressed people. This is a very big lie. The truth is opposite. Many Christians gave way to our Moro brothers particularly in promotions in work to show that ours is a secular and pluralistic society where everyone earned merits thru his or her abilities and not because he is a member of a religious or ethnic group. A good example is when the students of the University of the Philippines elected a Moro lady to become the President of the Student Council. As written by some columnists, most Regional Directors in Mindanao, and some judges and prosecutors are Muslims and Christians respected them in their positions as their superiors. In the national arena, we have some Muslim cabinet members and most of all, we have created the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao enshrined in our Constitution as a recognition that Muslims are apart from our culture but part of our nation.
On the issue of the resurgence of Ilaga armed group. Many are prematurely reacting on this report and others bloated it to serve their own agenda. Satur Ocampo of the communist Bayan Muna party list was quick to condemn Ilaga, but was silent on the atrocities committed by Kumander Bravo and Umbra Kato who actually by overt acts kill defenseless civilians. Ocampo condemn Ilaga who has done nothing but was silent on MILF butchers. We should realize that the formation of Ilaga, if indeed its true, was only a reaction to the recent barbaric acts committed by the MILF in their areas. What would you feel if your houses are burned for no apparent reason. Would you just take it sitting down? I think only abnormal people will do that. If there is anyone to blame for their resurgence it’s the MILF for provoking them to re arm themselves again in the defense of their villages.
On the issue that the operations bring havoc to the lives of the evacuees. Many are writing and focusing on the plight of the evacuees in evacuation centers. They tried to portray that these people are suffering too much. The truth is most evacuees prefer to live in evacuation centers and endure the squalor conditions than to return to their homes and become vulnerable to the MILF. These groups succeeded in convincing people with this kind of reporting during the Estrada administration on the intention of pressuring the military to halt legitimate operations against rogue elements. They did succeeded and Joseph Estrada was later ousted despite the former’s major achievement of dismantling the camps of MILF including its headquarters in Camp Abubakar in Maguindanao. I don’t think these people will again succeed in trying to blunt the military operations against Kato and Bravo. While it might have worked for them before, it may not work this time. The people already knew the realities in Mindanao and they cannot just be swayed by slant reporting of some journalist to favor the MILF.
Well, that’s it for now. Theres too much of this in my system. Its time to post for topics on the lighter side.
Have a good day.
Do you know if American forces are now engaged in actual combat in Mindanao?
EQ
If we attempt to detach ourselves from what we are – Christian?,Muslim or Moro? – we may able to see realities. I said this because our being Christians influenced as to interpret reality on our advantage. I suppose the same thing with the Moros. This misconception – or worse to say, blind reading of reality – is the root-cause of the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.
This may need further explanation to understand what I mean.
On the issue of oppression, a respected religious leader Archbishop Quivedo is very much certain that the Moros are generally oppressed politically, culturally, socially and economically. As an independent minded Christian, I strongly agree with him. I’m sorry this is against your view.
I give you a few examples:
1. Mindanao is historically owned by the Moros and Lumads. But because of their ignorance of the Philippine law and their hospitality to welcome us, we now owned almost 80% of their land. Is this not a socio-economic oppression?
2. Historically again, the Moros never surrendered to colonialists (Spaniards, Americans, Japanese, etc). But we don’t heartily recognized this fact. Our selfish move to obstract their aspiration for self-determination (as long as within the context of the constitution where we Christians should not appear second class citizens) is a very strong evidence of politico-cultural oppression to them.
3. Our textbooks in History where only a very few of their heroics were integrated is a clear indication that they are educationally oppressed.
On the resurgence of Christian vigilante, it will not solve the problem. Instead, it will aggravate further the already hostile situation. As reported, the young generation of the Ilaga victims are also arming themselves. If these two will clash, it will result to a Christian-Muslim war. I am still confident that the government has enough armed forces to protect the civilian contrary to what anti-peace advocates claim.
On the issue of the continuing operation of the military in the Muslim communities, I strongly disagree. The reported children hit by the airforce’s OB-10 bombs is a show or irresponsibility aside from the fact that it is also a show of disrespect to the Muslims’ observance of their holly month of Ramadhan.
I just wanted to point out that I agree with the pursuit operation by the Military against the reneged MILF so that they can asnwer the crime the have committed. But this operation should be undertaken in a proper place and time.
I hope the government and all Christians will consider my point of views.
Robert
I agree with Robert. Robert, you are true Christian. I salute you.
We can’t attain peace in Mindanao if we are bias. Let’s give peace a chance by upholding to the true spirit of co-existence, i.e. recognizing and respecting each other’s moral, spiritual and historical existence in Mindanao. This is the only road to lasting PEACE and sustainable DEVELOPMENT in Mindanao.
I am a Muslim. And if there is one group who wants lasting PEACE are the Moros. We are already tired of war. But we can’t just get out of it until the Philippine government will give due recognition to our legetimate struggle for self-determination. Unless this is addressed, I am sure that generations of next generations of the Bangsamoro will continue the struggle because we are just claiming what is for us.