President Aquino, in his speech, tries to say that those who oppose the passage of the BBL into law are enemies of peace. In the mind of the president, there are only two kinds of people---those who support the BBL in its entirety and those who oppose it in its entirety.
Excuse me, Mr. President, but please recognise that there is another group of people out there--those who love peace and want a more improved and more acceptable Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Like I said in my previous entries, the BBL is being pictured as the panacea to end the Bangsamoro Question. My take is--it is not. First off, the proposed BBL is not in synchronicity with the present system of governance being implemented in the Philippines and thus, is expected to clash with it in the future. And secondly, like the ARMM, political forces with interests in Mindanao, will surely destabilize it.
The best solution to the Bangsamoro Question is its inclusion as a state in a federated Philippine governmental system. If we want it to succeed, the Bangsamoro Republic must never be considered as such, as a semi-state, but a full state under a federated system. In that way, the full resources of the federation will be utilised to help it succeed.
Under a Federal system, the National Government still holds political power and control yet recognises the unique processes of the state. There is a symbiosis between the majority and the minority states based on equal treatment.
In the present unitary government, fragmentation thru autonomy is not the way towards penultimate peace in Mindanao. There must be a whole-sale acceptance of the Bangsamoro as a unique Nation, a nation distinct from the majority, yet has the potentialities of benefiting even the national government.
If this Republic would give up something, our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters must likewise give us something in exchange.
Showing posts with label bangsamoro republic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bangsamoro republic. Show all posts
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Friday, October 21, 2011
Ping and Pong call for war in Mindanao--stupid
The "Ping and Pong" tandem at the House is surely one of the most comical groups there is in Philippine politics right now.
Senator Panfilo Ping Lacson wants the Aquino administration to wage war against the MILF by suspending the talks and engaging elements involved in the killing of the 19 soldiers in Basilan. Ping even told Aquino to do "an Erap", by mobilizing all armed troops and attack the biggest armed forces apart from the AFP.
His counterpart at the House, former AFP chief of staff and senator Pong Biazon concurs, saying that it is time to wage war against the insurgents.
How stupid these Ping Pong characters in the House are. I am not surprised why we are in a rut.
I think Noynoy is not the suicidal type. He's not the type of leader who will head towards unchartered waters without thinking of the lasting consequences of such acts.
When Erap's minions occupied MILF camps, he did so within a few weeks. Unknown to him, the MILF purposely left their camps to shift tactics--from regular army formations to guerilla. Had the war lasted, it could have been disastrous for the Philippine government because of the expected casualties such a mindless enterprise would have entailed.
Besides, what happened to Erap shortly afterwards? Erap was ousted. He spent a fraction of the treasury to fund his war machine, which affected the economy. The economy fell, and many people blamed Erap for the direct effects of war---untold death, misery, and poverty.
Erap's political capital was also spent, to a point where most of his supporters shifted allegiance because of the amount of flak he got from the people. He eventually got isolated. When his isolation was complete, Erap got a taste of what no other Philippine Leader experienced in their careers---a humiliating exit.
A war against Muslim insurgents would amount to nothing. Fact is, it would further enflame the region with calls of separatism.
A further escalation of conflict would realize the dream of pan-Asiatic Islamic terrorists---transform Mindanao into a regional battlefield, like what the US did to Afghanistan and Iraq.
A war will worsen the state of affairs of the Philippines. With an underperforming economy, a breakout of war would deeply affect the economy.
Likewise, it would also break the focus of this government. The Aquino administration is concentrating on the anti-graft and corruption fight. Don't tell me Mr. Senator and Mr. Congressman that you want nothing more than divert the attention or path of this government?
A war would surely divert the attention of this administration. Instead of firming up cases against grafters, most certainly, against the Arroyos, what would happen in case war breaks out, is that all resources of government would be mobilize to strike the enemy. It would also create chaos within the Aquino organisation in such a very high level that it would not be able to concentrate on more pressing and more major issues of repairing the problems caused by the 9-year old rule of the Arroyos.
The time is not ripe for war. The Aquino administration is in the right path. It is transfiguring the bureaucracy. It is concentrating on correcting the monumental errors within the superstructure. It is repairing even the political system.
A war would just create more problems and would just divert the attention of this government. Instead of fighting drug lords, smugglers, jueteng lords, and big-time economic saboteurs, the Aquino administration will be constrained to spend public money fighting an enemy whose mission is to prolong the conflict so that they achieve what their ancestors longed for--a truly independent Bangsamoro republic.
Senator Panfilo Ping Lacson wants the Aquino administration to wage war against the MILF by suspending the talks and engaging elements involved in the killing of the 19 soldiers in Basilan. Ping even told Aquino to do "an Erap", by mobilizing all armed troops and attack the biggest armed forces apart from the AFP.
His counterpart at the House, former AFP chief of staff and senator Pong Biazon concurs, saying that it is time to wage war against the insurgents.
How stupid these Ping Pong characters in the House are. I am not surprised why we are in a rut.
I think Noynoy is not the suicidal type. He's not the type of leader who will head towards unchartered waters without thinking of the lasting consequences of such acts.
When Erap's minions occupied MILF camps, he did so within a few weeks. Unknown to him, the MILF purposely left their camps to shift tactics--from regular army formations to guerilla. Had the war lasted, it could have been disastrous for the Philippine government because of the expected casualties such a mindless enterprise would have entailed.
Besides, what happened to Erap shortly afterwards? Erap was ousted. He spent a fraction of the treasury to fund his war machine, which affected the economy. The economy fell, and many people blamed Erap for the direct effects of war---untold death, misery, and poverty.
Erap's political capital was also spent, to a point where most of his supporters shifted allegiance because of the amount of flak he got from the people. He eventually got isolated. When his isolation was complete, Erap got a taste of what no other Philippine Leader experienced in their careers---a humiliating exit.
A war against Muslim insurgents would amount to nothing. Fact is, it would further enflame the region with calls of separatism.
A further escalation of conflict would realize the dream of pan-Asiatic Islamic terrorists---transform Mindanao into a regional battlefield, like what the US did to Afghanistan and Iraq.
A war will worsen the state of affairs of the Philippines. With an underperforming economy, a breakout of war would deeply affect the economy.
Likewise, it would also break the focus of this government. The Aquino administration is concentrating on the anti-graft and corruption fight. Don't tell me Mr. Senator and Mr. Congressman that you want nothing more than divert the attention or path of this government?
A war would surely divert the attention of this administration. Instead of firming up cases against grafters, most certainly, against the Arroyos, what would happen in case war breaks out, is that all resources of government would be mobilize to strike the enemy. It would also create chaos within the Aquino organisation in such a very high level that it would not be able to concentrate on more pressing and more major issues of repairing the problems caused by the 9-year old rule of the Arroyos.
The time is not ripe for war. The Aquino administration is in the right path. It is transfiguring the bureaucracy. It is concentrating on correcting the monumental errors within the superstructure. It is repairing even the political system.
A war would just create more problems and would just divert the attention of this government. Instead of fighting drug lords, smugglers, jueteng lords, and big-time economic saboteurs, the Aquino administration will be constrained to spend public money fighting an enemy whose mission is to prolong the conflict so that they achieve what their ancestors longed for--a truly independent Bangsamoro republic.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Peace, The Ulamas, PCID and Vagni Update
The recent releases of foreign hostages thru the intercession of ulamas in Jolo, Sulu is testament of the efforts made by a small non-governmental organization. Called the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy (PCID), this organization founded by long-time peace advocate Amina Rasul, has made significant progress in peace in Mindanao, especially in those war-torn areas such as Basilan, Sulu, Lanao and Tawi-Tawi. PCID has been in the forefront of peace initiatives, silently working their way to the hearts and minds of the Bangsamoros in Mindanao.
Ulamas are highly respected authoritative figures in the Bangsamoro homeland. They educate the Bangsamoros in the ways of Islam. Many advocate for the separation of the homeland from the clutches of imperial Manila rule; yet, there are many who also want this to be a peaceful transition instead of armed struggle.
Peace, as some analysts surmise, can only come about if the Manila government recognize the uniqueness of the Bangsamoro culture and grant full independence. There is no compromise. For decades, Bangsamoros have staged numerous campaigns and even war, to show that what they want is self-governance.
Self-governance is a sensitive thing, especially if you ask those hawks in the palace. For them, the only response is war. That's why, as we speak, there are hundreds if not thousands of soldiers fighting the Bangsamoros for that precious real estate called Mindanao. War brings only misery and more apathy to victims and combatants. It makes matters worst.
What is so problematic is when third parties enter into the picture, spoiling the broth and making it more difficult for both the Bangsamoros and Imperial Manila to enter into a peaceful settlement. Here is where the PCID enters into the picture.
PCID strives to unify the disparate forces within the Bangsamoro Republic to arrive at one common agenda for peace. Ulamas are critical members of this striving since they serve as both religious and proto-political advocates within their own respective territories. That's why, for the first time, PCID organized a fully united Ulama Council which aims to continue the Bangsamoro struggle within the parameters of peaceful resolution and mediation.
This is where PCID has been a success for numbers of years. Governments such as the United States, Britain and other European nations have supported PCID's efforts in the region. And the PCID will continue serving and striving for the complete unification of the Bangsamoros.
.By the way, foreign hostage Vagni is still missing. Some reports say he has been abandoned in a desolate area to die. Military sources are confirming this as we speak. Vagni, reports say, is sick. He's been suffering from hernia. Ulamas are also actively trying to determine the location of Vagni and convince the ASG to hand the hostage over. However, complications reportedly arise. Vagni is nowhere to be found
Ulamas are highly respected authoritative figures in the Bangsamoro homeland. They educate the Bangsamoros in the ways of Islam. Many advocate for the separation of the homeland from the clutches of imperial Manila rule; yet, there are many who also want this to be a peaceful transition instead of armed struggle.
Peace, as some analysts surmise, can only come about if the Manila government recognize the uniqueness of the Bangsamoro culture and grant full independence. There is no compromise. For decades, Bangsamoros have staged numerous campaigns and even war, to show that what they want is self-governance.
Self-governance is a sensitive thing, especially if you ask those hawks in the palace. For them, the only response is war. That's why, as we speak, there are hundreds if not thousands of soldiers fighting the Bangsamoros for that precious real estate called Mindanao. War brings only misery and more apathy to victims and combatants. It makes matters worst.
What is so problematic is when third parties enter into the picture, spoiling the broth and making it more difficult for both the Bangsamoros and Imperial Manila to enter into a peaceful settlement. Here is where the PCID enters into the picture.
PCID strives to unify the disparate forces within the Bangsamoro Republic to arrive at one common agenda for peace. Ulamas are critical members of this striving since they serve as both religious and proto-political advocates within their own respective territories. That's why, for the first time, PCID organized a fully united Ulama Council which aims to continue the Bangsamoro struggle within the parameters of peaceful resolution and mediation.
This is where PCID has been a success for numbers of years. Governments such as the United States, Britain and other European nations have supported PCID's efforts in the region. And the PCID will continue serving and striving for the complete unification of the Bangsamoros.
.By the way, foreign hostage Vagni is still missing. Some reports say he has been abandoned in a desolate area to die. Military sources are confirming this as we speak. Vagni, reports say, is sick. He's been suffering from hernia. Ulamas are also actively trying to determine the location of Vagni and convince the ASG to hand the hostage over. However, complications reportedly arise. Vagni is nowhere to be found
Friday, October 10, 2008
Requisites for Bangsamoro State-hood
There's a heated exchange going on between Jester-in-Exile and one FV followed Dan U Ignacio. It's all about the Bangsamoro Question. In the next few days, I'll be writing about this, especially on the concept of nation-building. What are the internationally-recognized conventions that allow people, even indigenous ones, to form their own governments or craft their own independent states. I'm pretty particular about this because of what's happening right now in Kosovo which could be used by the Arroyo regime as a justification for the grant of a similar BJE setup. Kosovo, as you may well know, what's to secede from Albania because of ethnic clashes. The international community has stepped up its efforts to recognize the independence of the Kosovo people.
Now, if really the Bangsamoro people want their own independent state, they would have to prove five (5) things:
1. The Bangsamoro people are not Filipinos.
2. The Bangsamoro people are being enslaved and oppressed by the Philippine government.
3. The representative of the Bangsamoro may have to exercise dominion over the territories covering the BJE through force, if necessary.
4. They have to exercise governmental functions in that territory and must exercise or show that they can keep the power at all times against external threats.
5. They have to step up efforts at getting international recognition of the Bangsamoro as a people.
These requisites should be satisfied by the Bangsamoro. However, I fear the worst for the Bangsamoro people because they are still not united. They have a disparate voice which harms the entire struggle. They need one unifying force that would make people toe the line and I think that it is only for the love of Allah SWT and the pious exercise of Islam will this be achieved.
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