ASG demands

As reported, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is not demanding any ransom payments for the release of the two remaining ICRC hostages, Notter and Vagni. They want something else, which Sulu Vice Governor Sahidulla described as "something which will make them change." And what is that something?

Maybe Sahidulla is referring to earlier demands for livelihood for the Tausugs? Some form of developmental assistance? Government already thumbed it all down, simply because of some bureaucratic requirements. And what is that? The ASG should list itself first as an NGO, hehehe! But not of the Joc-Joc Bolante kind of NGO.

Kidding aside, these are the oft-repeated demands made by the ASG through the years:

1. Bring back barter trade in Jolo. Sulu was once a very prosperous barter trade hub in that part of the world. If you visit Jolo, you'll see that they have a theater and all the fine halmarks of development prior to the Marcos regime. Marcos was the one who transferred barter trade from Sulu to Zamboanga.

The popular demand is to bring it back where it was traditionally been since the pre-Spanish times. Which is not bad, to say the least. Barter trade will bring more jobs to Tausugs there, especially the youth. Government should consider this.

2. Decrease the presence of armed forces in Sulu. Not bad even since it was stated in the ARMM agreement signed by the MNLF with Imperial Manila. I think some form of self-governance should be allowed in Sulu.

3. More development assistance from government. Sulu is one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines simply because government failed to develop the area. Honestly, the province shows a lot of promise if it is to be developed as a tourist site. I once swam in the Patikul (Quezon beach) and Indanan beaches and it was wonderful. A few years back, Senator Gordon was the very first one to suggest that Sulu be transformed as a tourist destination. Seriously, Sulu as a tourist site will probably rival that of Boracay. Seriously.

4. Self-governance under Islamic law. Self-governance is not unconstitutional since what I am just referring here is devolution of some powers, like Taxation. Police power, well, it's not being disputed. What is just being asked of is more respect and institution of the Shariah.

These things have been demanded since 2000. Yet, the hawkish policy of the Philippine state prevents or hinders these things from being implemented there. That's why many Tausugs are resorting to jihad because they feel that government is totally unconcerned about improving their situation.

Time for government to re-assess its prevailing policy re Sulu and start helping our fellow Muslim brothers live in peace and economic prosperity just like before.

Like I said, government should ease up its "pa pogi" by asserting that the best option to resolve the current ICRC hostage crisis is thru military options. No.

This crisis can be resolved through an AGREEMENT with the government and the ASG that government will try its best to deliver these longings (demands) as soon as possible.

How Muslim Youths in Mindanao think

There's an interesting dig at a conversation made by a journalist with a young Tausug over at rebelpen (http://rebelpen.wordpress.com). That entry shows you why young Tausugs turn into rebels overnight. Analysts would always blame poverty for this. Yes, probably. But, gut issues just concretize their prevailing beliefs. It is not the sole reason why Muslim youth rebel against the system.

Its their interpretation of history. It's their prevailing belief that they have been subjugated by Christians. It is how they view the world.

Look, Islamic culture is different from Christian beliefs. That much we need to admit. We believe there's a thin barrier separating these religious philosophies together but this is more illusory than fact. That barrier is as thick as a building.

The more Christian settlers in that part of the world hammer their own laws, their own beliefs and their own system of doing things, the more radicalize these Muslim youths become. Why?

Because their history is one of subjugation. There's no co-existence happening in Mindanao. What exists is an uneasy tolerance between both cultures that would definitely lead to conflict. Its just a matter of time before this explodes in our faces.

That leads us to one question--what's the cause of this? The obvious answer is weak government. Government is supposed to be the equalizer, the neutralizer. The neutralizing or equalizing force is the enforcement of law, which, to my memory, is non-existent. When governments are weak, the more conflict a society gets because there's no force that enforces the laws. When people feel aggrieved and when laws are perceived to be unequal, favoring a certain culture or system of beliefs over the other, war is inevitable.

IN the case of Mindanao, how do you expect the Bangsamoro to follow Philippine laws when these laws have been predicated from Graeco-Roman precepts, totally antithetical with Shariah or Islamic law? Would you expect a devout Muslim to follow a law based on Christian beliefs? No.

In our case, it would be very hard to find a "middle ground". Religious tolerance cannot be done with a weak government. Now, if government continues to be weak, then, it's time for us to consider giving the Bangsamoro a shot at governance.

Let them govern themselves. Those lands which they claim as theirs is indisputable.