Editorial posted to the MILF Website (Jun 15): Need to Solve the Internal Problem
The Government of the Philippines (GPH) is battered within and from outside.
Internally, the New People’s Army (NPA) is very active militarily, while the MILF’s combat power and capability are still intact.
The Government of the Philippines (GPH) is battered within and from outside.
Internally, the New People’s Army (NPA) is very active militarily, while the MILF’s combat power and capability are still intact.
Never mind the MNLF, BIFF, and Abu Sayyaf. They can create troubles but they can never be able to pose serious threats to the government. Externally, the conflict in the South China Sea is real and not imaginary. The imbroglios with China and Taiwan will not fly away. The Sabah issue will continue to irk Manila, because unscrupulous media men, carpetbaggers, and other adventurers or intriguers will always revive it and create irritants between the two good neighbors.
Thus, it is long overdue that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should shift its energy on external defense. The internal matters should be better left to internal security forces and the police. This will be greatly enhanced once the government and MILF signed their comprehensive peace agreement that contained provisions on the establishment of police and “interim security force”.
The change of priority cannot be postponed any longer. Government policy-makers should realize by now that defense of this country cannot be left to foreign powers, whose national interests may not be served by going to war over the Philippines.
However, this shift of gear is still contingent on solving the Moro Question.As long as this problem is not resolved satisfactorily, it will not fade away, even assuming that the MILF loses steam or becomes irrelevant. New groups, perhaps more radical, will emerge and carry on the struggle for right to self-determination. But if the right formula is clinched, all the armed Moro groups in Mindanao will gradually fade out, because they have no more reasons to fight the government. Exceptions to these are the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the so-called terrorists, because both have “ideologies” or “beliefs” beyond accommodation by the prevailing political and economic systems in this country.
But the MILF fading away is not getting nearer to reality. On the contrary, the MILF is getting stronger day by day. It has a clear ideology, as well as both political and military organs, in addition, its vast popular support. Moreover, its credibility with the international community is growing and expanding. Thanks to its consistency and honest-to-goodness way of dealing with people, organizations, and even states!
Without doubt, the delay in the peace talks is causing more harm to the government. The frequent changes, virtually attitudinal, in positions of government in the negotiating table is not only angering the MILF but also irking the international community.
The truth is that even the much respected daan matuwid (straight path) policy of the Aquino administration is already doubted seriously. If this will not be arrested, the consequence would be very damaging. Credibility is one commodity that is hard to earn but so easily to lose.
http://www.luwaran.com/
Thus, it is long overdue that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should shift its energy on external defense. The internal matters should be better left to internal security forces and the police. This will be greatly enhanced once the government and MILF signed their comprehensive peace agreement that contained provisions on the establishment of police and “interim security force”.
The change of priority cannot be postponed any longer. Government policy-makers should realize by now that defense of this country cannot be left to foreign powers, whose national interests may not be served by going to war over the Philippines.
However, this shift of gear is still contingent on solving the Moro Question.As long as this problem is not resolved satisfactorily, it will not fade away, even assuming that the MILF loses steam or becomes irrelevant. New groups, perhaps more radical, will emerge and carry on the struggle for right to self-determination. But if the right formula is clinched, all the armed Moro groups in Mindanao will gradually fade out, because they have no more reasons to fight the government. Exceptions to these are the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the so-called terrorists, because both have “ideologies” or “beliefs” beyond accommodation by the prevailing political and economic systems in this country.
But the MILF fading away is not getting nearer to reality. On the contrary, the MILF is getting stronger day by day. It has a clear ideology, as well as both political and military organs, in addition, its vast popular support. Moreover, its credibility with the international community is growing and expanding. Thanks to its consistency and honest-to-goodness way of dealing with people, organizations, and even states!
Without doubt, the delay in the peace talks is causing more harm to the government. The frequent changes, virtually attitudinal, in positions of government in the negotiating table is not only angering the MILF but also irking the international community.
The truth is that even the much respected daan matuwid (straight path) policy of the Aquino administration is already doubted seriously. If this will not be arrested, the consequence would be very damaging. Credibility is one commodity that is hard to earn but so easily to lose.
http://www.luwaran.com/