Misuari: War in Mindanao unnecesary, unfortunate

Prof. Nur Misuari, founder and chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), in Zamboanga City.

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari expressed sadness yesterday to what is happening in some parts in the southern Philippines particularly in Central Mindanao, saying that the war is unnecessary and unfortunate.

"This war is unnecessary and unfortunate because we only expose our children, our women to this scourge of war and it seems nobody is benefiting from this war," Misuari said in an ambush interview at a mosque in Barangay (village) Sta. Barbara.

Misuari performed here the Jumu'ah (Friday) prayer. He arrived here Thursday to meet followers in Basilan as part of his peace caravan that he has been doing since he was temporarily freed from detention in connection with rebellion charges against him.

Although he understands the feelings of his brothers about the failure of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), the MNLF chieftain said he believes that the peaceful means is more effective than the martial means.

"We should not be carried away by our emotion. You know in diplomacy, in a peace talks, in a negotiation, you must always expect for the worse. So when you get the reversal of your faith like that and then you react the way they did, you only add, augment or exacerbate your own problem," he said.

Misuari was referring to the incidents in North Cotabato, Lanao de Norte and Lanao del Sur provinces that were triggered by the frustrations and outraged of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders Umbra Kato, Abdullah Macapaar and Sulayman Pangalian.

At this point in time, according to him, the best way now is for them to continue to search for peace through the peaceful means to avoid any calamitous repercussion on their children on their women and civilians as a whole.

'Why do we have to fight when every time it's our own innocent civilians are the victims of this war?" he asked, adding that unlike before when they were just starting they had to fight for their rights, freedom, even decolonization and independence of their homeland.

But after the MNLF reached the peace agreement with the government in Sept. 6, 1996 when war-like means would no longer be necessary, Misuari said therefore they must not accept any provocation whatsoever.

"That's what I told our brothers in MNLF don't accept provocation, don't provoke and don't also play into the hands of those provocators who want to destroy the smooth transition from the present crisis situation into peaceful one," he continued.

The MNLF chairman furthered that in the case of the MNLF, the members have been so steadfast in following his advice to continue to uphold their peaceful way of achieving peace in Mindanao, hoping that there would be no more obstacles in the way of peace so that they can restore back their freedom.

Misuari's latest visit to Zamboanga was the second and the 4th leg of his peace journey, a sequel of his visit to Davao City, Central Mindanao, Lanao del Norte and Basilan. He intends to visit Zamboanga del Norte, Tawi-Tawi, Siasi, and Sulu in the next few days. HG

Moro rebels website embarks survey on most hated Filipino politicians

The website of the Moro rebels in the southern Philippines will embark an on line poll with the question, "Who is the most hated Filipino leader?" to determine the sentiments or viewpoints of the Bangsamoro people.

In a report posted on Luwaran.com, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's official website, said the survey was conceived after the failed signing of the Memorandum on Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) in Malaysia on August 5, 2008.

The report said the failed signing between the Philippine government and the MILF peace panels infuriated Bangsamoro people and sent some Moro rebel commanders to hit military targets without sanctions from their superiors.

According to an insider of the Moro rebel website, who requested anonymity, the survey will be very objective, saying only Luwaran.com readers have the opportunity to vote on the issue.

"However, only Moro readers are urged to participate and vote," he said, without elaborating. "In a way the Arroyo administration will benefit from this online survey in many ways."

The name of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is number one in the list, followed by former Pres. Joseph Estrada, Exec. Sec. Eduardo Ermita, DILG Sec. Ronaldo Puno, National Security Sec. Norberto Gonzales, and Malacañang spokesman Jesus Dureza.

Seventh in the list is Senator Mar Roxas, followed by Senator Franklin Drilon, Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin, North Cotabato Gov. Jesus Sacdalan, North Cotabato Vice Gov. Emmanuel Pińol, and Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat.

The Luwaran.com reported that ousted President Estrada repeatedly criticized at the MILF with threat of "all-out war" even if he was already out of the office.

It said that entry no. 14 is Atty. Adel Tamano, a Moro who caught the ire of many Moros especially from his province of Lanao del Sur, for parroting the anti-Moro lines of Roxas and Drilon.

Kapihan de Zamboanga
By Hader Glang

A petition statement against President Arroyo

Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) Lead Convenor Amina Rasul e-mailed me a petition statement of Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO) of which she is a member being the former presidential adviser and concurrent National Youth Commission ((NYC) chair.

FSGO is a group of previous senior officials who had served at Cabinet and Sub-Cabinet levels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines under six presidential administrations over the past 40 years.

In their petition statement titled: “Moves For Extension Will Not Die: Filipino Citizens Should Prepare Fro Action,” FSGO members expressed alarmed over the current political developments.

They noted that in spite of various protestations by political leaders from the administration and the opposition, the talk of a brazen attempt to extend the term of Mrs. Arroyo simply will not die.

The following are further excerpts from a petition statement of the FSGO members against President Arroyo:

“Charter change to be initiated in Congress through a constituent assembly has seemingly been stopped in its tracks by the vocal opposition of many members of the Senate, whose two-thirds approval would logically seem necessary to convene a constituent assembly.

Yet the House of Representatives, through the Speaker, and the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, has announced that it will be holding "public consultations" to elicit public opinion on charter change, whether for federalism, shift to a parliamentary system or such other excuse/justification as may later dawn on the proponents.

Some legislators have been vocal in pushing their interpretation that "the Constitution requires only a two thirds vote of its members to propose amendments to the Constitution," an interpretation that would make the Senators' votes almost irrelevant in the process.

The current administration has swung violently on the matter of the conflict in Mindanao from rushing to sign the MOA on Ancestral Domain with the MILF to the abrupt cancellation of the peace talks, the dissolution of the peace panel and the attempt of Mrs. Arroyo to disown knowledge of the agreement; and now a relentless armed confrontation that is seemingly designed to goad the MILF and other groups into a combative reaction or a series of violent actions.

The inevitable armed confrontations and deaths that will follow could be a ready-made platform to suspend the writ of habeas corpus or, heaven forbid, even the declaration of Martial Law. The Constitution requires only a vote of a majority of the members of Congress, voting jointly, to approve and extend Martial Law.

We declare our commitment to a just and sustainable peace in Mindanao. We will initiate and support all possible actions that will bring about an inclusive process to begin with ceasefire and return to the peace table.

We declare our united opposition (1) to any moves that exploit the Mindanao situation to extend Mrs. Arroyo's stay in power, (2) to any attempt to amend the Constitution before 2010, (3) to any attempt to change the Constitution through a Constituent Assembly, and (4) to any step towards declaring Martial Law.

We call on all Filipinos to be vigilant, to inform themselves, to organize with like-minded fellow citizens, and to prepare to show our leaders and officials the true power of our democracy.

US forces' promise aid for Zambo airport unfulfilled, says air transportation chief

Philippines (left) and United States of America flags.

Promises are meant to be broken. This seemed to be true when the local head of Air Transportation Office (ATO) here complained Thursday that the US forces have not fulfilled their promise to help improve the facilities at the Zamboanga City International Airport.

"They promised everything, but up to this point in time not a single nail was given," ATO chief for Western Mindanao Celso Bayabos told members of the City Council. He did not elaborate further.

Bayabos was invited by the City Council to find out the extent of damage of the runway at the international airport, which the local ATO chief has been complaining that needs an immediate and major repair.

The US Embassy spokesperson in Manila, Rebecca Thompson, has been insisting that the "US forces are here at the invitation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

But Bayabos said he was puzzled because US forces were expanding the structure they had built inside the airport within the Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB), though he said the expansion had the permission from the central office.

According to Bayabos, his office submitted a letter to the head of US forces here to do something about it, but instead of initiating actions like moving it (away), they even added some structures making it bigger now.

Meanwhile, local legislators here, during Thursday's regular session, questioned Bayabos why he is still allows huge US aircraft, such as C-17 military plane, to land despite the problem.

In response, Bayabos said they have issued advisories to all pilots to exercise extreme caution while landing in the international airport due to the presence of holes or craters in the runway.

Since 2002, US government have been deploying special forces to Zamboanga with a mission of training Filipino soldiers in fighting terrorists and implementing humanitarian projects on Sulu and Basilan.

American military aircraft have been using the city's international airport to transport personnel and equipment into the airport in support of the US mission to assist, train and advise Philippine military in its fight against the Abu Sayyaf and other domestic terrorist organizations.

There had also been frequent trips of huge US military aircraft, four times bigger than a C-130 cargo plane, using the Zamboanga international airport, aside from smaller military planes and helicopters.

Coalition of 23 groups call for a suspension of US military deployment to Mindanao

The military base of the US Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines (JSOTF-P) inside Camp Navarro in Zamboanga City. Caption/Photo Release From Citizens' Peace Watch

Pending the conclusion of a fair and thorough probe by lawmakers surrounding the US military deployments to Mindanao, a broad coalition of NGOs, social movements, and political parties from the country on Tuesday called for its suspension.

In a press release, the Citizens' Peace Watch, a group formed to monitor what it fears as the growing and permanent US military presence in the South, reiterated its recommendations from a fact-finding mission.

Members of the mission who conducted in Zamboanga City and Sulu last February claimed to have seen with their own eyes – and to haver pictures of – the US' military structures inside Camp Navarro in Zamboanga City.

The members of the Citizens' Peace Watch are Akbayan! Party-list, Alyansa ng Kabataan sa Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan, Anak Mindanao Party List, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Bangsamoro Women's Foundation, Citizen's Coalition for Human Rights, Focus on the Global South, KaisaKa, Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, Mindanao Peoples Caucus, Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement, Mindanao Tri-People Women Forum, Moro Human Rights Center, Muslim Women's Organization, Peace Women Partners, Peacebuilders Community, Pinay Kilos, Resource Center for People's Development, STOP the War Coalition Philippines, Sumpay Mindanao, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, Tulong Lupah Sug, Inc..

"The information coming out today about the US military presence in the south confirm what we have been saying all along for many months now," said Corazon Fabros, one of the group's spokespersons.

"It is high time to look into them because the government's excuse is becoming more and more ludicrous while the situation is getting more and more dangerous," she added.

The group stressed the following findings from its fact-finding mission:

* that the US has established military basing in the Philippines;

* that the US is involved in actual combat operations in the country;

* that the US military has, in complicity with the Philippine military, committed human rights violations in the Philippines;

* that the US is conducting operations outside the control of the Philippine government and military;

* that the US military's so-called humanitarian projects are mere cover for military operations;

* that do not benefit the local population;

* US basing and intervention in the country is contributing to insecurity and leading to an escalation in conflict.

The coalition said in light of the constitutional violations and actual danger to lives and human rights, the Citizens' Peace Watch challenges elected representatives to take the initiative to demand and conduct Congressional and Senate inquiries into the issue.

It also demands the suspension of US military deployment to the Philippines, specifically the stationing of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines as well as the military exercises, pending fair and independent review of and investigations on their presence and intervention.

GRP peace panel dissolution draws mixed reactions

Various leaders voiced mixed reactions Wednesday to the dissolution of the government’s peace panel. While the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it is normal, others said the era of peace talks is over.

MindaNews website reported quoting Guiamel Alim, executive director of the Consortium for Bangsamoro Civil Society, saying that they made the panel pay for government’s weaknesses and insincerity.

“It also means the government is ready to run after the MILF. It also means the International Monitoring Team (IMT) should go home. Mechanism on the ground is dead. What a loss,” Alim said.

MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said that the dissolution of the peace panel is “normal” in any negotiating process and that it is the government’s privilege to do so.

“Well, that is normal in any negotiation, you can change your panel as you wish and it is internal to the government and that is their privilege, they can do that anytime they want,” Iqbal said.

Amina Rasul, executive director of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy, expressed disappointment and alarm at the dissolution of the GRP peace panel, saying that it is a move that destabilizes an already unstable situation in Mindanao.

“I fear that the MILF will take this as the final evidence of the Arroyo administration’s insincerity in the peace process. The hawks seem to have won and a military option will be this government’s strategic response. Peace is lost. I pray that I am wrong,” she said.

Abhoud Syed Lingga, executive director of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, said government is “undoing what has been achieved in the 11 years of peace negotiations.”

Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, secretary-general of the Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus, said “the issue here is not the composition of the peace panel. Whoever sits, they will surely fail if government itself has no clear position on how to resolve the Mindanao armed conflict.”

She said “the situation clearly demands a political settlement and the question is how ready are we to give way to viable political options and formula. change is inevitable — these politicians can only prolong the changes to protect their own interests — but they could never stop it.

Zamboanga City 1st District Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco, in a report by ABS-CBN, said the dissolution of the government’s peace panel for the MILF is a welcome development.

Climaco said this kind of announcement would signal the start of a true peace process and negotiations with the people who are really affected in the areas, to really go down to the stakeholders.

“This would give us an opportunity to really get down to listening and consulting the people,” she said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita formally announced Wednesday that the government would be forming a new government peace panel with the MILF.

He said the decision to dissolve the peace panel was arrived at during a national security cluster Cabinet meeting in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday.

The dissolution of the peace panel, headed by Ret. Gen. Rodolfo Rodolfo Garcia, was “effective immediately,” he said. “All mechanisms within the peace process are in place, the ceasefire agreement will be maintained.”

The new peace panel will pursue talks consistent with President Arroyo’s new peace policy where disarming, disbandment, and reintegration of armed rebel forces will be “front loaded” in the negotiations.

The new approach to the peace talks will be followed not just by the peace panel with the MILF but also the other government peace panels talking peace with Communist rebels and other armed groups.

President Arroyo has also ordered Presidential Peace Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to review all existing peace initiatives of the government, including the stalled talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The decision to scrap the peace panel and to adopt a new peace strategy was made in response to the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor General and the issues raised by Supreme Court justices in the hearings on the MOA-AD.