The Clear Path Without Branches
We are now in the last month of the first quarter of the year
2012, the timeline for signing the comprehensive compact between the
MILF and the Government of the Philippines (GPH) which our honorable
counterpart from the GPH had boldly claimed sometime in 2011. Honestly,
we were fascinated by such boldness, which we know is very much possible
if the Aquino administration is really committed to solve the age-old
Moro Question and the armed conflict in Mindanao, following his “Matuwid
Na Daan” or “Straight Path” policy, which I solemnly hope is the “Right
Path”.
Why
I say this is possible in a straight path policy of any
just or rightly-guided leader, if we view this policy in the light of
the Islamic principles of “Siratal mustaquim”. In the daily prayers of
Muslims, they recite the Surah Al-Fatiha, 17 times in five obligatory
prayers and at least 17 in optional prayers, which they solemnly ask for
guidance to the straight path. This is the first chapter of the Qur'an,
which has seven verses that are all prayers for Allah's guidance, and
for stressing on His Lordship and Mercy.
Siratal
Mustaquim is the clear path without branches, according to the language
of the Qur’an. Hence the Qur’an would describe the honest person as
being straight and the wicked person as being crooked, which includes
one who does not fulfill promises and commitments made with fellow human
beings.
It
is on
this premise that I am hopeful that under the administration of
President Aquino the Moro Question and the armed conflict in Mindanao
will finally be put to rest. It is also on this premise that I believe
our honorable counterpart in the GPH would deal with us in
straight-forward manner; meaning, what has been committed, as a product
of honest discussion, will be pursued and followed sincerely, including
signing it without delay. From it we can move forward with much trust
and confidence, as we confront the most contentious issues of the
negotiation.
Surely
and without doubt, the comprehensive compact will not be signed now or
perhaps even in April, despite the claim of the honorable Secretary
Teresita “Ging” Deles-Quintos, banking on “miracle” to happen. The
greater fear is that we might not even sign it at all if we are not firm
on our resolve to push
hard in our negotiation. Sad to note, however, that within the first
two years of the Aquino administration, we have not signed anything of
great consequence that we can show to our people and the world that
indeed there is big happening in the current peace negotiation. I am
afraid that we might not be as productive as compared to the times of
Secretary Silvestre Afable III, Secretary Rodolfo Garcia, and Ambassador
Rafael Seguis, notwithstanding the fact that we have a counterpart in
the GPH which is led by a brilliant lawyer and a dean of law at that.
Honestly
speaking, despite the stark picture of what is really happening in the
negotiation, Central Mindanao provinces are dotted with placards and
streamers, obviously coming from the military, proclaiming for the
imminent coming of peace in Mindanao. While we congratulate the military
for this support of peace in
Mindanao; in fact, it is also our clamor, we are also perplexed no end,
because such excessive building up of public expectation, will have
serious backlash if at the end, there will be no signing. I don’t know
why the military is in such frenzy for proclaiming that peace is
forthcoming in Mindanao. We do not question their motive, but perhaps
there is a communication gap between those in charge of the negotiation
and those on the ground. I do not want to view it as a deliberate act
for some special effects of unknown reason. Unless we succeed in the
current negotiation, this one-sided portrayal of the positive side of
the negotiation will only create frustration amongst our people and the
possible negative backlash is unimaginable.
Up
till today, I hope that the Aquino administration is still pursuing the
first best option, which is to sign an agreement with the
MILF, and the second best option, which is merely to reform the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), is not being pursued by the
government in replacement of the negotiated political settlement of the
Moro Question and the armed conflict in Mindanao. And clearly if the
first is the option of the government, then we can expect seriousness in
the current peace talks. But if the second is now the option, then it
is very easy to see. Expect commitment made to be changed randomly.
Lastly,
it is perhaps of interests to you that we share of our historic trip to
Rome, Italy from March 5-8 upon the invitation of the Community of
Sant'Egidio, which is a Christian community that is officially
recognized by the Holy See as a “Church public lay association". It
claims 50,000 members in more than 70 countries. It is also recognized
by the United Nations within the ECOSOC.
Aside
from being fascinated by the
grandeur of Rome, we were also struck by the openness of the group for
religious dialogues and their willingness to take part in conflict
resolutions. They have welcomed us with open arms and they are seriously
considering reaching out to the Philippine government and the Catholic
Church in the Philippines, the two major players in shaping the
direction of this state. This group has a good track record in
settlement of conflicts from Africa to Bosnia Herzegovina, and to South
America. They played the lead role in the settling of the bloody
conflict in Mozambique in Africa where 1,000,000 died of starvation and
of the fighting. The peace pact that ended this conflict was signed
right at the room where we were received by their key leaders led by its
president, Professor Marco Impagliazzo, 47, who is teaching history at
the university for Foreigners of Perugia, and is now serving his second
term as president.
From Rome, we
proceeded to Catalonia upon the invitation of Mr. Kristian
Herbolzheimer of the Conciliation Resources, a member of the
International Contact Group (ICG). With our own eyes, we were able to
see how former monarchial and later dictatorial Spain has now
transformed itself into more federal rather than unitary. Madrid had
agreed to grant more and more autonomous powers to the 17 regions
especially Catalonia and the Basque Country. We have also talked to the
movers of change in the Catalan political landscape and those who
represent the status quo. Throughout our four-day visit, we never felt
the stigma of the past and the curse of the 320 Moro-Spanish War in
Mindanao. And Madrid, to our surprise, is at peace in allowing the
Catalans to pursue their right to identity, language, and for a
homeland. But still one of the battle lines of continuous hard
bargaining is about the right to tax, which Madrid refuses to budge an
inch to Catalan to this day.
We also
had a side trip to Granada where that famous Alhambra Palace of the
Moorish King is situated. We saw the grandeur of the palace, the
greatness of the architecture, and the impregnable fort where the last
battle between the Moors and Catholic army was fought that resulted in
the decisive defeat of the first, which ended their almost 800 years
rule in Spain. It is an experience of a life-time that brought us back
in time, as Atty. Datu Michael Mastura, one ustadz, and I slowly made
our way slowly through the crowd of mostly Japanese tourists, to examine
every corner and room of the fancied palace.
To
the Moros in Mindanao, this side trip is very important. Had not the
Moors been defeated in Spain, the Spaniards would not have come to the
Philippines and probably the whole of it would have become Muslims,
because at the coming of Spain in 1570, Manila and Tondo were firmly
under Moro
hegemony. There were also many areas in Visayas and Luzon held by Moros
especially Batangas, Mindoro, and Pampanga. But these are all water
under the bridge. History has it that the unconquered is now at the
mercy of the conquered. This is what we are trying to correct in this
negotiation: the great imbalance of the totality of relationship between
the Philippine state and the Moros of Mindanao.
On
this note, I thank everyone in this session hall for lending me his or
her ear as we made a rundown of what I believe as the true state of this
15-year old GPH-MILF peace negotiation in Mindanao.
Thank you and good day!
-----------------
Opening
statement of Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF Peace Panel, during
the 26th GPH-MILF Peace Talks held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from March
19-21, 2012.
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