The MILF is receiving “apprehensions” from international friends who are doing rehabilitation, humanitarian, and skills and capacity trainings for Moros in Mindanao regarding restraints on their movements.
They also feel that their programs are “unnecessarily looked into intensely”. The reasons were not clearly defined, but we feel it is attached to fear of MILF getting stronger, which is viewed negatively rather than positively, as asset in the current peace process in Mindanao. We are sure it is not about MILF’s belligerent status being bolstered, because this theory is already obsolete. The advent of globalization especially in terms of technology (communication) and the growing adherence to human rights law, international humanitarian law, principles of parity of esteem, and equality of peoples, and increasing acceptance of peaceful redress of conflicts have relegated it to the back burner. In addition, the current talk is not about secession which requires bringing the law of international armed conflict into play for both sides. The engagement has always been to strike a deal on sharing of powers and resources in an asymmetrical arrangement.
So, what then are the real reasons? If it is to prevent the MILF to become stronger, then it is not only a flawed thinking but a sign of insincerity. A good partner in peacemaking is one that is capable to commit and deliver and not the one who fails when called to account. If, however, the reason is not one of the above, then it has something to do with control of resources, which every government invariably wants to exercise. We can understand it without necessarily conceding its correctness.
It is time government examines the wisdom of this approach. It is driving away friends of the peace process. The Arroyo administration had tried this before but it backfired. It only courted irritation, which in no way shortchanged the MILF. From anger to sympathy, it can even blossom into a kind support to further the cause of peace in the region. As proved by our experience, denial or restriction does not always disadvantage the MILF; on the contrary, this in many ways offers it many windows of opportunities.
We are sure this seemingly unnecessary restriction is not the official policy of the present dispensation. Perhaps, this is just the discretion (or indiscretion) of one or two officials in government. We are sure the President does not want an inutile organization as partner in peace, especially the MILF. Our deal with the government is one that is based on trust and partnership and surely this can best served by capable players.
The time has come that we must be fully aware that any decision or action taken that does not auger well with the generally accepted norms of conduct will find it very hard for decision-makers to defend. For us, it is better to base decision on trust rather than on mere suspicion. Trust relieves us of inner hard feeling, while suspicion, not only poisons the mind, but makes the world gloomy.
http://www.luwaran.com/
So, what then are the real reasons? If it is to prevent the MILF to become stronger, then it is not only a flawed thinking but a sign of insincerity. A good partner in peacemaking is one that is capable to commit and deliver and not the one who fails when called to account. If, however, the reason is not one of the above, then it has something to do with control of resources, which every government invariably wants to exercise. We can understand it without necessarily conceding its correctness.
It is time government examines the wisdom of this approach. It is driving away friends of the peace process. The Arroyo administration had tried this before but it backfired. It only courted irritation, which in no way shortchanged the MILF. From anger to sympathy, it can even blossom into a kind support to further the cause of peace in the region. As proved by our experience, denial or restriction does not always disadvantage the MILF; on the contrary, this in many ways offers it many windows of opportunities.
We are sure this seemingly unnecessary restriction is not the official policy of the present dispensation. Perhaps, this is just the discretion (or indiscretion) of one or two officials in government. We are sure the President does not want an inutile organization as partner in peace, especially the MILF. Our deal with the government is one that is based on trust and partnership and surely this can best served by capable players.
The time has come that we must be fully aware that any decision or action taken that does not auger well with the generally accepted norms of conduct will find it very hard for decision-makers to defend. For us, it is better to base decision on trust rather than on mere suspicion. Trust relieves us of inner hard feeling, while suspicion, not only poisons the mind, but makes the world gloomy.
http://www.luwaran.com/
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