MILF: Editorial--People-centered agenda

Editorial posted to the MILF Website (Feb 22-28): People-centered agenda

Right from the start in January 1997, the agenda of the GPH-MILF peace negotiation has always been “How to solve the Moro Problem” which was later refined or correctly put in proper context as Moro Question. This Question is political, with elements of economic, social, cultural, religious, historical, etc. The core is to restore back to our people the right to govern themselves, which was deprived of them when the so-called Philippine Republic was established in 1946.
 
However, while it is true that one of the central basis of this assertion of Moro’s right to self-determination including claim to ancestral domain anchored on the sultanate system of yore which was firmly established in Mindanao before Spain came in the 16th century, but the main principles embodying this are equality of peoples and parity of esteem. We want to put in place an entity where everyone enjoys the same rights and privileges.
 
It is fully admitted that the role of the sultanates is well recorded in the niche of Moro history and we are always proud of it. Had they not withstood the invasions of colonizers, there would have been no Moros and Islam today in Mindanao. The classical example is what happened to Granada and Cordoba in Spain when the two Moorish kingdoms were defeated by the Catholic armies of Europe. Those who did not escape and accept Christianity were all put into the sword.

Truth is that if the sultanates in Mindanao failed to stay on power to this day, there are several compelling reasons.

First, during the closing years of the Spanish rule in the Philippines, all the sultanates, except the Sulu sultanate and perhaps to a lesser degree the Buayan sultanate, had practically lost their powers. The Sulu Sultanate managed to stay in power for sometimes during the American regime, but the Americans, the superpower at the closing of the 19th century and to the 20th century --- and to this day --- was too much to confront. This was made more serious when second level Moro leaders, instead of the sultans themselves, carried the brunt of the fight against the Americans.

Second, in 1935 President Manuel L. Quezon formally abolished the sultanate and the datu system. Of course, the various sultans and the datus did not agree to this policy, but they had no way to stop it.

Third, much of the world today which has monarchial settings has undergone major transformation. Except for those staunchly conservative Arab states, the role of monarchs and kings has been substantially reduced, mostly ceremonial in character. This is largely brought about by emergence of democracy in the western world and Islam among Muslim states, which expounded equality of peoples and respect for human rights. This radical change simply means that the 21st century is not the era of monarchism but popular rule.

And fourth, while many members of the so-called royal families joined the MNLF and the MILF but the various sultanates, as institutions, remained in the backbench.

It is not true to say that the MILF has not consulted members of these royal families. In fact, in the case of the MILF, one of the members of its peace panel is a direct descendant of the sultanate of Maguindanao. But in these consultations, the core idea is to seek the views of individuals, groups, institutions in order to bring forth a system of governance where the people exercise self-governance over themselves. Anybody who sincerely subscribes to this view is welcomed.

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3112:people-centered-agenda&catid=344:gggg