Frustration in south Philippines as peace process with rebels stalls

From Channel News Asia (Jun 29): Frustration in south Philippines as peace process with rebels stalls

New groups have formed to call for independence for south Philippines as the deal to end a 45-year conflict between rebels and the government stalls.

[Video report: Includes interview with Datuan Mangon of the League of Bangsamoro Organizations that advocates junking the BBL and pursuing the original goal of Bangsamoro independence.]

The stalling of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the Philippines Senate has led to frustration among the Muslim population in southern Mindanao.
New groups have formed, calling for independence away from the peace process, and many fear that further impasse could lead to more radicalism. The 45-year conflict has claimed the lives of 120,000 people and displaced 2 million others.
The proposed law is an important part of the peace process between the national government and the Muslim-dominated Mindanao region.
But a newly-formed group known as the League of Bangsamoro Organisation is calling on people to ditch the BBL and to strive for independence from the rest of the country.
"The situation is very intense. We are afraid in the near future when the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) would reject a watered-down BBL, they cannot control the situation because there would be different groups with different agendas who would come,” said Mr Datuan Magon, spokesman for the group. “There are groups waiting outside just for that result. In order to bring hope to address the existing frustrations on the ground, MILF must turn back to the original goal of the struggle.”
Each component of the BBL is being debated and amended in the House of Representatives. As a majority of senators regard the BBL as unconstitutional, they were unable to pass it in time for the close of Senate on Jun 11.
When President Benigno Aquino first took office, one of his priorities was the passing of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the fulfilment of the peace process. However as history has shown, it is easier said than done.
While top members of MILF have maintained that these processes are the only way forward, there has been increasing frustration within the group as well. At least 85 top commanders of the MILF recently denounced the leadership of the party for forging a doubtful peace deal with the government.
"The hope is still there, the Muslims are still hoping but the reality is that there are already Muslims who are frustrated,” said MILF’s vice chairman Ghazali Jafaar.
Evidence of this has surfaced in the past with the formation of splinter groups, such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). The group has been carrying out attacks on members of the Philippine military and infrastructure, with civilians often caught in the cross fire.
"I think the indications are there we already have a movement that was born out of these frustrations. There could be more if we see more frustrations,” said Raissa Jadjuri from the Bangsamoro Transition Committee.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/frustration-in-south/1948586.html