Trump’s Asia Foreign Policy: Japan’s Role in the Coming Age

Posted to The Liberty (Nov 19): Trump’s Asia Foreign Policy: Japan’s Role in the Coming Age

Donald Trump’s policy advisers Alexander Grey and Peter Navarro recently posted an article entitled “Donald Trump’s Peace Through Strength Vision for the Asia-Pacific” in the online Foreign Policy magazine. It offers insight into the likely direction of Trump’s Asia Policy.

The Strategy of Peace Through Strength

Below are the main points discussed in the article:

• In 2011, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States would begin a military “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific, but that turned out to be an imprudent case of talking loudly but carrying a small stick, one that has led to more aggression and instability in the region.
• Over time, the administration drastically cut the U.S. military — particularly by shrinking a U.S. Navy expected to be the tip of the pivot spear, thus nullifying any attempt to pivot to Asia.
• Beijing has created some 3,000 acres of artificial islands in the South China Sea with very limited American response, largely because of its shrunken forces. Beijing has expanded its illegitimate territorial claims in the East China Sea, everywhere from India to Indonesia.
• Secretary Clinton faithfully executed the Obama administration’s failed policy of “strategic patience” with North Korea, and produced nothing but heightened instability and increased danger.
• The Obama administration’s failure to intervene in 2012 when China brazenly seized Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines after agreeing to stand down, has no doubt contributed to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent move toward a China alliance.
• Trump’s approach is two-pronged. First, Trump will never again sacrifice the U.S. economy on the altar of foreign policy by entering into bad trade deals with other countries. Second, Trump will steadfastly pursue a strategy of peace through strength. To do this, Trump has pledged to rebuild the U.S. Navy, lost during the Obama administration.
• It is only fair that each country steps up to the sharing of military costs.

Obama Nullified the Pivot to Asia

In response to the U.S.’s proposed ‘pivot to Asia’, China raised the foreign policy slogan “New Major Country Relations”. In a meeting between Xi Jinping, Chairman of China, and President Obama in June 2013, the two came to an agreement to establish new major country relations.

But the big problem was that the Obama administration lacked a counter-China strategy and remained in the grey zone as to what ‘new relations’ actually meant. The result was that the pivot to Asia was nullified.

The article’s remarks about the Philippines are also true.

The U.S. remains ambiguous as to the effectiveness of the Mutual Defense Treaty in relation to the Filipino territorial issues. Director of Japanese Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, Michael Auslin, rightly maintains that improving relations with the Philippines is a top Asia Policy priority.

Increasing Responsibilities for Allied Countries

Peace Through Strength means to increase military power to bolster the role of the peace protector. Despite this, the U.S. has continued to push for an increase in responsibility for NATO and allied Asian countries.

The reason for this lies in U.S. domestic affairs. In his first interview after the elections, Trump said:

“You know, we’ve been fighting this war for 15 years… We’ve spent $6 trillion in the Middle East, $6 trillion – we could have rebuilt our country twice. And you look at our roads and our bridges and our tunnels… and our airports are… obsolete.”

 In other words, the U.S. needs to spend money on rebuilding its infrastructure first.

What Should Japan Do?

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Hillary Clinton during the election period, but did not visit Trump: perhaps he was afraid of being criticised by Trump for the unilateral nature of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.

This imbalance is a problem. Japan cannot sit idly by and watch American soldiers perish as they try to save Asia in times of trouble. Of course Japan has been shouldering some costs, but most of their defense relies heavily on the U.S. Japan is getting away with not having to spend money they should be spending on national defense.

Some people in Asia, like Filipino President Duterte, want more help from Japan than from the U.S. However, Japan must aim to become the right-hand-man to the U.S. in their role as the world’s policeman.

A sincere consideration of Trump’s request would naturally lead to Japan’s decision to pull its weight in the unilateral relationship, which can only be achieved through the amendment of Article 9 (Constitution of Japan). Forget about securing political power; think of future happiness. If we do so, the next elections in Japan will have to revolve around a discussion of a constitutional amendment. (Hanako Cho)

http://eng.the-liberty.com/2016/6518/

Yasay: US accepts PH position for less focus on military operations, more on cooperation vs terrorism, drugs

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 19): Yasay: US accepts PH position for less focus on military operations, more on cooperation vs terrorism, drugs

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, shakes hands with Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay, during their bilateral meeting at the APEC Ministers Meetings, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC’s 21 member-nations comprise more than a third of the world’s population and half of global trade. It was established three decades ago to accelerate economic growth by removing trade barriers and helping integrate global supply chains. Pictured left is Under Secretary for International Relations Manuel Teehankee. (Mark Ralston/AFP Pool Photo via AP)

 

The United States has given way to the Philippine position that the focus of the joint exercises under the Enhanced Development Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) be redirected towards mutual cooperation and capacity building to fighting terrorism, illegal drugs, and corruption, and disaster risk management.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., in a briefing with Philippine media, said US Secretary of State John Kerry agreed that the two countries should move forward into non-traditional joint cooperation areas and less on joint military exercises.

“I’m very happy America has accepted the position we’re taking and respects it. We will continue to engage ourselves with each other on these mutually beneficial joint exercises in line with their national interest and in line with our national interests as well,” Yasay said.

EDCA is a supplemental agreement to the Visiting Forces Agreement. The agreement was signed by Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg in Manila on April 28, 2014. At the core of EDCA is the conduct of joint military exercises.

Yasay said he explained to US Secretary of State Kerry the need for the Philippines and the United States to continue in their joint cooperation, especially illegal drug interdiction.

He expressed hope that the US will continue to assist the Philippines in capacity building for law enforcement agencies and police forces against terrorism.

“As outgoing secretary of state of the United States, he wanted to make sure that the close relationship between the Philippines and the United States would be moving forward, will be further strengthened,” Yasay said.

US Admiral Harry Harris is due to arrive by the end of this month to discuss the possible areas of the cooperation.

Yasay said the Mutual Defense Board and the Security Enhancement Board will be making recommendations which, he said, he and the US ambassador hope to approve.

Asked what could have persuaded President Duterte to continue EDCA, Yasay said the President never said anything about totally discontinuing EDCA.   “In fact during his inaugural speech he said he would continue to respect our Mutual Defense Treaty and other supporting documents, including EDCA,” he said.

President Duterte, he said, has assured the US that the Philippine government will continue to respect the treaty and support agreements.

The President, however, has said that the joint exercises should not be “demonstrative of preparing ourselves for any eventual attack from aggressors particularly China.”  This has always been the bias or mindset insofar in the Philippine military alliance with US, he said.

Yasay said the Mutuial Defense Treaty was executed in 1951 when the world was engaged in the Korean War and a dominant theory at that time was that if Korea fell to the Communists, other countries in Asia such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and the Philippines would be the next.
“It was on this basis that this perception at that time, rightly or wrongly, that we had a military alliance, that the mutual defense treaty with the United States was deemed necessary,” he said.

“But as events turned out,” he said, “the domino theory was proven to be false.  Korea was divided into north and south, North Vietnam won, but Vietnam has consolidated as a nation closely relating with the United States.”

“Hence,” he said, “engaging with the United States in so far as military preparedness for invasion by countries like China no longer holds true…  The government is in the midst of this conflict or dispute insofar as the South China Sea is concerned, which the Philippines is committed to resolve in a peaceful manner through bilateral talks.”

“So, we feel that we should not pursue any action that can be considered by both sides as provocative.  Joint military patrols in the South China Sea with anyone, for that matter, will be provocative acts. Engaging ourselves in land-based military exercises, if geared to preparing ourselves for invasion by other countries, in particular, China, will be provocative.”

“So we have told the United States that maybe we should tone down and not focus on these joint military exercises … We would like to focus on exercises that are non-traditional, insofar as building our capacity against non-traditional security threats such as terrorism, illegal drugs, even disaster response.”

Yasay said the President directed the members of his Cabinet, particularly the secretary of national defense, and the national police to study the situation and come up with an evaluation. “The recommendation was to continue with this arrangement as the President intended, to begin with, but the emphasis should now be on more realistic and pragmatic response to emerging needs.”

http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/19/yasay-us-accepts-ph-position-for-less-focus-on-military-operations-more-on-cooperation-vs-terrorism-drugs/

Camp Aguinaldo open to traffic

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 18): Camp Aguinaldo open to traffic

The chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Affairs Office (AFP-PAO) is hopeful that the plan to open three gates in Camp Aguinaldo for private vehicle owners will help ease the traffic problem along EDSA and C5 especially during the Holidays.

 

Marine Col. Edgard A. Arevalo, at the same time, expressed hope that motorists who intend to avail of the opportunity to use the thoroughfares inside the camp will observe proper rules and regulations.

 

“We are hopeful that this would really help our public in a good way especially those who will come from EDSA and C5. Hopefully, they could easily traverse these two major thoroughfares for their ease and comfort,” Arevalo said.

 

“We would just like to appeal to the public who would be intending to avail of this privilege or this opportunity to use the thoroughfares of our camp that they should observe proper rules and regulations, the traffic rules and regulations inside the camp and the discipline that we have to observe inside the camp,” he added.

 

The military said that it has agreed to open for motorists some of the gates in Camp Aguinaldo, to help ease the traffic along EDSA and C5 especially during the Holidays.

 

The project, which is in partnership with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), is expected to start next week.

 

http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/18/camp-aguinaldo-open-to-traffic/

Davao’s Mindanao week of peace all set

From the often pro-CPP online publication Davao Today (Nov 19): Davao’s Mindanao week of peace all set

PEACE COMMITTEE. From left to right, members of the executive committee of the Mindanao Week of Peace: Vivien Nobles of the Mindanao Pranic Healing Center, Msgr. Fernando Capalla of the Bishops-Ulama Conference, Col. Cornelio Arboleda of the 5th Civil Relations Group, and Nor Asiah Adilao of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)

 

A multi-sectoral alliance led by the Bishops-Ulama Conference and civic society organizations here announced the celebration of the 2016 Mindanao Week of Peace, with the theme “Respect and Protect Life: A celebration of the Filipino Spirit.”

 

The annual week-long activity was initiated by the Peace Advocates Zamboanga in the 1990s but has since been adapted by the Bishops-Ulama Conference, a group composed of Catholic bishops, Muslim religious leaders, and Protestant bishops and pastors.

“As of now we are composed of only 12 organizing groups, but we plan to invite the leaders of every religious group to make an impact highlighting peace” said Msgr. Fernando Capalla, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Davao.

Nor Asiah Adilao, of Silsilah Daialogue Movement said that among the objectives of the Mindanao Peace of Week 2016 is to create a “safe space” that will “build good relationships and friendships for harmony and peace among the people.”

Adilao said this is especially important for Davao City, known as a melting pot of cultures.

Now on its 17th year since 1999, the celebration is joined by non-government organizations, civic society groups, and the the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Col. Cornelio Arboleda, commander of the 5th Civil Relations Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed the army’s support to the peace movement.

“We have been strong advocates of the observance of the Mindanao Week of Peace. We’ve done it in Zamboanga, we’ve done it in Pagadian. Now when I heard that the event is fast approaching, representing the AFP, we decided that we’ll be again active partners of the peace advocates here in Davao to celebrate the Mindanao Week of Peace,” Arboleda said.

The activities will start with a motorcade on Nov. 24 at 3 pm from Magsaysay Park to Roxas Avenue, where an opening program will be held. Adilao said there will be forums during the week-long celebration.

http://davaotoday.com/main/bulletin/davaos-mindanao-week-of-peace-all-set/

Largest PH island in Spratlys to get P450-M port

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 19): Largest PH island in Spratlys to get P450-M port

Government hopes port will improve access to Pag-asa island in Kalayaan and boost Philippine claims

The Philippines will build a P450-million port in the Pag-asa island, an island in the disputed Spratly islands in the West Philippine Sea, amid better ties with Asian neighbors with claims to the territories, especially China.

MB FILE—Photographed through the window of a closed aircraft, an aerial view shows Pag-asa Island, part of the disputed Spratly group of islands, in the South China Sea located off the coast of western Philippines on July 20, 2011. China protested a trip made by Filipino lawmakers to disputed areas in the South China Sea to assert the claim of the Philippines. Ethan Sun, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Manila, said the trip scheduled was ‘against the spirit’ of a code of conduct signed by claimants to the areas in 2002. The Spratlys, believed to be rich in oil, mineral and marine resources, are also claimed in whole or partly by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA/POOL

 

In a statement, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said the budget for port construction at Barangay Pag-asa, the lone barangay in the Palawan town of Kalayaan has been earmarked from the 2017 General Appropriations Act under the Department of Transportation’s aggregate P3.98-billion spending program for the maritime sector.

The amount will be under the capital outlay budget under the DOTr’s funding for its Central Office.
The new port would vastly improve accessibility to the area and bolster the country’s claims in the West Philippine Sea, according to a DOTr report submitted to Congress.

“We support the port development project, which will surely help encourage human settlement in the remote Philippine island that now has less than 400 residents, mostly fishermen,” said Pimentel, also a member of the House committee on national defense and security.

Hopes for the island

Pimentel also called on the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to consider putting up a research station in Pag-asa.

He also called on the Department of Energy to find ways to provide a renewable and stable source of electricity on the island that presently relies on a 75KVa generator set.

The 37.2-hectare island has an unpaved 1.3-kilometer airstrip, a one-classroom primary school and a five-bed clinic.

Pag-Aasa used to be a purely Philippine military installation until civilian setllement was allowed. It still hosts a small military detachment led by a lieutenant and the Philippine Navy’s Naval Station Emilio Liwanag.

Filipino claim

Located 518 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Pag-asa—a low-lying landmass surrounded by shallow coral ranges—belongs to the Kalayaan Island Group at the western section of the Spratly archipelago.

The island has been occupied by the Philippines since 1970. In a 1978 decree, former President Ferdinand Marcos established the municipality of Kalayaan, the country’s smallest municipality, over the Kalayaan Island Group and placed it under the Province of Palawan.

Pag-asa, internationally named Thitu Island, is the Spratlys’ second largest naturally occurring island. It is called Zhongye Dao by the Chinese and Dao Thi Tu by the Vietnamese.

The entire Spratlys is claimed by China, which has conducted massive reclamation of reefs and shoals into artificial islands.

But a tribunal in the Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration in July ruled any possible entitlement of China could not overlap Philippine territories.

In October, President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to China resulted in local fishermen regaining access around their traditional fishing grounds in the Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, another disputed territory hundreds of kilometers up north and outside Spratlys.

http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/19/largest-ph-island-in-spratlys-to-get-p450-m-port/

Abu Sayyaf bandits open fire on Basilan military encampment

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 19): Abu Sayyaf bandits open fire on Basilan military encampment

Government forces have strengthened security to prevent a repetition of an attack on a security encampment in Basilan province.

This came after the Abu Sayyaf bandits have fired upon and injured two soldiers and militiamen stationed in Barangay Duga-a, Tuburan, Basilan around 8:20 p.m. Friday.

Insp. Said Ismael, Tuburan police chief, disclosed that the group of Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Abdulla Jhovel who were armed with high-powered firearms were behind the incident.

The identities of the injured soldiers and militiamen were not immediately available.

The soldiers belong to the Army’s 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion.

Troops have been deployed to track down the Abu Sayyaf bandits behind the incident.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=941488

Langub installed as new Arescom commander

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 19): Langub installed as new Arescom commander

The Army's 6th Infantry Division on Saturday takes pride in the appointment of Colonel Bernie G. Langub as new commander of the Army Reserve Command (Arescom).

Langub on Friday assumed the post, replacing Colonel Pascual Luis D. Bedia, making the unit he previously served proud.

"We are very proud of Colonel Langub, his skills and bright minds will surely improve Arescom," an Army official said, requesting anonymity for lack of authority to speak.
  
Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, acting Philippine Army Commanding General presided over the change of command.

Both Pangilinan and Langub served in the 6th ID as commanding general and commandant of the 6th Division Training School, respectively.

The duo had a colorful military career fighting communist and Moro outlawed groups in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. They were also instrumental in paradigm shift of the 6th ID from most fightingest unit to peace advocate, giving primacy on Malacanang's peace overture in southern Philippines.

Langub, famously known as the "Father and Author" of Warfighting Competency Training, was instrumental in the recruitment of competent and discipline troopers of the 6th ID.

His training school was declared model and template training school of the entire Philippine Army.

He was also the author of the Marshland Riverine Operations being implemented in the 6th Infantry Division Area of Operations.

He crafted the Individual Equipment Record Book for R4 rifles – a booklet that will document the number of ammunitions discharged from every newly issued R4 rifles in the Philippine Army.

The maintenance handbook is non-existent ever since rifles were first issued to military personnel and the poor maintenance of rifles caused damages to the equipment and further resulted in casualties among military personnel.

Langub also crafted the Program of Instruction of the Combat Medical Evacuation Training which is already implemented Philippine Army-wide since 2012.

Langub has also developed a drop zone for proficiency airborne jump at the vicinity of the Division Training School and such drop zone was named after him “Drop Zone Iran” catering airborne special forces personnel within the area of 6ID.

Colonel Bedia had officially assumed as Commander of AFP Reserve Command last month. He also served as the Reservist and Retiree Affairs Officer knowledgeable on the management of reservist recruitment up to training, manning, incorporation among others.

His previous assignments include commander of the 6th Regional Community Defense Group based in Iloilo City. During his stint, the US-PH Cultural Understanding Language Proficiency Program, POTC trainings, and various reserve unit trainings in the Regional Community Defense Groups (RCDGs) were successfully conducted.

Moreover, the Command was able to support the activities directed by higher headquarters namely the National Reservist Week celebration by regions and other RRA-related activities.

Bedia encouraged the personnel to provide the new commander with the same support that was given to him.

As the new Commander of AFPRESCOM, he said that he would work hand-in-hand with the Command to intensify recruitment of reservists and to ensure that activities programmed for RRA as mandated by the Chief of Staff, AFP will be carried out.

His accomplishments bordered on intensified CMO activities with stakeholders and successful RRA activities.

Langub said that Arescom personnel should expect changes within his term. Among the activities that he wanted to implement is the Warfighting Competency Training to impart to the personnel skills and knowledge that will be very handy during wartime.

He wanted the personnel to grow old to become grandfathers, to retire, and to be able to spend a quality life.

On the issue of having the ROTC program mandatory, he said that he was not supportive of the cause because he believed that there would be no challenge if the students were forced to join. He would rather have a few ROTC cadets who are willing to learn than a handful who are not interested.

Pangilinan has expressed his full support to the Army Reserve Command by providing funds needed to implement the Warfighting Competency Training.

He also said that the Philippine Army is very supportive with the ROTC program and urged all Citizen Army Builders to continuously make the program relevant and effective in producing responsible, morally upright and socially involved individuals.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=941461

First Scout Ranger Regiment has new Commander.

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil Relations Service Facebook page (Nov 18): First Scout Ranger Regiment has new Commander.



First Scout Ranger Regiment has new Commander. Colonel Glen Paje, a competent officer and a die-hard ranger takes over the helm one of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' elite units from BGen. Eduardo Davalan who retires from the military service.

Congratulations Col. Glen Paje!

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048.42807.163190093699723/1323326047686116/?type=3&theater

Vietnam, Philippines navies strengthen relations

From Update.Ph (Nov 18): Vietnam, Philippines navies strengthen relations



Philippines and Vietnam navies have conducted a bilateral engagement to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation.

“The Philippine Navy (PN) hosted the 3rd PN-Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) Staff to Staff Talks (STST) from Nov. 15-18, 2016 in order to further develop and strengthen bilateral relations of both navies,” the Philippine Navy said.


Navy photo

http://www.update.ph/2016/11/vietnam-philippines-navies-strengthen-relations/11135

Israel firms demo missile system to PH defense, military officials

From Update.Ph (Nov 18): Israel firms demo missile system to PH defense, military officials



Philippine defense and military officials today have seen how Israeli missile system work. Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)-ELTA jointly conducted a live-fire demonstration in Israel, Friday afternoon (Manila time), according to MaxDefense Philippines.

The said live-firing was to demonstrate Israeli firms’ offer for Philippine Army’s Shore Based Missile System (SBMS) acquisition project, MaxDefense said.

“Among those demonstrated were the IMI Lynx mobile launching system, the EXTRA, Accular, and Predator Hawk guided rocket systems, and smart ammunitions for the 155mm howitzers, which are offered to the AFP as well,” MaxDefense said.

Present during the said demonstration were National Defense Undersecretary for Finance and Material Raymund Elefante, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff General Ricardo Visaya, Army commanding general Lieutenant General Eduardo Año, Philippine Marine Corps commandant Major General Andre M. Costales Jr., Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Rafael G. Mariano, and other officials from the Army and Navy.

MaxDefense Philippines is being managed by Max Montero, an Australia-based defense analyst and a former naval reservist officer in the Philippine Navy.

In mid-2015, a reprioritization in the AFP modernization program was made by senior defense and military officials shelving the planned SBMS acquisition project (at that time) in favor of equipment that can be used for internal threats.

http://www.update.ph/2016/11/israel-firms-demo-missile-system-to-ph-defense-military-officials/11147

Malisbong Massacre memorialized in “Forbidden Memory” film

From MindaNews (Nov 17): 1974 Malisbong Massacre memorialized in  “Forbidden Memory” film

It took 40 years for the Philippine government to officially acknowledge the massacre of at least 1,500 Moro residents of the coastal barangay of Malisbong in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat in September1974 — one of the worst human rights violations under the Marcos dictatorship but not known to majority of the Filipinos.

The massacre has been memorialized in Moro filmmaker Gutiterrez “Teng” Mangansakan’s documentary feature, “Forbidden Memory,” which will have its world premiere at the Gateway Cinema in Quezon City on November 18. The film’s poster reads: “The Greatest Marcos Horror Story Never Told.”



“Forbidden Memory” is one of three documentary features out of 10 entries to the Cineme One Originals Festival that started on November 14 and will end on November 22.

The film’s synopsis says Forbidden Memory “summons remembrances and memories of the fateful days in September 1974 when about 1,000 men from Malisbong and neighboring villages in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat province, were killed while 3,000 women and children were forcibly taken to naval boats stationed nearby where they encountered unspeakable horror. The genocide and atrocities were perpetrated under the dark years of the Martial Law regime of Ferdinand Marcos.”

In his Director’s Journal Entry posted on his Facebook wall on August 10, Mangansakan said he went to Malisbong and its neighboring barangays a day earlier to ask survivors about their sentiments on the burial of  Marcos’ remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“The answer was fury,” wrote Mangansakan.

“Under Martial Law, more than a thousand were killed by Philippine military forces in what is now known as the Malisbong Massacre. After talking to survivors, I conclude that it was no ordinary massacre. It was genocide,” he said.

Mangansakan told MindaNews that the documentary “is a study of memory and how this memory keeps the spirit alive and the faith burning. It is not focused on validating historical truth,” as he acknowledges that “a lot of the accounts are inconsistent at times,” but on “how the memory of that truth keep a sense of community in seeking justice and reparation.”

Recognition and reparation

On  September 24, 2014, the 40^th anniversary of the massacre, then Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Loretta Ann Rosales visited the village to formally recognize the atrocities committed against them by state forces and to enlist the survivors and families of the victims of human rights violation under the Marcos dictatorship to file their claims for reparation.

“Bibigyan natin ng dangal and bawat isa sa kanila because there is this measure of justice na bagamat hindi total justice ay nagsisiguro ng tinuturing nating hustisya (We will give dignity to each one of them because there is this measure of justice that, although not total, ensures some kind of justice that we’ve been hoping),” she said in a MindaNews report after her visit.

The CHR chief was referring to Republic Act 10368, or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, which recognizes and provides reparation to victims of human rights violations during Martial Law.

CHR personnel facilitated the filing of their claims with the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board.

The report of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC), the independent body tasked by Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels to undertake a study and to make recommendations “with a view to promoting healing and reconciliation among the different communities affected by the conflict in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago” noted the allegations that the Philippine military and paramilitary forces “killed an estimated 1,500 Moro men and boys, who were held in a local mosque, and raped an unknown number of women and girls on a naval vessel anchored offshore.”

“They were made to dig their own graves”

The TJRC report quoted this survivor’s account during the TJRC Listening Process: “When the 15^th IB, 16^th IB, 25^th IB and 27^th IB arrived, it was four days after the start of the Ramadan. We were fasting then. One morning, the army went around the area. They first got the barangay officials and one Municipal Councilor, named Hadji Tatu. They were gathered together and were about 1,000 individuals, including the barangay officials and municipal official. They were the first ones who were captured and never came back.”

The survivor added: “There were also more than 1,000 persons who were left inside the mosque. Every day in the mosque, the army would get one to ten persons. Those who were inside the mosque would hear shots of fire hours after these people were taken outside. And those who were taken outside never came back. After one month, Hadji Drews Ali, the Mayor of Palembang, arrived together with Capt. Tayumo to get 200 people, who were inside the mosque. But they were only able to take 150 people—there were four  people from the 150 that were rescued. We never knew what happened to those who were left inside the mosque. My grandfather (father of my mother) was buried alive and another relative was nailed to a cross like Christ. Everyday inside the mosque. I had relatives taken – seven to nine relatives were taken outside, but only the brother of my father survived. All of them were stripped of their clothes; they were brought to the beach; they were made to dig for their own graves; and when they were done, they were shot and killed.”

In addition, the TJRC report said, some 300 houses were burned to the ground by government forces.
According to accounts by the Moro Women’s Center based in General Santos City,  the entire Moro-dominated coastal village of Malisbong in Palimbang was razed to the ground by government forces and their allies.

“Moro men were shot to death while women and children were arrested and brought to a nearby Marines and Navy boat anchored on the sea shore that was constantly shelling the community,” the group said.

It said women aged nine to 60 years-old were raped while being detained at the boat overnight.
“About 3,000 detained women and children were later released and ushered to a community along the seashore. Most of them lost their sanity due to grave torture during interrogations,” the Center said.

Based on the Center’s estimates, around 1,500 male Moros aged 11 to 70-years old were massacred inside the Malisbong mosque while some 300 houses were destroyed and burned by government forces.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2016/11/1974-malisbong-massacre-memorialized-in-forbidden-memory-film/

Promoting peace and protection of children

From The Standard (Nov 18): Promoting peace and protection of children

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace and National Peace Consciousness Month, UN children’s agency UNICEF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) came together to celebrate peace and promote peace building by showcasing traditional art forms with the talents of children.

The Pakaradian sa Kalilintad or festival of peace and merry-making feature traditional art forms including music, visual arts and dance. The event seeks to expand community understanding on the welfare of children and their role as instruments of peace building as part of the “Children, Not Soldiers” campaign on non-association of children in armed conflict.

The festival seeks to expand community understanding on the welfare of children and their roles as instruments of peace building

Children from Bangsamoro communities from Lanao to the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan competed in three categories of traditional dance, song and musical performances. Clad in vibrant colored costumes, and backed by traditional musical instruments such as the kulintang, agong and dabakan, they proudly shared their folk arts and culture as a significant part of their unique identities as a community.

This event is the grand culmination of six local level competitions organized by the Bangsamoro Islamic Women’s Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB), supported by Kalimudan Arts and Culture Centre and UNICEF.

Children showcase their talents during the Pakaradian sa Kalilintad

“By fostering children’s appreciation for diversity and creating a platform for children to share their stories and dreams, we promote unity and peace. Through these activities, children develop friendships and become active players in peace building, paving the way for social cohesion among communities. The community members such as the Base Commanders, elders and parents also play their role in changing behaviors to keep children away from war, and allow children to play, go to school and just be children,” UNICEF Philippines representative Lotta Sylwander says.

The UN-MILF action plan was signed in 2009 to address the recruitment and use of children and commits the MILF to ensure that no children under 18 are associated with the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) as combatants or in supporting roles such as messengers, cooks or cleaners. The “Children Not Soldiers” campaign has reached around 29,100 people, including 10,765 members of the BIAF, 2,457 children and 9,427 community members in eight provinces.

As the seven sambolayang or peace flags by children fluttered in the morning breeze in Camp Darapanan, the children reminded the adults for the need to preserve their rich cultural heritage for the new generation, as well as their desire for the successful implementation of the peace process that is inclusive and supports the rights of all children.

http://thestandard.com.ph/lifestyle/weekend-living/221757/promoting-peace-and-protection-of-children.html

300 men, 10 APCs, 2 choppers raid home of Maguindanao 'narco-mayor,' seize 7 sachets, 3 guns

From InterAksyon (Nov 19): 300 men, 10 APCs, 2 choppers raid home of Maguindanao 'narco-mayor,' seize 7 sachets, 3 guns

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- A large force of 300 police and military personnel, backed by 10 armored personal carriers and two helicopter gunships raided Thursday the home of a Maguindanao town mayor who President Rodrigo Duterte publicly accused of involvement in the narcotics trade.

However, the raiders, led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, who were armed with 12 search warrants, managed to seize only seven sachets of suspected “shabu,” two .45 caliber pistols and an M16 assault rifle from the home of Mayor Montasir Sabal of Talital town, who was not around during the operation.

The MG-520 helicopters fired rockets and machineguns around the house of Sabal to prevent his followers from engaging the raiders as they entered the residence.

However, Senior Inspector Rasul Pandulo, spokesman of the Maguindanao police office, said only caretakers and a sick relative of the mayor were in the house. The relative was taken to a hospital by the police.

The raiders also search the nearby house of Vice Mayor Abdulwahab Sabal, who is detained in Camp Crame after his arrest on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Lieutenant Colonel Markton Abo, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the use of air assets was necessary because the Sabals are known to have armed followers.

The Sabals were earlier accused of being among Maguindanao’s “narco-politicians” by Duterte.

Abo said the houses of an incumbent member of the ARMM regional assembly and the chairman of the association of barangay captains in Talitay, both relatives of the Sabals, were also raided.

He said the operation was coordinated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to avoid mis-encounters.

The search warrants were issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Bansawan Ibrahim.

http://interaksyon.com/article/134468/300-men-10-apcs-2-choppers-raid-home-of-maguindanao-narco-mayor-seize-7-sachets-3-guns

Opinion: Misuari and long path toward peace

Opinion piece by Ryan D. Rosauro in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Nov 19): Misuari and long path toward peace

Mixed reactions greeted the emergence of Moro National Liberation Front founding chair Nur Misuari from over three years of hiding. Those seeking justice for the atrocities committed in the 2013 Zamboanga siege wanted him held accountable now that he is within the law’s reach. But some raised the strategic value of his temporary liberty: his ability to take part in the Bangsamoro transition process, thus completing the key actors in the long march to peace in Mindanao. (The others are the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the various MNLF factions.)

Jesus Dureza, President Duterte’s adviser on the peace process, acknowledged that Misuari would be a major player in the administration’s strategy of achieving convergence among the Bangsamoro peace agreements. But how this will turn out depends on how the process is steered. There is a delicate dynamics among Moro revolutionary groups, shaped in the course of the four-decade armed struggle for self-determination. Here, the process will be as important as the content.

Simply, convergence is bringing the MILF and the MNLF into a unified process of building Moro autonomy consistent with the peace agreements that the government has signed with each.

According to Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who served as chief government peace negotiator with the MILF, the peace processes with the two groups are “conjoined” as these deal with the same aspirations of the Moro people.

The reality of having two peace processes to resolve a single conflict arose from the split within the MNLF leadership in 1977. In one faction was Misuari and in the other was Salamat Hashim, whose faction eventually became the MILF in 1984. In the book “Bangsamoro: A Nation Under Endless Tyranny,” author Salah Jubair says that differences in political outlook and questions about Misuari’s style of leading the Moro revolution caused the split. There were other factors, the most fatal being when Misuari’s secretary-general, Muslimen Sema, formed the MNLF Council of 15 in 2000.

With the split, Moro supporters such as the Muslim World League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) made efforts in 1986 to have both Misuari and Salamat join peace talks with the government—to no avail, as President Corazon Aquino chose to negotiate only with the MNLF.

By Sept. 2, 1996, Misuari had forged with the government a final peace agreement (FPA), which remains unsatisfactorily implemented to this day. An OIC-sponsored review of implementation identified 42 points for improvement.

By January 1997, negotiations with the MILF had begun, culminating in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed on March 27, 2014. The MILF said it negotiated on issues for Moro self-rule which the FPA left out or did not articulate clearly.

Both the FPA and the CAB envision expanded autonomy, but they diverge on the territory of the proposed political entity. The FPA counts 13 provinces (now 15) outlined as the Moro homeland in a 1976 initial pact. The CAB focuses on areas within the historic Moro homeland, as small as a barangay, which are predominantly Moro-populated. It also provides for the delineation of Bangsamoro waters—a feature absent in the FPA.

The MNLF was unhappy that the amended Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, enacted in 2001, does not quite reflect the FPA’s provisions. A disgruntled Misuari tried to launch another rebellion in Sulu in 2001, for which he had to face charges that did not prosper in court.

The MILF was anxious that the 16th Congress failed to enact the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that could have provided for an autonomy setup more meaningful than the ARMM, a major consensus enshrined in the CAB.

President Benigno Aquino III sought the convergence of the two peace agreements through the BBL. He offered the MNLF factions seats in the 15-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission which was writing the BBL, per the CAB. But the offer was unheeded.

Today, Sema’s MNLF Council of 15 will take seats in the Bangsamoro Transition Commission. Earlier, Sema and the MILF agreed to jointly explore the convergence points in the FPA and CAB, following the OIC’s call for Moro revolutionaries to unify their actions.

But Misuari’s faction will not be represented in the commission. He will have his own panel interacting with the government—a situation exemplifying the many nuances that must be adroitly dealt with to ensure success in convergence.

President Duterte has set mid-2017 as the deadline for drafting a new autonomy measure that he will endorse to Congress. In the next eight months, crucial balancing acts will be needed in order to effectively navigate the intricate politics of the Moro revolution to set the path toward peace.

I now understand why peace negotiators of the government and the MILF were inclined to abuse the phrase “cautious optimism” when describing their feelings about the prospects ahead.

[Ryan D. Rosauro, based in Ozamiz City, has been a correspondent of the Inquirer since 2001.]
http://opinion.inquirer.net/99348/misuari-long-path-toward-peace

Jakarta, KL and Manila agree on joint army training to fight piracy

From the Straits Times (Nov 18): Jakarta, KL and Manila agree on joint army training to fight piracy

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to initiate joint army training to advance efforts to secure the Sulu Sea from rampant piracy.

Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said each country would begin its own army personnel training in January next year before conducting joint training later in the year.

The training will take place in Tarakan in Indonesia's North Kalimantan province, Malaysia's Tawao Island and the Philippines' Bongao Island.

Mr Ryamizard said army personnel set to participate in the joint training would form a special force tasked with facing the notorious Abu Sayyaf militant group, which has masterminded a series of recent kidnappings in the Sulu Sea in the south-western Philippines.

"It's part of a concrete action we Asean countries are taking to secure the region," he said in Jakarta on Thursday.

 

He said the training locations would later become posts for a joint task force assigned to help secure Sulu waters.

The need for joint army training was discussed during a meeting between Mr Ryamizard and his Malaysian and Philippine counterparts, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Major-General Delfin Lorenzana, held on the sidelines of the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting retreat earlier this week in Laos.

Malaysia and the Philippines welcomed the initiative, which will add to a joint sea patrol in the Sulu Sea that the three neighbours previously agreed on.

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/jakarta-kl-and-manila-agree-on-joint-army-training-to-fight-piracy