https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/485121/in-the-know-whos-who-on-napoles-list
September 14 2013
Total Disarmament
GOVT MUST LEARN LESSONS
FROM MNLF ZAMBO ATTACK
By Manny Pinol
The Philippine government, especially officials involved in the current negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other rebel groups, must learn hard lessons from the violent excursion waged by Nur Misuari’s Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Zamboanga City.
An insurrection or rebellion could not be ended through appeasement and security issues and peace negotiations should not be handled by officials with bleeding hearts.
During the years I was Governor of North Cotabato, I have always been called anti-peace and a war-monger.
I earned those labels because I was very straightforward in my position on how to address the conflict and the security problem in the Southern Philippines.
Total development and total disarmament.
These are the hardlines I believed in but some people called my position unreasonable saying that government must be understanding and allow the rebel groups to hold on to their firearms, even after a peace agreement has been reached.
Peace negotiators, especially those from Luzon who look at rebellion as a romantic struggle, have fallen for the myth that having guns is part of the culture of the people in the South.
It is admitted that the upheaval in the Southern Philippines now is a result of years of neglect and deprivation and even injustice on the marginalized sectors, especially the Bangsamoro and the Tribal people.
But it is also a fact that most of those who took up arms and staged the rebellion against the government do not really have the purest of intentions to lift up their people from poverty and defend them from injustices.
When given power and authority, they get drunk and stray away from the noble path they followed as revolutionaries.
Nur Misuari is a perfect example.
Given the opportunity to lead his people as Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), he instead lived like a king and moved around followed by an entourage of fully armed supporters in a convoy of 30 to 40 vehicles.
When in Manila, he and his party would occupy one whole floor of posh hotels.
Stripped with power years later, Misuari griped at the Central Government’s alleged failure to live up to its commitment to the 1996 Peace Agreement.
Indeed, the Philippine Government miserably failed to honor many of its commitments but even with that, Misuari could have made a great difference on the lives of his people.
Powerful and respected, even by the international community, the former University of the Philippines professor turned revolutionary could have done great things for the Bangsamoro in the South had he been faithful to his revolutionary ideals.
Misuari could be faulted for getting drunk with power but the biggest mistake was made by the Philippine government in the way it handled the MNLF rebellion.
While many MNLF cadres were integrated into the Armed Forces and the national police force, those who did not make it were allowed to hold on to their guns and war equipment.
With their armaments in tact, Misuari and his group retained the capability to create trouble for every minor complaint and gripe and for every drop of the pin.
The Aquino administration and the peace negotiators handling the MILF problem now should look closely at the Zamboanga caper of the Misuari group and learn lessons from it.
There are clear indications that the Philippine government, in its negotiations with the MILF, will again fall into the trap of allowing the rebel group to hold on to their firearms.
In fact, they will do it with the semblance of legality.
The MILF has demanded the total withdrawal of the regular members of the Armed Forces from the Bangsamoro Territory and the establishment of its own police force for “greater self-determination.”
On paper and in concept, it looks good. In fact, its romantic.
But one does not have to look far to realize that this approach is fraught with dangers.
Just look at what is happening in Zamboanga City now.
Following the same route in addressing the MILF problem will only bring us to a situation where peace and tranquility would just be an occasional respite from an endless conflict.
Do we really want to live in peace in Mindanao?
Then the answer is Total Development and Total Disarmament.
There are no Ifs and Buts.
(Photo caption: File photo of MNLF forces downloaded from inquirer.net)
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