Law to be Drafted May End Years of Conflict in Southern Philippines

Forty years of armed conflict in Southern Philippines may finally end now that legislation is being drafted by representatives of the current Philippine administration and key players from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) the country’s main separatist group. Mohagher Iqbal is acting as the chief negotiator for the MILF. He heads a commission which is composed of 15 members. Iqbal shared the news to the media with much optimism after the initial meeting of what is being called the Transition Commission.

One year

The Transition Commission is tasked to draft a framework for Bangsamoro. Bangsamoro is currently composed of five provinces. This region is dominated by Muslims and has been suffering from the effects of years of guerrilla violence. Millions of people have been displaced and hundreds of thousands have died during the four decades of perennial fighting in the region. The long running insurgency in the Southern part of the Philippines in known worldwide as one of the most enduring armed conflicts in Asia.

The Moro or Muslim problem requires bilateral cooperation according to Iqbal. He added that they intend to work with the government for a peaceful resolution and towards the establishment of an autonomous structure in the area. The ceremonial initial meeting of the Transition Commission was held on April 3 at a hotel in Quezon City.

Leap of faith

Parallel peace tasks aiming for a peace deal that will be satisfactory to both parties has already been scheduled and the first one will be held in a week’s time in Malaysia. Talks between the government and the MILF had always been conducted in this country.

Iqbal calls the current task at hand a leap of faith for the rebels as they choose to trust the political process to end years of conflict. According to him, the “gradual and calculated shift” from the gun to the pen is the journey that they need to face and risk given the impending shift of power as the current administration ends in three years. The MILF has been aspiring for self-rule and its 12, 000 followers continue to bear arms and fight for their convictions.

A new autonomous region

The Commission is set to submit a draft as soon as possible so that the new government could be in place by June 2015. The new autonomous region will have a wider territorial coverage including the island chain of Sulu. Iqbal is aware that there are many challenges and hurdles that lie ahead as the proposal makes its way to Congress. It is also clear to him that the legislative body would probably seek to alter provisions of the proposal

Most of the Philippines abide by Roman Catholicism. An autonomous government has already been formed in Mindanao. But poverty is so widespread and corruption does nothing for the welfare of the people. A new autonomous region would have a greater chance of providing opportunities for its people.

Promises

Incumbent President Benigno Aquino III met in secret with the leader of the MILF in August 2011 abroad and promised them greater power over the autonomous territory. The promise of real autonomy gave the rebels renewed faith in the government and brought them back to the negotiating table.