The peace process between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government depends on a transparent and comprehensive investigation of crimes committed against the 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Forces (SAF) by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and 17 Moro troopers. The elite police commandos stormed the Mamasapano town in Maguindanao to arrest Malaysian terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Abdu Basit Usman. If the MILF and the Philippine government fail to investigate what happened to the 44 members of the SAF, one can question the sincerity of both the MILF and the Philippine government about the peace process when it is not able to even conduct such a investigation on killing the special law enforcement agents. I will remain skeptic that the government is able or willing to carry out a transparent and independent investigation. If this kind of problem happened in other democratic countries, most likely whoever was in charge would lose their job, but we have not heard of anyone being fired from his or her post; rather, it is business as usual.
I am sure this event has many unanswered questions, such as ones about whether or not US intelligence was involved in the Mamasapano town of Maguindanao? Is this another intelligence failure? Why does the MILF give safe haven in their territory to internationally wanted terrorists? If the army has operated in the region for decades and is more capable of doing the job because of familiarity with the terrain, why have the police been sent instead or not cooperating with Military? Why did the SAF commandos not inform the MILF ahead of time? if the Philippine government created the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a constitutional mandate as its own way of complying with the 1976 Tripoli Agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The mandate provided for the establishment of the autonomous region for Muslims in the South Philippines within the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines. That means an autonomous territory is still part of the Philippines, and, as such, the relationship is different than having full independence; instead is it internally independent but externally still dependent on the Philippine government. Is the right of the individual state protected from interference by the federal government under the mandate or does the federal government have the higher authority? This kind of case brings up the issue of a state rights dilemma: to what extent can the federal government intervene in the state?
This painful history has already created a deep sense of distrust towards the government and army among the Muslims in Mindanao; however, the Philippine government has made great progress in dealing with the peace process. Every conflict reaches a point when parties grow weary of confrontation and determine it is in their interest to make the peace process work. This is seemingly the case related to the Mindanao violent conflict with the Moro fighters, which claimed thousands of lives. I believe both sides must show more genuine public commitment if peace is to be achieved. They should not let the daily news distract them from their focus to resolve the problems between the Bangsamoros and the Philippine government. During the last few years the reconciliation process between the MILF and the Philippine government has shown the valuable dividends of the reconciliation process that are manifested in the positive atmosphere created throughout the country and especially in the Southeastern Philippines, and that whoever tries to spoil this process should be condemned by everyone.
The fact that both sides announced that the peace process will continue, however, does not mean that the progress will be easy; at this point the government will have a hard time selling this process to the some Filipinos while such violence and disruption continue. People will rightfully have questions about the merits of such a process when the actions of MILF militants are not only embarrassing the government but also creating question marks in the minds of many Filipinos.
Clearly, many sectors do not want the peace process to happen. Those who conduct illegal business do not want to have any accountability; those who engage in arms trade, drug deals, and the control of natural resources are political actors for whom peace is not suitable. Therefore, dismantling something that benefits so many people is not at all easy. I am not referring just to the military, but also to some of the clans, large business companies, or big tribes who benefit from the business of violence. It takes time to solve these intractable problems because this region has fomented complex violence. It is a region where more than 60 percent of the population is living in poverty and a region comprised of people who have no access to their basic rights. The enduring problem is deep-rooted.
Faith cannot be credible in this world without justice. It will be very hard to put faith in someone who cannot seek justice. It would be in the best interest of the MILF to explain to the public that they want peace to endure and then find those responsible for the murders and hand them over to the government. It is MILF’s responsibility to prove to the Filipino people that the MILF can manage the security and safety of all Filipinos; all Filipinos should be able to travel anywhere in the country without harm. Even if the Philippine government and the MILF demonstrate a serious commitment to make a peace deal happen, it will take decades to solidify the basis of a stable and lasting peace in the region.
Dr. Aland Mizell is President of the MCI and a regular contributor to Mindanao Times. You may email the author at:aland_mizell2@hotmail.com
