I think the whole concept of disarmament has to be re-introduced into the peace negotiations. It’s the missing link in the endless cycle of war and peace.

-Dean Jorge Bocobo, on August 20th, 2008 10:01 pm, comment to A Just War

Is there a war or is there not?

ABS-CBN News quoted MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim who said, “This can be a beginning of the war if not properly handled but it can also, as I have said, there is still a chance in going back to peace as long as both parties— for us and for the side of the government– will implement utmost restraint in order to hold back the situation”.

There is no turning back. Rather, one should say, this Republic should not turn back. Madam President, as Commander-in-Chief I hope you realize that removing MILF off the map is one of the few first steps this Republic must do to bring about a Just and Lasting Peace in Mindanao?

This is A Just War.

There can be no negotiation or settlement with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Destroy their infrastructure. Disarm them. Remove them. Prosecute their financiers. For all our dead, for all who suffer, give them justice. If it is at all possible to bring the leaders of MILF to court, do it. If not, I do not speak for every Filipino but for me, if they happen to be blown up while being arrested, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. That’s war. people die in a war. Maybe this time it wouldn’t be the innocent alone who would pay the price.

Even as the Armed Forces is engaging the Bandit Forces of MILF, we must begin building for a post-war, post-MILF world. What do I mean?

Our government must deal with the other factions in Mindanao. Muslim. Christian. Everyone. (obviously everyone except the MILF). Right now. Even as the shooting is ongoing.

Send a negotiator that all those factions respect. Ask them, individually, in a post war, post MILF world, what would it take for all of them to rebuild Mindanao side by side? What would it take for them and would they agree to all be in a table to discuss those terms with every other stakeholder in the region? If they do, bring them all in one table with a negotiator that is acceptable to all parties.

No ambiguity. No none sense, no bullshit discussion on what rebuilding should be.

What guarantees does the Government of the Republic of the Philippines need to show as a precursor?

We can do this now. As a sign of good faith. Put it to a vote in 2010, ask our people do you really want Charter Change? If our people want it, then call for a Constitutional Convention. If this nation is to change the fundamental course of our politics, we can not do the half step of the Pimentel Proposal nor put the personal interest of Arroyo on the table. We must go full out and put it to a finality, will we or won’t we?

Let our full step be in a Convention that all the pieces of the puzzle can be put together. In Articles of Republic, I mentioned that all our existing provinces/regions can be transformed to “states”. If we have to go Federal, I believe that is the least messy way to do it. All those stakeholders in Mindanao must be an integral part of that Conversation, that Constitutional Convention. We need to look to the future with our eyes open. In my humble opinion Charter Change isn’t a requisite for peace or development but if it is a point of negotiation, why not?

Second, this settlement with Mindanao must be made clear to be an internal matter of the Philippines. We can not solve this by involving Foreign Nations who have their own vested interests in the matter. Save perhaps ensuring that our coastal waters are not violated to prevent the rearming of groups in Mindanao. Save perhaps the prosecution of the Financiers of the MILF. In that I believe, we will need help.

Third, I agree with Dean James when he made a comment to “A Just War,” (and which I quoted at the beginning of this post). There can be no Peace in Mindanao as long as there are guns there. Every group must be disarmed. When the fighting stops, the Armed Forces and our National Police should be the only armed groups in Mindanao. That the ultimate guarantee our Government needs to implement.

By ensuring Law and Order in Mindanao, it opens the door to let businesses thrive. Open Mindanao up to everyone. Filipino. Chinese. Indian. Australian. American. The British. Everyone. Anyone who wants to build a business in Mindanao should be welcome with a few requisite requirement: that they employ full time for at least 3 years one local resident of Mindanao and the number must be proportional to the size of their business. For as long as they do business in Mindanao, they must employ a local resident full time.

The guarantee of Law and Order must be absolute. It can only be done without the guns. And the only way to ensure prosperity for the poorest of the poor in Mindanao is to get business to thrive there. That’s what business needs: a playing field. The guarantee of Law and Order assures that.

And you know what the good part of that last bit is? It doesn’t need Charter Change. All it needs is for our government to do its job: guarantee Law and Order and let our people thrive.

The Jester posted this on his site:

Seriously, FV crew, we have to take this a bit seriously. Now that we have the South starting to flare, perhaps we can do a bit to help fight the fires? Food for thought.

On the 7th of November 2004, Arundhati Roy said in a speech on accepting the Sydney Peace Price, “Sometimes there’s truth in old cliches. There can be no real peace without justice. And without resistance there will be no justice”.  Inspiring words in this time of war and an equation, I think for Peace.

Disarm Mindanao. Guarantee Law and Order in that island. That said, let us not be naive to think that guns will guarantee perpetual peace. We can only guarantee peace with a gun for a finite period of time but we have to make it count. I believe that the justice Mindanao needs is to get businesses to thrive. through it, we respect the human dignity of the People of Mindanao by giving them more than mere living wage. We raise Our People up. We open Opportunities for them to grow, to thrive. This I believe is a Just Peace, after a Just War.

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