But after some people invented and perfected media-sustained guerilla warfare against big, lumbering state powers, even college kid rebels could survive indefinitely sponging off the very civilization and society they seek to destroy and take over.

Outfits like the MILF and CPP NPA survive on little more than a website, a KFR once in while, some light arms and drug smuggling, or better yet an ongoing cell site extortion operation, and other local protection businesses, to sustain the soldati from rampage to rampage in between party congresses.

I think the so-called “natural right to revolution” which is stoutly defended by some and which justifies the continued existence of our twin armed insurgencies needs to be questioned. I think every attempt at revolution should have an expiry date. If it doesn’t inspire the people and ignite a decisive action on their part, within some reasonable period of time (like, say, half a century seems long enough), then we ought to be justified in regarding such a movement as a “crackpot revolution” that deserves to be suppressed.

There is something particularly disturbing about the Bangsamoro movement, which portrays its golden past with blind eyes. The MOA-AD for example harkens back to olden days and holds up the “suzerain authority of our sultanates” as an example of how sophisticated those Maguindanaon autocracies were, and how they contained all the elements of a modern nation state. Well that’s right, a modern state like Sudan or Somalia!

This is so true. Majority of the people in Mindanao, both Muslims and Christians, have learned to “exist side by side” as you aptly said. Who died and made the MILF the voice of Mindanao? They’re one of the rebel factions who keep stirring trouble there in an attempt to get what they want – power. If the government really wants to know what Mindanaoans want, don’t ask their politically motivated leaders. Go to the grassroots and ask the common people. I believe they’ll find their answer there.

It kinda reminds me of how the native indians in California were able to parley the “debt” supposedly owed to them by the white conquerors into semi-autonomous areas granted to them where they have their own laws. They have allowed the operation of Casinos in these areaas, where it is illegal in the rest of the state. A few indians get filthy rich of course, while the rest of the less fortunate ones are still on the reservation fighting poverty and alcoholism.

Thank you for this perspective, your friend makes some interesting comments, and no doubt, there are others who are thinking the same.

Congratulations on your first post here at FV!