Mindanao could become the “next Afghanistan.” Mindanao is becoming “the new ‘Mecca’ for terrorism.” US Embassy Charge d’ Affaires Joseph Mussomeli, the number-two embassy official in Manila, gave this warning in an interview with Australia’s SBS television, saying the US is concerned about militant training activity on Mindanao in the southern Philippines.
The US is not host or facilitator to the GRP-MILF talks (that is a role that Malaysia has ably done so far). But its strident discourses on the alleged MILF ties with foreign terror groups is dragging the talks into a closed closet, into an “anti-terror” cul-de-sac. Washington wants the Arroyo government, its closest Southeast Asian ally, to do more in the fight against terrorism. The US reality is that there can’t be “real peace” in the south unless the alleged MILF links with JI and the Abu Sayyaf are severed.
Mindanao could become the “next Afghanistan.” Mindanao is becoming “the new ‘Mecca’ for terrorism.”
US Embassy Charge d’ Affaires Joseph Mussomeli, the number-two embassy official in Manila, gave this warning in an interview with Australia’s SBS television, saying the US is concerned about militant training activity on Mindanao in the southern Philippines.
Mussomeli aired his remarks on March 11, a week before the resumption of another round in the GRP-MILF peace talks. Earlier (on 29 March) US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said at a NAIA press briefing that the US State Department is mulling the inclusion of the MILF in its list of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) after a Jemaah Islamiyah member confirmed his group’s links with the MILF. The chorus was joined the next day (30 March) by Admiral William Fallon, head of the US Pacific Command, who said that the MILF had links with the Abu Sayyaf and the Southeast Asia-based Jemaah Islamiyah.
The US is not host or facilitator to the GRP-MILF talks (that is a role that Malaysia has ably done so far). But its strident discourses on the alleged MILF ties with foreign terror groups is dragging the talks into a closed closet, into an “anti-terror” cul-de-sac. Washington wants the Arroyo government, its closest Southeast Asian ally, to do more in the fight against terrorism. The US reality is that there can’t be “real peace” in the south unless the alleged MILF links with JI and the Abu Sayyaf are severed.
Which is different from how MPC views the ongoing talks. The core discussions of the talks will be on the question of ancestral domain. Addressing ancestral domain, as well as the long-term injustice, underdevelopment and poverty which we believe are the roots of our conflicts, will bring “real peace” to the island. Not a military campaign, especially if they involve American military “advisers”, “experts” or “consultants”.
At the least, the recent US policy pronouncements can divert the talks from its core discussion on ancestral domain. At the most, they can help derail the peace talks by putting into question the sincerity of the parties to achieve peace.
The Mindanao Peoples Caucus is also concerned over escalating US troop involvements in Mindanao, ranging from training Filipino troops on counter-terrorist strategies, small unit tactics, intelligence gathering, counter-narcotics, etc. Since 2002, US troops and trainors have been deployed in Basilan (Balikatan 02-1) Zamboanga (Balance Piston, 2004), Carmen, Cotabato (Balance Piston, 2004), Davao (Baker Piston, 2004) and are now again in Basilan. Where is this all leading to?
Various US officials have been harping on this point- MILF ties with foreign terrorist groups — since last month. It seems that there is ground laying, testing the waters, getting the public pulse, for greater US interventions in the military sphere.
The GRP-MILF peace process is entering a crucial phase. Peace talks will resume on April 18 in Kuala Lumpur. While far from perfect, a GRP-MILF ceasefire has generally held since July 19, 2003, helped along by monitors from the peace panels, the Organization of Islamic conference and grassroots formations.
We therefore ask that the talks in Malaysia be allowed to proceed based on the trust and confidence built by the two parties since the GRP-MILF peace process started in 1997.
We ask that the GRP-MILF peace process proceed unhampered by political pressures especially from foreign actors. We ask the US embassy in Manila and other US officials to hold off pronouncements that can affect the conduct of the peace talks or its outcome.
At this crucial juncture, we ask for greater support for the talks from Malaysia and the OIC as the only third parties agreed on by the two negotiating parties.
From the two peace panels, we ask for greater transparency in developments in the talks for civil society especially the grassroots in Mindanao. While we understand the security concerns involved at this point in the talks, we continue to demand for transparency and accountability of the GRP and MILF peace panels and their respective superiors, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and MILF Chair Al-Haj Murad Ibrahim. We call on all these actors to resist undue foreign pressures in conducting the talks.
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