why i'm so positive about the prospects of peace in mindanao

the mindanews report today is so encouraging:

the moro islamic liberation front (milf) has welcomed a government program geared at alleviating poverty in its stronghold in lanao del norte, provided project implementers from government do not include the military. the department of social welfare and development in northern mindanao said that milf leaders in poona piagapo town expressed their willingness to cooperate with the government’s kapit bisig laban sa kahirapan (kalahi) program and would encourage barangay folk to be committed in the implementation of the initiative for their development.

three things i want to point out about this development:

1. the moro islamic liberation front (milf) is open for a peaceful process to achieve their goals. they still prefer independence of the bangsa moro nation rather than autonomy under the republic of the philippines. but they are open to choose a more peaceful process towards their independence. they have a clear perspective of their short-term needs and their long-term objectives. for now, they understand their people’s welfare, and they are cooperating with the government of the republic of the philippines (grp).

2. in this peaceful development process, the government of the republic of the philippines has shown wisdom by not including the military. this is an expression of trust by the more powerful to the less powerful. for the past one hundred years, both the american military and the philippine military have tried to ‘pacify’ the muslim rebels through military means. the wrong assumption was that, the muslims in mindanao cannot be trusted. i lived with them last march 2004. i have personally entrusted my life under their care. i support the move of the government of the republic of the philippines to trust the muslims in mindanao in this particular endeavor under the leadership of the milf.

3. this is good news for those of us who are seeking to assist in the development of communities in the southwestern region of mindanao. this means, more relief and development resources would flow into the region from local, national, and international sources.

may salam or peace be experienced continually by each person, each family, each barangay, and each development agency in this region.

allahu-akbar!