History is a witness to the sufferings of the Bangsamoro people perpetrated by tyrant external and internal colonizers. They were neglected, betrayed, oppressed and treated as second class citizens for a very long time. They were the majority who were reduced to a minority in their own homeland. Their precious fertile landholdings were grabbed.  They were driven away from their shelters and communities. Their mosques and madaris (Islamic Schools) were torched to the ground.
The Bangsamoro might have lost its glory, lands to settlers and multi-national corporations; thriving and sprawling colorful sultanates but never its honor, dignity, courage and determination to be free from shackles of colonization.  During the commonwealth period, then President Manuel L. Quezon declined a petition from Sulu for the succession of Dayang Dayang Piandao to the throne of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II after his death. According to him,   ”the   sultanate ceased to exist after the death of the sultan”. 

Since the Spanish era up to the succeeding regimes, the Bangsamoro people were asserting their rights to freedom and self-determination. Diplomatic efforts were exerted, bill filed in congress, manifestos were submitted and mass action like the one held in Zamboanga in 1920; other similar actions held in Lanao and Cotabato, were futile.  Time and again, it has never been heard or acted upon by government. It ran on deaf ears. The title of the book written by Salah Jubair,”A NATION UNDER ENDLESS TYRANNY” (1984, 1997) is not only appropriate but the exact description of the plight of the Moro people in South of the Philippines.

On the preface of the second edition of his book (1997), Jubair described the clamor of the people for freedom and national identity as “not to claim past glory, rather it was to unshackle the gory image put on it by colonialism”. Furthermore, he said   “It is intended to build a vibrant, dynamic and progressive homeland for everyone to live happily ever after”.

There are two (2) means of struggle. Armed struggle, that is costly, turbulent, bloody and violent; and through peace negotiations. The latter is   peaceful struggle which only needs patience, perseverance, civility and intelligence. It may be similar to a game of chess where both players are very careful of their moves.

Peace negotiation or peace talks is the most peaceful means of resolving conflicts arising among contending parties, groups or nation states. The bargaining table is the safest arena of settling issues between disagreeing or warring individuals or countries.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF), the leading and only group now fighting for the rights of the Bangsamoro people has been negotiating with the Government of the Philippines(GPH) for the past sixteen(16) years. This is because the MILF believes that negotiation is the best alternative to a bloody protracted warfare.

There were hitches on the negotiations.  Occasionally, there were stalemates and only the sincerity of the MILF that makes the negotiations moving. Previous peace talks under past administrations were marred by devious tactics, betrayals and treachery but the group continues to talk about peace. For Islam after all means Peace.

We owe much gratitude to the MILF hierarchy for their patience and determination; the combatants and non-combatants and the general masses; Malaysia, the facilitating country; other observers to the peace talks and members of the International Contact Group (ICG).

The struggle is a “long struggle” said Mohaghir Iqbal chair of the MILF peace panel in one of his meetings with his staff somewhere in Maguindanao province. Perhaps he is attributing this to the length of time and number of years wasted for the negotiations. Nevertheless, he did not discount the role of intervening events that may possibly take place to hasten the success of a struggle.

DEVELOPMENTS AT KUALA LUMPUR

The recently concluded 31st exploratory talks between the MILF and the GPH held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ended with significant   outcome. The results were satisfying to the freedom-thirsty people in Moroland.  It increases their yearning for a peaceful and prosperous homeland. Though both panels were not able to bring home a signed agreement to their principals, nevertheless the outcome were signs of positive steps towards an agreed landmark historic accord.

Optimistic as his counterpart in the MILF, Atty. Marvic Leonen, GPH peace panel chair urged the MILF panel to “bring home a framework agreement”. Indeed, this was the banner story of The Mindanao Cross, a local newspaper in Cotabato city published on September 8, 2012. In his opening statement, Leonen underscored the optimism of the government that the remaining issues in the peace process will be finally resolved.

On his part Iqbal, an expert trouble-shooter and peacemaker same as other officials of the MILF said “Today, the GPH-MILF peace negotiations are passing through a defining moment, a critical phase, which allows us no complacency on the part of the parties”.  But even without a signed pact for the moment, both parties are well-eager to succeed with the negotiations. Be it as it may, the long road to peace is just beyond our reach. The legal crusade for freedom will eventually cease in our favor and other stakeholders in Mindanao, insha Allah.

There is no fix timetable yet to the mind-bungling, head cracking lengthy discussions on the contents of the proposed agreement although there were some predictions. Nevertheless, the people are very anxious. They are counting on the sincerity of the Philippine Government in resolving the issues affecting Mindanao.  Hopefully, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino will be true to his words that a final agreement will be signed soon.

Meantime, the Moros should remain observant and vigilant on the prevailing political atmosphere and any unexpected events that may transpire on their   midst.  Let us wait, see and pray to the Almighty that the problem in Mindanao will be resolved peacefully. (September 10, 2012)