The Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy condemns the latest kidnappings and crimes in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

After the abduction of Fr. Michael Sinnott (which threatened to disrupt the ongoing peace process between the MILF and the government), a school principal was beheaded in Jolo; then on Nov. 10, two Chinese and a Filipino were abducted in Basilan.

Palace spokesperson Anthony Golez said that the kidnappings are an embarrassment to the country. We agree. The administration that he represents should indeed be embarrassed, especially as it welcomed US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The US government has for 10 years provided, through Balikatan, military assistance to the Philippines. It is time we asked the Arroyo administration where the peace dividends from this investment are.

Ms Arroyo vowed massive retaliation against the Abu Sayyaf. We ask: Will the retaliation kill more innocent civilians and displace more of our people? The last military operation in Sulu, which disrupted the Eid al-Fitr prayers two months ago, resulted in the displacement of over 1,000 families.

In her 2006 State of the Nation Address, Ms Arroyo promised she would crush the rebel and terrorist groups. Her administration has allotted a lot of money for national defense. (P30 billion was allotted for the AFP Modernization Fund in 2008.) The military has perennially claimed that the Abu Sayyaf has been decimated to a small group of bandits. If true, why are kidnappers having a field day in the ARMM?

Worse, there have been more than a hundred cases of rape in Sulu (this, according to civil society). The victims are girls as young as 12 and women as old as 75! And there is no satisfactory response from government, local and national. Worst of all, the victims are treated as if they were the offenders.

The unabated spate of criminal activities in Muslim Mindanao is a clear indication that, as far as the ARMM is concerned, the Philippines is a failed state and that the administration?s Mindanao policy is as much a failure. Should it still be a puzzle to everyone why many Muslims do not feel they are part of the Philippine republic, why they advocate independence?

We always said in the past that a military solution cannot solve the problems of Muslim Mindanao. Government has to invest, not just in defense, but also in strengthening democracy in the region.

The PCID sent Secretary Clinton a letter telling her that ?the relationship of the US government with the Muslim world still is defined by military operations against terrorists and criminal elements.? We recommended that peace and democracy in Mindanao could best be secured by empowered stakeholders, by protecting citizens and by a strong commitment to a genuine peace process.

?AMINA RASUL,
lead convenor,
NASSER MAROHOMSALIC,
founding co-convenor,
Philippine Council for Islam
and Democracy,
Unit 2D Tower 1,
Governor?s Place Condominium,
Shaw Boulevard,
Mandaluyong City