Road to peace in Mindanao filled with extreme obstacles, challenges

Peace in the conflict areas of Mindanao is within sight, but the road leading to it is fraught with so many pitfalls laid by those who cannot live in peace. While the agreement proclaiming the commitment of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government to create a Bangsamoro land has been signed in the most auspicious arena and with the most audacious display of the willingness of both parties to work for stable peace, the road ahead remains extremely challenging. The consolation is that the negotiators have done away with their frivolous demands and, with their feet on the ground, have arrived at attainable and reasonable objectives.

The bigger challenges now are with the constituents of the proposed Bangsamoro land. They have to deal with what seems like endemic intra-tribal conflicts and intractable combatants who cannot seem to appreciate what peace means to their own people. Then they have to confront the remaining vestiges of Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf guerillas who may still be seeking protective haven in MILF territories.

Never mind the kidnap-for-ransom syndicates which also operate in these territories. These can be dealt with by the combined elements of the MILF and the Philippine National Police.

And what about the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)? Their leaders are the most negative voices in the wilderness but theirs are merely sound bites now for they are among the reasons the conflicts in the Moroland continue. The best thing the MNLF can do now is to quiet down and let this new quest for genuine peace succeed. After all, the MNLF had been given the chance, but it just wasted its opportunity to lead Mindanao to the era of peace. But all is not lost because there are lessons to be learned even in a “failed experiment.” Not a few MNLF leaders have successfully participated in political exercises. Not a few MNLF combatants have succeeded in their small enterprises.

The promise and the prospect of a stable peace finally coming to the troubled nooks and corners of Mindanao have generated so much hope and enthusiasm not only within but also outside the region. Foreign governments want to help bring progress and development to the Bangsamoro which has been ravaged by war and abused by its own corrupt leaders.

Though we have been critical of the administration of President Aquino, we salute him for this agreement.

Steady the course, Mr. President, for if this journey finally reaches its destination and anchored securely on the shores of peace, we Mindanaoans, from generation to generation, will forever be grateful to you.

—RINA DE JESUS,

Rosary Heights, Cotabato City