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Analysis On MOA

The document discusses the controversy surrounding a proposed peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It analyzes comments made by MILF leaders that showed contempt for the Philippine constitution and Supreme Court. It also reveals that the proposed expansion of the Bangsamoro homeland through the agreement represented the largest negotiated land grab in the country's history.

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Mar Sayos Dales
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73 views

Analysis On MOA

The document discusses the controversy surrounding a proposed peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It analyzes comments made by MILF leaders that showed contempt for the Philippine constitution and Supreme Court. It also reveals that the proposed expansion of the Bangsamoro homeland through the agreement represented the largest negotiated land grab in the country's history.

Uploaded by

Mar Sayos Dales
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Analysis Moro homeland pact becomes a ticking bomb By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 02:0

:00 0!"##"200! Most $ead Other Most Read Stories% Close this MA&I'A( Philippines)*hen the +upreme ,ourt stopped the signing on Aug- . o/ the dra/t agreement seeking to establish an e%panded Bangsamoro homeland( Mohagher Iqbal( chie/ negotiator o/ the Moro Islamic 'iberation Front( said that the last0minute cancellation made it clear to the international community that 1the Philippine go2ernment does not possess the capability o/ entering into a peace con/erence-3 4he abortion o/ the e2ent became a diplomatic embarrassment as Ambassador 5ristie 5enney o/ the 6nited +tates( Ambassador +ayed 7lm Masry o/ the 8rgani9ation o/ the Islamic ,on/erence( together :ith Ambassadors Makoto 5atsura o/ ;apan and $oderick +mith o/ Australia( had assembled in 5uala 'umpur to :itness the signingAs key stakeholders in the peace process in Mindanao( the presence o/ the diplomats signi/ied the blessings o/ their respecti2e countries to the agreement and implicit recognition o/ the pact- 4hey :ere there to accord legitimacy to the agreementIqbal<s remark may ha2e told the truth o/ the political capacity o/ the Philippine go2ernment( but it also underscored the MI'F<s contempt /or constitutional processes( :hich the memorandum o/ agreement =M8A> on ancestral domain stayed by the high court<s temporary restraining order =4$8>( ga2e short shri/t as the de/ining /rame:ork o/ the proposed Bangsamoro homeland and( indeed( o/ the political settlement o/ the ?00year0old separatist :ar :aged by the MI'F-

$e/lecting this contempt( the MI'F<s 2ice chair /or political a//airs( @had9ali ;aa/ar( maintained that the M8A :as a 1done deal3 and had become binding a/ter it :as initialed by the go2ernment and MI'F peace panels on ;uly 2A*hat is more insulting is his remark that the 4$8 :as 1purely an internal3 problem o/ the go2ernment( implying that the MI'F does not recogni9e :hate2er the court decides on the issues raised by local o//icials protesting the inclusion o/ their municipalities in the e%panded Bangsamoro homeland4hus( the MI'F has ser2ed notice that the court<s decision :ould not be binding to them4he 4$8 re2eals not only the political capacity o/ the go2ernment to en/orce a peace package but also o/ the :eakness o/ the e%ecuti2e department to bring into line counter2ailing departments)such as the Budiciary and legislati2e)behind its diplomatic initiati2esDangerous mind-set It is a reasonable assumption that the court :as a:are o/ these o//ensi2e remarks o/ MI'F leaders and their implications /or the system o/ checks and balances underpinning Philippine democracy- In issuing the 4$8( the court :as sending the message that this principle :as not suspended by the M8A4hese remarks o/ the MI'F rebels re2eal a dangerous mind0set on the issues o/ the political capacity o/ the go2ernment to enter into binding agreements and o/ the primacy o/ the ,onstitution4hey represent the land mines that the negotiations ha2e to tread :hen the talks are resumed in Malaysia in the last t:o :eeks o/ August4hese issues /oreshado: that the M8A has set back the negotiations /urther a:ay /rom a settlement than :here they :ere be/ore the M8A :as initialed by the opposing panels- 4he

re2elation o/ the details o/ the M8A on the e2e o/ scheduled signing a/ter the go2ernment kept the agreement in secret /or a long time is /ortunateIt re2ealed not only the antidemocratic mind0set o/ the MI'F but also its contempt /or and hostility to constitutional niceties- It pro2oked the timely inter2ention o/ the +upreme ,ourt4he inter2ention /orced up the sur/ace the hidden issues o/ the agreement- 4he petitions by the protesting parties against the agreement e%posed it to scrutiny /or its transparencyNegotiated land grab I/ the M8A had not been re2ealed in time( no one :ould ha2e had the slightest idea that the area a:arded by the memorandum to the e%panded homeland represented the biggest negotiated land grab o/ national territory to a separatist group in the country<s history4he M8A added A00 2illages in the pro2inces o/ +ultan 5udarat( 'anao del &orte( and &orth ,otabato( including parts o/ Pala:an( to the area o/ the Autonomous $egion in Muslim Mindanao to make up the e%panded Bangsamoro homeland4he M8A pictured the mutilation o/ Mindanao areas in the redistribution o/ territories to e%pand the Bangsamoro homeland- 4he dismantling :as done in such a :ay that it appalled local residents*hen the mayor o/ Iligan ,ity un/olded to his constituents in an emergency meeting a map sho:ing that eight out o/ the city<s ?? barangays :ould be absorbed by the proposed Bangsamoro ;uridical 7ntity( the city residents( :ho :ere ne2er consulted about the partition( :ere shocked to learn that the ?? 2illages comprised !2 percent o/ the city<s territory4he city erupted in protest- 4his illustrated the deceit/ul( let

alone( the secreti2e :ay the redistribution :as carried outInflammatory issues 4he unrest unleashed by the M8A o2er the territorial grab( the grant o/ s:eeping po:ers that ha2e the main elements o/ a so2ereign state outside the compass o/ the Philippine ,onstitution has undermined the capacity o/ the Arroyo administration to deli2er a peace pactInstead( the M8A has become a package o/ 4&4( containing enough in/lammatory issues that can easily ignite a ne: e%plosion in Mindanao- In its haste to conclude the pact( the administration has inherited a ticking time bomb-

Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broad ast, re!ritten or redistributed.

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