NPA - The biggest illegal armed group

EDITORIAL - The biggest illegal armed group
(The Philippine Star) Updated January 15, 2010 12:00 AM

From P20,000 to P500,000: those are the going rates this year, according to military officials, if candidates want freedom from harassment by communist rebels during the campaign period. The “permit-to-campaign fee” collected by the New People’s Army is not new; the rebels have extorted protection money from candidates in previous elections, as they have extorted “revolutionary taxes” from even micro entrepreneurs across the country.

While the rebels may not have the firepower of the Ampatuans, who built up an extensive private arsenal from state resources, the NPA has more members and is the largest illegal armed group in the country. And while the NPA has not committed an election-related atrocity on the scale of the Maguindanao massacre, the rebels’ extortion activities and intimidation of candidates also undermine elections and must be stopped.

Army officials reported recovering from a suspected rebel slain in Sorsogon a list of extortion victims. Candidates for vice mayor, the Army said, were asked to pay P20,000 each as permit-to-campaign fee; for councilor and board member, P30,000 each; for vice governor, P50,000; and for governor or a congressional seat, P500,000. A rebel spokesman denied specifying amounts and said they merely issued “access permits” to candidates.

A military solution will not end the insurgency and NPA fund-raising through extortion, but there are ways of discouraging the harassment of candidates. The election gun ban must be strictly enforced. Candidates must be given incentives to refuse payment and report to authorities NPA extortion attempts, including protection from retaliation.

A study conducted in the Bicol Region by the Commission on Human Rights found that during the 2007 midterm elections, communist rebels prevented people mostly in remote villages from voting. In Legazpi City, according to the CHR report, armed groups prevented at least 20,000 people from voting. With the renewed focus on dismantling private armed groups, the government must also intensify its campaign to prevent the NPA from undermining the forthcoming elections.

Martial Law in Maguindanao

http://abpquevedo.blogspot.com/
Saturday, December 12, 2009

After Martial Law in Maguindanao, What?

Deeply rooted in Maguindanao is a culture of dominant clan power. A false reading of the situation results in a truncated view of Maguindanao political history. This view sees the phenomenon as the product of one government period, the decade of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Arguably a greater share of the blame could be laid at the door of the present government. But the culture of dominant and changing local power has been with us in the once “empire province of Cotabato,” which included the present Maguindanao, since at least the 1950s. To my knowledge, no government from the 1950s to the present did anything serious to root this out. In the past 60 years, all governments and many politicians from all parties wanting to get votes have cultivated this culture and ignored the periodic violence that erupted. It was a case of mutual political exploitation and expediency. We ourselves, ordinary citizens, have kept quiet in the past 60 years and learned the art of accommodation.

But of course criticism of Martial Law in Maguindanao is really based on total distrust of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Survey after survey is paraded to say that this is the pulse of the people. The stand of small protesting “militant” groups is given disproportionate media exposure. Political oppositionists and personalities from “militant” organizations are interviewed again and again to give their expected negative views on actions of government. In a very real sense the extraordinary amount of media exposure that is given to the opposition in Manila provides a distorted view of the country as a whole...

Martial Law by its nature as a last resort should be of short duration. But precisely because of its brevity, the following will result: one clan will be significantly disarmed; the balance of political and armed power will shift to other clans; private armies will remain though possibly less visible and probably more sophisticated in behavior; the deep trauma resulting from the massacre will persist; rido is not going to be stopped; the legislative, justice, and executive--and electoral--mechanisms will still be in the hands of those related to or have debts of gratitude to various families; and if a member of the rival clan will somehow gain the top post of the province, do we in Maguindanao really believe that the provincial capitol will remain in Shariff Aguak? Even the peace process will be affected by the loyalties of local rebel commanders to their own clans. Hence, the fundamental dysfunctions in Maguindanao will remain after Martial Law.

What do I see as a possible solution? Even now sentiments are strong in Central and southern Mindanao that elections for local offices in Maguindanao should be deferred. Or at least the term of Martial Law should be extended till after the elections. The fundamental suggestion is for us to move forward from partisan political criticism to collective constructive thinking and effective action on this central issue of Maguindanao dysfunction. I respectfully address this to all concerned, particularly the Senate, House of Representatives, the judicial branch and the Arroyo administration, as well as to all of us Maguindanawons.

+Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I.
Archbishop of Cotabato
December 11, 2009

Private armies and the insurgency

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Islamic State in Mindanao?

Gratitude and ignorance CTALK
By Cito Beltran
(The Philippine Star)
Updated October 23, 2009 12:00 AM

(W)hen the IED (improvised explosive device) bombing happened, the Americans got blamed for getting killed while on the way to help construct a school building.

Because of our island mentality our politicians were not aware that in the same month there was a simultaneous number of IED related attacks globally. That one incident that killed 2 US soldiers and a Filipino Marine was just a tiny bead in a global string of attacks that happened in the same period.

The terrorists in Mindanao have a clear agenda that the Nationalists in Metro Manila take for granted because it’s not happening in their backyard. The terrorists are not waging a war against US troops or our AFP per se. The battle is between education and ignorance.

The terrorists don’t want Filipino education, they want Islamic education. Because of this, the battle between education and ignorance is actually a “religious war”. This is the simple reason why the terrorists target teachers, principals, priests, pastors and missionary workers.

About seven years ago, I received a tip that a Muslim youth group in UP Diliman had been infiltrated by a terrorist. That small tip yielded information that a Middle Eastern individual had built up a foundation and a network of contacts that would build up “Islamic schools” all over Mindanao.

The school however turned out to be a recruitment machinery for impoverished young men who were led to convert from Catholics to Muslims which according to the claims of the “Middle Eastern operative” reached as much as one million converts over the years.

The “plan” was to build up an “Islamic population” so the Philippines could not prevent the ultimate creation of an “Islamic state” that would complete the chain in the region.

That operative eventually graduated from recruitment to direct terrorist activities or funding such operations. He was tracked down in another continent where government troopers literally flattened the house with high caliber automatic gunfire.

That however will not stop the terrorists from kidnapping priests, it will not stop them from abducting women and children, nor will it stop them from taking people who are trying to help people regardless of race, religion, or sex.

The only thing that will stop terrorists is a determined force with a just cause. Right now, the only people who have consistently stopped that determined force and subverted that just cause are politicians and Metro Manila Nationalists with good intentions with an address in hell.

Unfortunately, the kidnappers, the terrorists, the victims, the soldiers of the AFP and even the US troops have lived, fought, bled, and have died in Mindanao.

Meanwhile the critics, the politicians and the so-called nationalists all live in comfort here in Metro Manila.

White Paper on the MILF Peace Talks

The paper entitled Comments on the GRP-MILF Peace Process opines that the MOA-AD is constitutional. Nonetheless, it strongly disagrees with its wisdom.

Part I seeks to analyze the rational, purpose, implications and constitutionality of the scrapped GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD).

Part II identifies the fundamental flaws of the agreement and the underlying negotiation process, and recommends appropriate pre-emptive and corrective measures for any revival of the failed process.

Part III proposes bold alternative consensus points, guided by the standard of the common good of all the people concerned.

Among other reforms, the paper proposes or implies constitutional amendments for the: (1) establishment of regional governments based on culture and geography rather than religion; (2) grant of titles of royalty to the southern sultanates; and (3) liberalization of foreign investments.

Please see the following link: http://www.deszr.com/index.php?option=com_jotloader&section=files&task=download&cid=8_72624422e5f78977b04c6f7616306817&Itemid=61

The Semi-Federal Alternative

The article entitled The Semi-Federal Alternative presents the concept of a regional government system, that combines centralized law-making and decentralized law implementation.

Being a national government agency, the proposed regional government authority does not require a plebiscite for its creation.

In any case, it renders redundant the constitutional provisions directing the establishment of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.

Please see the following link:

http://www.deszr.com/index.php?option=com_jotloader&section=files&task=download&cid=27_b46f7c2ba0d30d2a0c9ce2c36304bcca&Itemid=61

Passing Comments on "Religious Intolerance"

From: Demosthenes B. Donato <dbdonato@deszr.com>
To: <rasheed@arabnews.com>
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 10:58 AM
Subject: (Comments on “Bayanihan Fund”)

Greetings Mr. Abou-Alsamh,

As a concerned citizen of the Philippines, I feel obligated to respond to your negative views on the Philippine government administration. Considering that the subject of your article is socio-political in nature, my response to you will depend on your socio-political affiliation. Considering further that I do not know your socio-political affiliation (i.e. nationality or social group or religion), I will provide separate alternative responses.

Firstly, if you are not a Filipino, then with due respect Mr. Abou-Alsamh, your comment is an unwarranted intrusion into our socio-political lives. Good government or the lack of it is a problem of the Filipinos. (Accordingly), only the Filipinos should address it (without involving) any outsider. (Rather than interfere with our internal affairs, you should instead) just comment on the problems of your own nationality or society or religion.

For example, if you (are actually) an Arab Muslim, considering that the domain name of your e-mail address uses the term “arabnews,” then it's best for you to just comment on the most pressing problem that concerns the Arab Muslims. This problem is that of “religious intolerance” practiced by no less than the leading Arab Muslim nation Saudi Arabia. As a Christian Catholic, I find it depressing and almost unbelievable that until (today), there (exists) a country like Saudi Arabia that makes it a criminal offense for a person to preach his (chosen) religion … within (its) territorial jurisdiction (if it were not Islam). This is a most serious human (rights) problem that threatens peace and security not only in West Asia (or the Middle East) but the entire world. (State sanctioned “religious intolerance” creates the perfect breeding ground for “religious extremism.”) If instead of criticizing the socio-political situation in the Philippines, you spend your time and effort solving the grave social problem of religious intolerance (in your own homeland), then your time and effort will be most wisely spent and most gracefully appreciated not only by the Filipinos but by (all the people of the world).

Secondly, if you (are actually) a Filipino, (then) regardless of your religious affiliation, it's time for you to stop complaining about the (problem) and start doing something about it. (Before anything else however, you must first) shed off your negative bias about anything and everything that (the) government does. (This change in perspective is necessary so that you can) see a clearer picture of the real socio-political situation...

You see Mr. Abou-Alsamh, you need to have a little more faith so that we can all move forward. Let's stop all (these) finger pointing and (endless) blaming (as what irresponsible) politicians and media practitioners (do best). All these negative chatter only serve to aggravate the problem rather than contribute to the solution...

Sincerely,
Dindo Donato
Makati City