Mindanao-On the knife's edge

For decades, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)rebels have been fighting the Philippine government to gain an independent state of Bangsamoro, but the struggle for self-determination dates from 16th century when the Spaniards sent military expeditions to subjugate the Muslims.

The government’s unilateral declaration of the suspension of military operations (SOMO) on 23 July 2009 and the MILF’s order to suspend their military action (SOMA) on 25 July 2009 gave a glimmer of hope to some 600,000 people who were displaced during the August 2008 fighting to be able to return to their homes and livelihoods. Unfortunately this has never happened. Of these 600,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) the most vulnerable are children consisting more than 30 percent of the displaced who struggle with day-to-day life, often forced to abandon school in order to care for their siblings and find work in order to support their families. Some see the cease-fire declaration as a break for both sides to regroup and rearm.

Clashes between rival clans and their private armies in Mindanao culminated when political violence escalated on 23 November 2009. 57 people were massacred on their way to the Maguindanao office of the Local Commission on Elections, including a politician about to file her and her brother’s certificates of candidacy. Among the slaughtered were 30 journalists covering the event. After the massacre, the Philippine government declared a state of emergency and imposed martial law. The most powerful clan leader and governor of Maguindanao, Datu Andal Ampatuan snr. has been indicted for allegedly initiating a rebellion, while his son Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. is accused of being behind the 23 November massacre and awaits trial in jail along with other 160 suspects. Overwhelmed, the Armed Forces of Philippines are struggling to maintain the fragile peace and assist the Committee for Elections to implement a government ban on weapons. As none of the presidential candidates have any clear agenda on engagement with MILF towards peaceful solution, seems that resumption of the conflict is merely a question of time.