The entire country, and perhaps the international community was struck by the news last July 10, 2007 that when 10 Marines were beheaded by alleged bandits coming the ranks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and Abu Sayyaf. It was enough to cause distress, foremost to the communities near the place of incident, but also to the peacemakers who toiled hard to bring back peace and development in Mindanao. Since the all-out war policy of Estrada Administration, a significant leap has been made to restore peace in Mindanao, particularly the ARMM. Communities began to become vibrant again, and holding to the last thread of hope that peace would eventually thrive in Mindanao. But peace seems to be elusive.
Inquirer reported that since July 10, 57 soldiers and over 80 Abu Sayyaf and Moro rebels have been killed and scores injured in encounters in Sulu and Basilan. This could cause enough alarm. But what is more alarming is the glaring fact that scores of families are again displaced--fleeing in fear that they would be, again, caught in a crossfire. With no other option to choose from, they flee from their homes, livelihood, and children stopped attending school. Bearing the brunt of the fighting between the military and the alleged bandits, internally displaced communities, again, have to make sacrifices and experience hunger and disease in the evacuation centers.
There had been enough debates on why there should be no military operations in ARMM, particularly in Sulu and Basilan. There is no further need to elaborate and explain to the military that they should stop their offensive operations. However, we cannot also discount the fact that some are in favor of the military should do its role in peace-keeping. After all, the military says it is their mandate to go after the law breakers.
The poll conducted in this blogsite may not be representative of the entire population. Nonetheless, it indicates the divided perspective of the Filipinos on the issue of militarization in Mindanao, particularly in the Moro communities. A resounding majority (64%) is against a military offensive in Mindanao. While 36% is in favor of a military offensive.
When will war in Mindanao end?
Which side is yours?
3 people have commented. Leave your comments too!:
I voted against continuing the military offensive mainly because it is the civilians who are bearing the brunt of this war.
The military should do a better job of catching the Abu Sayyaf, one that does not involve making many civilians suffer.
Glad you did the post :-)
military solution of different dispensations, say the martial law of president marcos and the all-out-wars of presidents estrada and now arroyo, has proven its futility in solving the Mindanao problem. it only deepens the animosity between its people who happened to be muslims and christians. we thought, this has been healed and buried during our circumstances today when both panels opted to sit and agreed to talk peace on the table. undeniably, this hatred is handled down to children of our slain christian soldiers and muslim insurgents as the government with its succeeding presidents dares to defy the lesson that war can offer. all lives - be these of the rebels or soldiers, more importantly of the civilians, count precious that when used otherwise can do great things in pursuit of an anti-war policy i.e. in chasing a just and lasting peace in Mindanao. this is what the government repeatedly fails to consider. this is a tragedy for all of us. why not shift gear this time? simon perez(?) said with regards to the political issue between palestine and israel: "it is better to build two states and be friends with each other than build one and become enemies the rest of our lives."
War never solves anything. This is not the way achieve peace. Aside from the cost of waging one to the collateral damage, the government is using this to shift the people's attention to more pressing issues.
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