Where Do We Go From Here?

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The Cost of Peace: BJE MOA on AD

• Beginner’s Guide to Understanding the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) MOA-AD
• Let’s Begin
• Of BJE MOA-AD, ARMM Polls and Oil Price Updates
• Fragile Peace? Say It Isn’t So.
• Slow Progress is Still Progress.
• Winners and Losers
• The Case of the “Ex”
• Where Do We Go From Here?
• So You Think She Can Dance?
• Actually, We’ve Been Dancing the ChaCha re: BJE MOA
• The Buck Stops Here
• A Change of Pace on the BJE MOA: Other Avenues of Peace
• Deferred Peace is Expedited War
• You and What Army?
• Just Thinking Out Loud
• Eyes On The Prize
• Live and Let Live: The Non-Negotiable Solution
• Perception vs. Reality
• There’s No Turning Back
• There’s No Easy Way: Peace and Its Price

The situation in Mindanao seems to worsen by the day if not by the hour. It is clear to us that peace talks have gone completely out of hand, thanks to the bitter MILF renegade group. Just when we are ready to talk peace some self-righteous group whether from the government or from the MILF manages to screw things up and deliberately steal the spotlight. And well, I must say they have done so perfectly. Now, they have our complete attention and have diverted it to "firefighting" the escalating war in Mindanao. What lucky bastards! Now, it's not just the "technicality" of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity on Ancestral Domain (BJE MOA on AD) that we have to worry about -- we now have to manage a fight on the side. Can things get any worse than this?

So much is happening there that I can't almost keep up with the news. Last I read is that the MILF occupies Basilan town and 18 were killed. And although Comelec chairman Jose Melo declares the ARMM generally peaceful -- with winners to be proclaimed Wednesday or Thursday<p>The situation in Mindanao seems to worsen by the day if not by the hour. It is clear to us that peace talks have gone completely out of hand, thanks to the <a href="http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/the-case-of-the-ex-bje-moa-peace-process/" mce_href="http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/the-case-of-the-ex-bje-moa-peace-process/" target="_self"><b>bitte</b>r <b>MILF</b> <b>renegade group</b></a>. Just when we are ready to talk peace some self-righteous group whether from the government or from the <b>MILF</b> manages to screw things up and deliberately steal the spotlight. And well, I must say they have done so perfectly. Now, they have our complete attention and have diverted it to "firefighting" the escalating war in Mindanao. What lucky bastards! Now, it's not just the "technicality" of the <a href="http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/beginners-guide-to-understanding-bangsa-moro-judirical-entity-bje-moa-ad/" mce_href="http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/beginners-guide-to-understanding-bangsa-moro-judirical-entity-bje-moa-ad/" target="_self"><b>Bangsamoro Juridical Entity on Ancestral Domain</b> (<b>BJE MOA on AD</b>)</a> that we have to worry about -- we now have to manage a fight on the side. Can things get any worse than this? <img src="http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" mce_src="http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" title="More..." /></p> <p>So much is happening there that I can't almost keep up with the news. Last I read is that the <span class="fontheadline"><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080811-153999/MILF-occupies-Basilan-town-18-killed" mce_href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080811-153999/MILF-occupies-Basilan-town-18-killed" target="_blank"><b>MILF occupies Basilan town and 18 were killed</b></a>. And although </span>Comelec chairman <b>Jose Melo</b><span class="fontheadline"> declares the <b>ARMM</b> generally peaceful -- with <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080811-154018/New-ARMM-officials-could-be-proclaimed-Wednesday-or-Thursday" mce_href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080811-154018/New-ARMM-officials-could-be-proclaimed-Wednesday-or-Thursday" target="_blank"><b>winners to be proclaimed Wednesday or Thursday</b></a>, there's no denying it <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20080811-153954/Ballot-box-snatching-mars-ARMM-polls--reports" mce_href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20080811-153954/Ballot-box-snatching-mars-ARMM-polls--reports" target="_blank"><b>did not go without any incident</b></a>. And voter turn-out isn't exactly satisfying, although <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080811-153985/ARMM-voter-turnout-excellent--Comelec" mce_href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080811-153985/ARMM-voter-turnout-excellent--Comelec" target="_blank"><b>the Comission on Elections declares otherwise</b></a>. And well, peaceful doesn't necessary mean successful -- because if only a few people voted, how assured are we that a consensus is reached. But anyway, we're talking <b>ARMM</b> elections here -- and for it to be declared generally peaceful is laudable by itself. </span></p> <p>Meanwhile, as fighting rages on, we've got people debating and speculating about <b>probable plots in the works</b> which are of various agenda. <b>Patricio Mangubat</b>, in his "<a href="http://newphilrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/08/last-option.html" mce_href="http://newphilrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/08/last-option.html" target="_blank"><b>New Philippine Revolution</b></a>" says:</p> <blockquote><p>"There is a plan for the immediate ouster of Gloria by way of a coup. Reports point to two groups involved. One is a group within the palace who wants to extend their political life post-Gloria and the other, a more cohesive movement, supported by international players who aim to sacrifice Gloria's administration to preserve the so-called Philippine territory."</p></blockquote> <p><b>PGMA</b>, for her part "<span class="fontheadline"><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080811-153917/UPDATE-Arroyo-bats-for-federalism-in-Mindanao" mce_href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080811-153917/UPDATE-Arroyo-bats-for-federalism-in-Mindanao" target="_blank"><b>bats for federalism in Mindanao</b></a>" which probably added to the already panicky disposition of destabilizers and coup plotters and practically everybody else who loathe her even if she quickly clarifies and attempts to allay fears of such a sinister plan by being </span>firm in saying that "Charter change should happen after her term in 2010".</p> <p>I go with the president of the <b>Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)</b>'s <i>appeal on Monday to government and separatist forces to be “generous to each other” and return to the negotiating table</i>. While, we understand that "fires" need to be "put-off" in Mindanao -- and let us not slack off in this -- let us also not forget that we are in the middle of a peace process in the first place. This will surely be a lot more difficult than the first time because now, mounting pressure has aroused emotions on both sides of the talks. And emotions always ruin peace talks.</p> <p>But, just the same, let us not lose sight of the goal. Let them stabilizers talk and work about coup plots and let them renegade MILF groups do their thing. Because in the end, it doesn't matter what others are doing. What will ultimately matter is what the government does relative to their intentions for sitting with the MILF in the first place. Is it true and lasting peace that they want? Or a ploy to push for ChaCha and extend PGMA's term?</p> <p>Where we go from here is not something we can predict. But it is something that we can influence and control. There is no question  if we are "able" to resolve the peace problem in Mindanao. The question is, are we really "up" for it?</p>

Suggested Further Reading:

• Fragile Peace? Say It Isn’t So.
• Slow Progress is Still Progress.
• A Change of Pace on the BJE MOA: Other Avenues of Peace
• Eyes On The Prize
• Just Thinking Out Loud

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