Philippines, Muslim rebels reach peace deal

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: CNN

The Philippines has reached a preliminary agreement with Muslim rebels after 15 years of talks, the president announced Sunday, marking a major milestone after decades of militant insurgency in the nation's troubled south.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has fought for decades for an independent Islamic state in southern Philippines. It has been blamed for rampant attacks in the region.

President Benigno Aquino III described the deal as a "framework agreement" for establishing a new autonomous region to be administered by Muslims in the south.

It comes after 15 years of negotiations between the government and the rebels.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/07/world/asia/philippines-peace-deal/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

[dipsydoodle]

1. Talking is always good

.

[davidpdx]

2. The Philippines needs some good news at this point

Between the arrest of former President Gloria Arroyo, the typhoons, the corruption, and the rampant poverty.

I have friend who's home town is on Mindenao. I've never been there, only been to Manila and Boracay.

[msanthrope]

3. Another MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) thread??? The last one went sooooo well--

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/1014113257

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. I carefully avoided the acronym

but thanks.

[msanthrope]

6. Sorry! nt

[slackmaster]

4. They're going to split the country?

That's always worked sooooo well in other places.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. An autonomous region, not a split

That can work, in places. Some commentary:

Both sides in these long-running negotiations knew there needed to be serious compromises.

The government has had to concede that many Muslims living in the southern Philippines believe the existing autonomous region is too small and its leaders do not have enough real power. The rebels have had to back down too - their initial demand had been for an entirely separate state.

Both sides also know there's huge pressure to get this agreement right. In 2008, a deal was about to be signed when local Christian groups complained they had not been fully consulted, and the Supreme Court blocked the agreement. Within weeks conflict had resumed, and hundreds of thousands of civilians were forced to flee their homes.

This time, widespread consultations and a public vote have been built into the process, in the hope that finally a lasting peace can be reached.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19860907

[slackmaster]

8. South Africa used to have several of those. They were basically ethnic gulags.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. No, Spain has them; South Africa had bantustans with restrictive laws

Really, are you that cynical? Do you think it's impossible to create parts of a country with autonomy without it being repression?

To some countries, the states in the USA would be 'autonomous regions'.

[slackmaster]

10. There will be significant economic disparity between the autonomous region and the rest of the PI

That will inevitably cause instability.

Do you think it's impossible to create parts of a country with autonomy without it being repression?

I do think it can work. It worked quite well for Hong Kong for 99 years.

The southern, Muslim-dominated region of the PI is not Hong Kong. Mindanao has a high incidence of real poverty.

This WILL NOT end well. Click this link for a poverty map of the PI.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-agLKF54qCx0/T8_nUMn51gI/AAAAAAAAABI/cOeyL4dZwsY/s1600/Poverty+Incidence+++classIntbreak2.png

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. There will be a plebiscite; they are bringing in the cities in the area

In a separate interview with reporters, Deles said the Bangsamoro will include those under the jurisdiction of the ARMM, six municipalities of Lanao del Norte, six municipalities of North Cotabato, Cotabato City, and Isabela City in Basilan.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/07/12/govt-reaches-deal-milf

So they are including cities in the area, which will increase the average income. But the main thing is that the inhabitants actually get to vote on this, which makes it totally different from the South African situation.

[slackmaster]

12. Your optimism is refreshing

I sincerely hope the people can make this deal work. The key IMO will be for the new autonomous region to develop a viable economy that puts people to work and keeps them fed.