By ROGER M. BALANZA
The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) may be using a defective approach in peace negotiation and were urged to study models used in other countries to hasten the search for peace in Mindanao.
The Institute of Bangsamoro Studies (IBS) said the government and MILF, the Moro group fighting for Mindanao autonomy, should take a serious look at current models of conflict resolution by sending representatives to study the models and how they are faring after signing of peace agreements.
IBS chairperson Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga said MILF and Philippine government peace negotiators should be sent to South Sudan, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, and Bougainville to observe these models.
”People’s ways of thinking are phobic of the unknown or uncharted ways but when they are there fear gradually eases and self-confidence comes in, said Abhoud in a press release posted at the MILF website luwaran.com.
“There are many lessons these models can give to the government and the MILF which they creatively apply in the current peace talks. Why not try,” said the Islamic study professor, who is currently in Thailand on a speaking engagement on peace-making.
Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF committee on information, said that the best model that the MILF and GRP could study seriously is the South Sudan model.
There are similarities between the conflicts in Mindanao and South Sudan, although in the inverted order. Animists and Christians are fighting a Muslim government in Khartoum, while in Mindanao, Moros or Muslims are battling a Christian government in Manila, said Musa.
“If a Muslim government can give genuine self-rule to Christians with option to secede, why can’t a Christian government extend that to Muslims?” he asked.
He said the Sudan and Mindanao are test cases how far these two world religions can accommodate each other’s faithful.
Filed under: Mindanao Muslims, milf | Tagged: khaled, milf, Mindanao, musa, muslims, negotiations, peace
