PHILIPPINES: On the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement (tags)
The Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) joins the Filipino people, especially the Bangsamoros in Mindanao, in welcoming, although guardedly, the historic signing today of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Philippine government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
MILF PLEDGES BANGSAMORO SUBSTATE WILL BE JUST FOR ALL (tags)
The Alliance Philippines (AJLPP) welcomes the pronoucement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that pledges that the Bangsamoro self-governance setup it seeks to be established in Mindanao will not be unjust to non-Moros. ?A just undertaking, pursuing legitimate and civilized methods will always result in just outcome,? MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told civil society leaders during a recent dialogue here in Cagayan De Oro City, Mindanao last June 13, 2011 The AJLPP appreciates that the Monday?s dialogue with civil society was held by the MILF. This is the 14th was since March. The government panel also held its 31st consultation last week in Tawi-tawi.In Iligan City, chancellor Sukarno Tanggol of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) expressed hope that such dialogues will spell success for the Mindanao peace process.
WHOSE COUNTRY IS IT ANYWAY? (tags)
After 11 years of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the two sides were close to a deal known as the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain. This was essentially an agreement that would have granted points of autonomy to the Moro people in Mindanao and the Southern Philippines. Just before the signing, the government stopped the negotiations on Sept. 3 and plunged into attack mode. They launched joint police-military offensives against the MILF and civilians. Since then, more than 500,000 people, mostly women and children, have been forced to abandon homes and thrown into refugee camps. Now, one-third of the Philippines is on the verge of erupting into open warfare. I'm not talking about your garden variety guerilla skirmishes here and there. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front and their allies have proven capable of launching conventional maneuvers into the theater in the past. Add to that milieu the very vibrant Communist led New People's Army Southern Command and of course the reactionary group Abu Sayyaf - then you have a situation that could explode into a conflict that could rival the Balkans in the 90's.
AJLPP Year End Report, 2008 (tags)
The year 2008 started with a flurry of activities with the anti-war movement marking the 5th year of the US-occupation of Iraq and the War Against Terror and ended with a militant rallies at the Israeli Consulate against the siege and bombing of Gaza on Dec. 30,2008. As an opening salvo, the AJLPP participated in the first ever Women’s March Against the War in Los Angeles led by the GABNET of the MARIPOSA ALLIANCE that drew more than 800 people. The AJLPP also supported the militant Screen Actors Guild Strike in Hollywood. The AJLPP mobilized its forces together with its allies against the successive visits of US prime puppet Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in July in the East Coast and November on the West Coast
MILF SETS CONDITIONS FOR PEACE TALKS (tags)
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has set its conditions for the resumption of the GRP-MILF Peace talks in the coming new year-2009. The AJLPP sources learned that based on the an earlier decision by the MILF Central Committee and Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, issued the statement on December 26, 2008. Murad said the MILF is “open to resume the ‘collapsed’ or stalled” peace negotiations with the Philippine government.
MILF OFFICIAL STAND ON PEACE TALKS WITH GRP (tags)
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has announced its official stand on the resumption of the GRP-MILF Peace. The AJLPP sources learned that based on the an earlier decision promulgated by the its Central Committee, Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, issued the statement on December 26, 2008. Murad said the MILF is “open to resume the ‘collapsed’ or stalled” peace negotiations with the Philippine government. This in deference to the call of both the local and international communities to resume the talks and stop the fighting and to the standing policy of the MILF that the track of peace and negotiation is the “most practical and civilized way of solving the age-old Moro Problem and armed conflict in Mindanao.”
Very few people know that the US military is directly involved in the fierce fighting going on in the Philippines between the Moro insurgents and the corrupt and brutal Arroyo regime supported by the Bush neocons and the warmongering Pentagon planners. Will you continue to allow US tax dollars to be wasted in this barbaric genocidal war against indigenous peoples? Over a thousand extrajudicial killings and "forced disappearances" under Arroyo's tenure, plus a few hundred Muslims dead as "collateral damage," may be the signs of US "benevolent hegemony" (Robert Kagan) and US "magnanimous imperial power" (Dinesh D'Souza). McKinley's "Benevolent Assimilation" lives on!
Philippine Government Launches New War on Muslim Groups (tags)
War officially came to southern Philippines again as the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo unilaterally put an end to eleven years of negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) September 3. A month early the government abruptly broke off talks with the MILF on the eve of signing an autonomy pact. There are numerous reports of U.S. Special Forces accompanying Philippines Army units on their deadly sweeps in the Bangsamoro (land of the Moro people) region. More than 100 people have been killed so far and half a million refugees have fled from the fighting. Bourgeois liberals and the petty-bourgeois left lamely call on the government to resume the “peace process,” which in any case was only intended to wear down the insurgents. Revolutionaries instead seek to mobilize Philippine workers to drive out all U.S. forces, whatever their legal status; to force the withdrawal of the AFP from the contested southern areas; and to defend the Bangsamoro people and their right to self-determination.
US BLAMED FOR MINDANAO WAR (tags)
With more than 500,000 people in Northern and Central Mindanao as war refugees due to the AFP and MILF fighting, the Alliance Philippines (AJLPP) placed the blame on the United States for intervening in the Mindanao Conflict. As of the press time, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) based in Geneva, Switzerland have confirmed that more than 500,000 war refugees were affected by the current fighting in the two Lanao provinces, Cotabato and Davao provinces, Maguindanao and Saranggani due to the escalation of the conflict The AJLPP pointed out; “ If the United States did not advised President Arroyo to negotiate and affirm the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain without transparent consultations with all concerned parties, the situation will not turn from bad to worse.
AJLPP CONDEMNS US INTERVENTION IN MINDANAO (tags)
With more than 500,000 people in Northern and Central Mindanao due to the AFP and MILF fighting, the Alliance Philippines (AJLPP) placed the blame on the United States for intervening in the Mindanao Conflict. As of the press time, another the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) based in Geneva, Switzerland have confirmed that more than 500,000 war refugees were affected by the current fighting in the two Lanao provinces, Cotabato and Davao provinces, Maguindanao and Saranggani due to the escalation of the conflict The AJLPP pointed out; “ that if the United States did not advised President Arroyo to negotiate and affirm the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain without transparent consultations with all concerned parties, the situation will not turn from bad to worse.
The US-Arroyo regime is responsible for the death and damages caused by the war in Mindana (tags)
-The people must concentrate their anger and condemnation on the US-Arroyo regime as directly responsible on the deaths and damages of the people in Mindanao caused by the escalation of the armed clashes between the AFP and the MILF. The problem can be rooted to the US-dictated two pronged militarist policy of the regime which is the all-out war against the revolutionary movement led by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) while neutralizing the Moro seccessionist movement of the MILF thru a deceptive and bogus peace process to finish the revolutionary movement in 2010. The militarist clique in the Arroyo regime never expected that the Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) will ignite the chaos and war in Mindanao. This secret and hasty deal resulted to violent reaction and opposition from the pro and anti-Arroyo reactionary camp and the fake president will even face impeachment because of violations of the constitution. Arroyo got the worst fear of losing her warlord allies in Mindanao that helped her cheat the 2004 elections. Her ulterior motive of using the MOA-AD as a stepping stone for charter change (cha-cha) to remain in Malacanang was also exposed. The MILF's disgust and anger have basis when it was proven that the Arroyo regime is not sincere in the peace talks and on the agreement on ancestral domain and instead used these as a trap to demobilized and surrender of MILF.
OPPOSITION BET MAYOR BINAY BLASTS GMA IN LA VISIT (tags)
Presumptive presidential candidate for the President of the Philippines. Makati Ciy mayor Jejomar Binay held a press conference at Bahay Kubo restaurant in Historic Filipinotown Los Angeles, yesterday, August 27,2008. Addressing a jam packed hall with Filipino community leaders from all over California, Mayor Jojo Binay lambasted the failed policies of current Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in his capacity as the PDP-Laban president and the United Opposition (UNO), He is reportedly supported by former President Joseph “Erap”Estrada.
Mindanao Bishops, MILF: pursue peace process, call for ceasefire (tags)
The Mindanao Bishops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) reiterated their commitment to pursue the realm of peace, justice, solidarity and development as well as the peaceful resolution of the Mindanao conflict and Bangsamoro problem through the ongoing peace process between the government and MILF. “The MILF and the Bishops reiterate unwavering moral commitment to pursue the path to peace, solidarity, justice and development in Mindanao, and resolve and support to the continuation of the peace process between the MILF and the government until its successful conclusion is achieved,” stated in their Joint Communique’ issued after their peace dialogue held at the Archbishop’s Residence in Davao City on August 14, 2008.
Usapang pangkapayapaan sa MILF (tags)
Panloloko, pagtatraydor at pananabotahe ang ginagawa ng rehimeng Arroyo sa usapang pangkapayapaan nito sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Kunwa'y nakikipagnegosasyon ito sa MILF pero ang tunay na pakay ng rehimeng Arroyo ay gamitin ang prosesong pangkapayapaan para muling itulak ang pakana nitong charter change o pagbabago ng konstitusyon. Sakaling bumalik sa puspusang paglulunsad ng armadong pakikibaka ang MILF, gagamitin din itong sangkalan ni Arroyo para makapaglunsad ng todo-todong opensibang militar at magpataw ng emergency rule kundiman batas militar.
Delay in peace talks deliberate, says MILF (tags)
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim separatist rebel group in the country, accused Manila on Wednesday of delaying the peace talks. Manila is negotiating peace with the MILF, an army of about 12,000 rebels with millions of Muslim supporters. Peace talks were stalled after both sides failed to sign an agreement on the Muslim ancestral domain.
AFP: Peace pact with MILF by April (tags)
A peace agreement with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is expected early this year, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. disclosed yesterday. "A final peace agreement with the MILF would be signed by March or April," Esperon told a press conference held at the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters here. The contentious issues affecting the peace negotiations, particularly disputes over ancestral domain, are now being discussed by both panels, said Esperon, who arrived here as part of a series of camp visits to implement the second phase of President Arroyo’s campaign against insurgency.
GRP-MILF talks deadlocked on ancestral domain (tags)
BACKDOOR peace negotiations between the largest separatist rebels and the government continue to be deadlocked over the issue of ancestral domain. Sources close to Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr. said Wednesday that the December 1 meeting between leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and government negotiators in Malaysia failed to break the four-month impasse in the peace parley. “Technically, the deadlock stays because the two panels did not reach any settlement on the territorial domain,” the sources told The Manila Times.
Usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng MILF at GRP nais ibagsak ng rehimeng Arroyo (tags)
Lubos na kaisa ang Pesante-USA sa pahayag ng pamunuan ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) na ”Ang rehimeng Arroyo ang responsable sa pagbagsak ng usapang pangkapayapaan.” Naninidigan ang Pesante-USA bilang isang grupong nagtataguyod ng karapatang-pantao at kapayapaan sa Pilipinas na dapat maging seryoso ang GRP sa pakikipagnegosasyon sa MILF at manghinayang sa mangyayari kung babalik sila sa pang-uupat ng digmaan na kumitil na ng maraming buhay sa nakaraan.
MILF CALLS FOR DEFENSE OF THE HOMELAND (tags)
Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Murad Ebrahim has called on his fellow Muslims and members of the indigenous communities to stand up together and defend their "homeland." Murad issued the call following last week's stalemate in the peace negotiations