Federation could be the only way possible in Mindanao

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (IslamOnline.net) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is currently mulling a proposal by Filipino politicians for turning the Philippines into a federation as a possible solution to the separation drive in the south.

The proposal, discussed with Malaysian officials at Putra Jaya during the course of last month, has been given a boost by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who, Wednesday, July 23, endorsed the idea of a federated Philippines.

Arroyo said she backed the idea, which was apparently strongly supported in Mindanao and Visayas, the two restive regions of the Philippines.

This endorsement has buoyed the spirits of leaders from Visayas and Mindanao, who said it would propel the federalism movement, reported the Manila Times Friday, July 25.

Under a federal government, the country would be divided into member-states, each would have the power to decide on all matters within its jurisdiction except national security, currency and foreign policy.

Each state would have its own legislature, judiciary and a government headed by a state governor.

Senator Awuilino Pimentel Jr. was the first to float the idea of a federal Mindanao and Visayas in to end years of conflicts in the Philippines.

He added that the government of Arroyo should get out of a “boxed thinking” and that all it needs to do is address the concerns of the MILF.

“The government should instead address the concerns of all sectors in Mindanao, and this entails the shift to a federal government,” Pimentel said.

IOL reported last month that one of the proposals to end the conflict in Mindanao was to set up a federation in the Philippines, an idea which was transmitted to Malaysian Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir.

The MILF is still discussing the proposal and would be agreeable to the idea of a federation as long as it advances the peace process in Mindanao.

The movement is also content with the idea since it does not counter the desire for self determination by the Bangsamoro people, though it is not the independence they are fighting for, IOL was told by a member of the Bangsamoro group in Malaysia.

According to the Bangsamoro source, the United States, Malaysia and several members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) would back the idea of a federated Mindanao within the Philippines republic in order to bring peace and progress in the region.

However, the backing of the OIC and of Malaysia in particular would depend solely on the decision of the MILF to support the idea in general.

IOL could not reach any leaders of the movement at the time but the Bangsamoro source said the MILF is not against such an idea if Malaysia supported it.

Manila Times also indicated that the Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Parouk Hussin, also favored the federation.

However federalism could only be implemented in the Philippines through constitutional amendments, which the U.S. would support, the Bangsamoro source told IOL on Friday.

Meanwhile, the peace process in the Philippines has matured for final settlement to end an almost three decades of Muslim separatist fight against the government in Mindanao, southern Philippines Bernama news agency said on Friday.

Philippines Parliament speaker Jose de Venecia said this had been made possible with the active and dynamic role played by Malaysia and the OIC countries, especially Indonesia and Libya, in the peace negotiations.

De Venecia said the Philippines Government and the congress were also putting together significant economic and social packages to support the peace plan between the government and the MILF.

"We hope with the good help and active role of Malaysia, OIC countries and the United States, as third party facilitators, we can finally put this agreement to a settlement.

The 12,500-strong MILF has been fighting for an independent Islamic state in southern Philippines since 1978.

The Philippine Government put on hold peace talks with the MILF, to be hosted by Malaysia, following an attack on Siocon town in Mindanao in early May, resulting in 34 deaths. Manila blamed the MILF for the attack.

On July 19, both parties declared cessation of hostilities to make way for the peace talks.