Among the salient features of the signed Kuala Lumpur
document, the GPH and MILF peace panels agreed to to create
"a new autonomous political entity in place of the ARMM" on
the premise that "the status quo is unacceptable." The
political entity being envisaged to replace the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) shall be known "Bangsamoro
State Government (or BMSG)". This is to cover the present
ARMM provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu
and Tawi-Tawi, and more areas where there are many
Bangsamoro people, according to MILF source
It is recalled that the ARMM was rejected by both the MNLF
and the OIC from the beginning as the mere administrative
set-up was created by Philippine Congress to deceive the
Bangsamoro people and humanity that Philippine colonialism
was implementing the December 2, 1976 MNLF-OIC-GRP Peace
Agreement signed in Tripoli, Libya.
In comparison with MILF-Bangsamoro State Government, the
MNLF-proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Government (BAG) include
13 provinces and 9 cities in Mindanao, following the letter
and spirit of the forged Tripoli Peace Agreement. But until
now, the Philippine government have refused to implement the
political compromise except to subject it further to
unilateral "constitutional process."
Just like the BAG, the BMSG is envisioned to be under the
Republic of the Philippines. The MILF wanted the new
government to be "a state within a state where the national
government's role would be supervisory." It is further
explained that "there will be a sharing of power and
resources, that the Bangsamoro would have the priority to
chart their destiny under the system of self-rule."
In a capsule, the positive goal of the MILF is to have a
peaceful solution to the Mindanao problem. It is anchored on
the belief that it is only possible through the
establishment of a Bangsamoro government under the
supervision of Philippine colonialism.
Be that as it may, is the present Philippine Aquino
government serious enough to implement any peace agreement
with the Bangsamoro people under MILF terms, but not with
MNLF and OIC?
The oppressed and colonized Bangsamoro people of Mindanao
can only watch the unfolding events and remain hopeful that
their next preparation is geared not to continuous war, but
towards "just and lasting" peace promised by the present
Aquino II government. -osm/mnlfnet.com
