VIOLENCE erupted once again in Mindanao after the Philippine Supreme Court stopped the signing of a draft agreement between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that could have expanded the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The Supreme Court ruled that the draft accord was unconstitutional because only Congress has the power to divide any part of the country with the consent of the affected inhabitants through a plebiscite. The Supreme Court ruling angered three MILF leaders who occupied several villages in Lanao del Norte province in central Mindanao, pillaged them and killed some inhabitants, mostly Christians, on sight. Since then, the military has chased three MILF leaders, using mortars and aircraft, mostly helicopter gunships, to make them answer for their crimes. The MILF central leadership has distanced itself from what its “rouge” leaders have done. The MILF's decision not to involve the whole rebel forces in the war of attrition between the “rouge” leaders and the military has somewhat contained the war. The government has asked the MILF to surrender its “rogue” leaders but it has turned down the request, saying that as part of the whole rebel movement they are not bound by the Philippine laws. The MILF says only a dialogue between the two parties with the help of another country, possibly Malaysia, can resolve the issue. The fighting has slowed down as the government showed respect for the observance of the Muslims' holy month of Ramadan by restraining its forces from using heavy arms like mortars and aircraft to chase the ‘rogue' rebels. As the end of month of Ramadan gets nearer, the specter of fresh violence looms high over the heads of the civilians who are usually caught in the crossfire. The United Nations and several aid agencies have asked both sides to go back to the negotiating table and continue to respect the ceasefire agreement they have forged about four years ago so that peace could rein in the troubled southern part of the Philippines until a solution to the decades-old separatist rebellion is found. The relief agencies have warned that the fighting could create a “humanitarian crisis.” Political analysts have said that after years of insurgency the MILF has not gained any edge to win its fight for independence. History has proven that the army has neither the capacity to end the insurgency by force. In current situation, it is prudent for the MILF and the Philippine government to heed the call for peace so that the estimated 500,000 civilians who fled from homes could start building their lives once again. The military should not insist that the MILF must surrender its “rogue” leaders before any talks could resume. Continued violence in Mindanao could lead to nowhere but an endless suffering for those who want to live normal lives. __
