Regaining trust
Trust, once broken, is very hard to gain. And MohagherIqbal, the MILF chief negotiator knows that they need to regain the trust of the people, if it was even there in the first place. True, some trust has been established as there has not been any violent encounter between government and MILF forces since the historic signing of the peace agreement. But all that went down the drain last Sunday when MILF and BIFF forces ambushed the already retreating PNP-SAF commandos, resulting in the killing and desecrating of forty-four young officers. This incident has put the entire peace process in peril, with both sides initiating damage control. The country is united in condemning the carnage. That would be to say that the country is also in not trusting the MILF. So how would the MILF regain the trust of the people, as well put by Iqbal?
The President has ordered the Department of Justice to file charges against the MILF and BIFF butchers. But they have to be identified first. How to regain the trust? The MILF can start by surrendering those who participated, or at least led their forces in the carnage at Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
But when did this happen? When did the MILF freely give up any of their own, after decades of atrocities? They have issued a statement that they were only defending themselves, practically absolving their forces of any wrongdoing. The fact that they even fought alongside BIFF forces in Mamasapano casts a serious doubt on their promise to fight lawlessness in Mindanao.
The BIFF do not have any peace or ceasefire agreement with the government, and are considered enemies of the state. Why did the MILF fight with them? Why did they fire in the same direction as the BIFF?
Another way is currently being discussed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both sides have started to discuss the disarmament of the MILF, which honestly should have been done months ago. Every one knew this would be a sensitive, difficult issue as these weapons are the ones that gave the MILF power. These weapons are what held the government at bay for decades.
Lately, reports have surfaced that the MILF is already capable of manufacturing their own arms, such as the deadly Barrett sniper rifle which many believe were used against the SAF commandos, judging by the horrible wounds inflicted on them - wounds that could only be made by a large caliber weapon. These manufactured rifles are also being sold to other parties, providing income to the MILF. Would the MILF combatants willingly surrender their precious weapons - weapons that have allowed them to lord over the land? Weapons that gave them power, and even wealth?
We will have to wait and see. It would have been better if this were done earlier.
The President has vowed to go after BasitUsman, and has told the MILF not to get in the way. If the MILF wants to regain trust, perhaps aside from not getting in the way, they can help in arresting Usman. But then again, when did that happen? There are so many criminal from the BIFF and ASG, yet I have yet to hear any being turned over by the MILF. Trust is essential in any relationship. More so in this situation, where history is being made.Where lives are always at stake.
Where death is unacceptable.
- Latest
