War, path to peace

There is an increasing opinion in this country in the aftermath of the massacre of the 44 SAF policemen in Maguindanao that the government should put the full force of the law to take out the perpetrators of the crime. This means, that the government should wage a “war” against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Mindanao Islamic Liberation Front. These two armed groups have practically admitted killing the policemen but justified their atrocities as a defense of their territory. This excuse presupposes that Maguindanao is not part of the Republic and as if the Philippines has two, separate and legally constituted armed groups under the rule of two distinct sovereign states.

This reasoning thus indicates that the MILF and the BIFF consider themselves beyond the authority of the Republic of the Philippines. They, in effect, have seceded from the Republic so that they can refuse to turn over the culprits in a stance that signals “come and take them at your own peril.” This is a dare to the Philippine government that should not be ignored except at the peril of future bloody conflicts.

The MILF declared that they will not surrender the culprits as they will conduct their own investigation in accordance with their own laws and as they have their own military justice. This is clear enough – they no longer recognize the Philippine government. With this in their minds it is not difficult to understand why they killed the SAF and consider that encounter as legitimate and thus, they are not accountable to the Philippine government that it considers an aggressor.

President Aquino must accept this challenge, otherwise he loses control of the country and presents a weak leadership unworthy of a Commander-in-Chief. No armed group should dare the President and get away with it except when they know the President is so weak he is afraid to fight.

The news last Tuesday from Malacañang says that the President told the MILF to be sincere but did not demand that sincerity should be accompanied by action, that is, surrender of the suspects. As US President John F. Kennedy said to Nikita Kruschev of the USSR, “Sincerity is subject to proof.” Kennedy demanded the removal of cruise missiles in Cuba. The Russian tried to bluff and Kennedy called the bluff by sending the US fleet with orders to shoot down any Russian ship that crossed the line. Russia backed off and a world war was averted. Bullies respect force.

The MILF has declared it will not surrender the killers and therefore there cannot be any proof of sincerity on their part. Without that, how can a self-respecting, sovereign country keep on sticking to the peace process when the MILF are not sincere? Why should all the concessions be one-sided in favor of the MILF that has also said that they cannot surrender the weapons under the Protocol of Decommissioning because those guns are privately-owned and it has no control over them?

Recently Filipinos were required to undergo a seminar and show they can take care of a gun to get a license and here we have an admission that MILF guns are private. Are they licensed? Are they exempt from the law on licensing of guns?      

The government must decide whether it can be bullied by an armed group that the AFP can subdue and destroy their ability to blackmail this Republic. There are more, many more Muslims who live peaceful lives and are law-abiding and respectful of others. Only the bands of armed groups that give Islam a bad reputation are disturbing the peace. The MILF and the BIFF are daring us, forcing the hand of the government leaders that must decide whether they are mice or men.

General Douglas MacArthur, speaking before the US Congress in 1957 and whose words I cited earlier also said, “I know war as few other men now living know it, and nothing to me – nothing to me – is more revolting. I have long advocated its complete abolition, as its very destructiveness on both friend and foe has rendered it useless as a means of settling international disputes.

“But once war is forced upon us, there is no other alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War’s very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war there can be no substitute for victory.”

We must decide on war against criminals to bring peace or surrender part of our sovereignty.*

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