Returning Land to Our Muslim Brothers
August 17, 2008
The discussion below gives a brief idea about ancestral domains. As much as possible, the minimum requirement for peace in Mindanao is a livable space, free from the fetters of intervention and war-mongering that rival tribes and foreign invaders in the past had undertaken. But as had been agreed upon in the peace negotiations, MILF will be granted by government with certain powers over their ancestral domain. The enemies of the peace pact cry foul. In all honesty, those that protest the annexation of selected pieces of real estate and the granting of powers of governance and self-defense are using the wrong premise. That is a practical and logical reaction since the objectors to the peace process between GRP and MILF are taking the wrong side of historical movement.
The United Nations seriously addresses the issues plaguing indigenous peoples all over the world. But even that fact will not prevent interest groups from asserting what they want others to believe as right: that tribal peoples will not be able to hold water to their money, influence and might. At the end of it, the enemies of the peace pact in Mindanao will find they are in the wrong side of the fence and will agree to compromise. By then, it will have been too late. An artificial War will have erupted into full-scale hostilities not only in Mindanao but also in Manila.
The only redeeming factor in the coming rush of violent events, is when the protestors of the peace process will be the first to die. And God-willing, I will be among those to first draw the sword to make that happen.
Ancestral Domain Claims
Understanding the ancestral domain claim of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is not difficult. Since the period of the late Pres. Marcos, up to the time of Tita Cory, FVR and to some extent, in Erap’s time, comprehensive efforts have already been taken to give back land belonging to the tribal peoples of the Republic of the Philippines. . . .The ancestral domain awards process is not perfect. But so far, there has been scant publicity that will put the entire effort per se in a negative light. To a large extent, the awarding of ancestral domains may still be considered a success. See the rest of the post here.
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