Fifty-one persons killed and tens of thousands have been displaced in renewed conflict in Mindanao – news report. How many more human lives will be lost unnecessarily for the cause of peace in Mindanao? This new casualty is nothing compared to the 120,000 killed and 985,412 who were displaced by the conflict in 2000 to 2001 alone. We hope all of these senseless killing will end tomorrow when the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signs with the government the Peace Framework Agreement that has been long awaited specially by Mindanaonons. President Aquino and the leadership of MILF are posed to sign tomorrow the agreement hammered out by both the government and MILF negotiators for decades now. Considering that almost a majority of the people of Mindanao will be affected by this agreement, it is my hope that this will be subjected to a plebiscite for that is the best thing to do if we expect the agreement to permanently last.

During the incumbency of Mrs. Arroyo, the agreement was almost perfected but for the opposition of some of the non-Muslim local government units who would be affectedby the agreement. Because of that, a renegade group of MILF led by Umbra Kato broke away and massacred civilians along their way. It is this Kato faction, now called the Bangsa Moro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who attacked military camps and civilians in Cotabato during the last three weeks that resulted to the killing of 51 persons and displacement of thousand families. Everyone is hoping for the final end to the violent conflict in this Peace Framework Agreement that was brokered by the Government of Malaysia. From what I read, the agreement will establish a New Autonomous Political Entity (NPE) that will adopt a ministerial form of government. Its leaders of course will be elected by the constituent people at large. Its territory will include the present Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), certain townsof LanaodelNorte and North Cotabato, the cities of Cotabato and Isabela in Basilan.

The Agreement also calls for the disarming of the MILF rebels. Given how the Muslim rebels treat their guns and firearms better than their wives, this is a very difficult thing to have been included in the agreement. Yet it is there and this shows the sincerity of the MILF to end the conflict. Under the framework peace agreement, the Central Government shall retain powers ona) Defence and external security, b) Foreign policyc) Common market and global trade, d) Coinage and monetary policy, e) Citizenship and naturalisation, and f) Postal service. In the midst of this euphoria are my reservations that are based on historical antecedents. Having grown up in Mindanao particularly Cotabato, I have personal experience about the conflict that dated back to the late 60's. The Muslim Mindanao quest for independence started with the Muslim Independence Movement (MIM) backed by its Blackshirt Army. The pacification of the MIM by the Marcos regime saw the birth of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). When President Ramos inked a settlement with the MNLF, the MILF was born. Before government could sign another peace agreement with the MILF under Mrs. Arroyo's Presidency, the BIFF was born and it is now causing havoc to the final agreement to end all conflicts.

How can we be so sure that the agreement to be signed tomorrow will be the last? And even if the agreement holds, how fast can it resuscitate the economy of Mindanao? Remember that six (6) of the 10 poorest provinces in the country are in Mindanao and 17 of the 20 poorest municipal local governments are in Mindanao. We can only bank on the resoluteness of the Mindanaonons and the sincerity of the new leaders to bring the conflict to a peaceful and happy resolution.