PHILIPPINES | Autonomy bill aims to end conflict 


Filipino Muslims shout slogans during a rally near the Presidential Palace in support of the Bangsamoro Basic Law draft that was formally submitted by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to both houses of Congress

The Philippine president submitted a draft law to Congress yesterday that aims to end four decades of rebellion by Muslims in the south by granting them more autonomy in a region that will have its own flag, government, and police force.
President Benigno Aquino III asked Congress to rapidly pass the proposed legislation, which fleshes out a peace deal signed in March between his government and country’s largest Muslim insurgent group, the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The rebels have been fighting since the 1970s for Muslim self-
rule in the southern island of Mindanao in an insurrection that has killed about 150,000 combatants and civilians. The United States and other Western governments have backed the autonomy deal partly to prevent the insurgency from breeding extremists who could threaten their countries.
The autonomous region, to be called Bangsamoro, would replace an existing one, seen as a dismal failure.
The new plan grants much more autonomy to the region, including a 60-member parliament that would wield exclusive power over such areas as agriculture, trade, tourism and education.
Under the draft law, Islamic Shariah law would apply to Muslim residents, but the country’s justice system would continue to apply to non-Muslims. Most Filipinos are Catholic Christians, but Mindanao has scattered areas dominated by Muslims.
The government also has promised to pour development funds into the region, which has been stunted economically due to the fighting.
The peace accord and the draft law came after 13 years of tough negotiations.
“This is the farthest distance we have reached in our peace journey with the MILF,” presidential adviser Teresita Deles said in a statement. “Every word, line, and provision shall be subjected to the sunshine of democratic debate, where all voices will be heard, with our constitution as the guiding light.”
The central government would retain authority over areas such as defense, foreign and monetary policy, postal service and immigration, according to the proposal.
The bill is expected to come under intense scrutiny in parliament, but it is eventually expected to pass given that both Congress and the House of Representatives are dominated by Aquino’s allies. The bill may face legal challenges from Christian politicians and groups, which are wary of ceding territory, power and influence to Muslims.
And at least three smaller Muslim groups oppose the autonomy deal and have vowed to fight it.
Filipinos have grown exasperated with the fighting in the south, so some politicians are reluctant to be seen opposing the plan, said analyst Ramon Casiple.
“This isn’t a partisan issue,” Casiple said. “If you go around saying you’ll block this, a stance the public fears would lead to war, I don’t think you’ll get support from the people.” Jim Gomez, Manila, AP