09-23-2014, 07:07 PM
Older news. Archiving.
1. jafrianews.com/2014/09/14/filipino-muslims-to-get-the-self-rule-in-the-autonomous-region/
2. dwn.com/2014/09/10/philippines-autonomy-bill-aims-to-end-conflict/
1. jafrianews.com/2014/09/14/filipino-muslims-to-get-the-self-rule-in-the-autonomous-region/
Quote:JNN 12 Sept 2014 Manila : The president of the overwhelmingly Christian Philippines proposed Wednesday to give Muslims in the south the ability to run their own ...
2. dwn.com/2014/09/10/philippines-autonomy-bill-aims-to-end-conflict/
Quote:Philippinesââ¬â¢ autonomy bill aims to end conflict KDWN
MANILA, Philippines (AP) ââ¬â The Philippine president submitted a draft law to Congress on Wednesday 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 countryââ¬â¢s largest Muslim insurgent group, the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
(A "peace" deal. Didn't Bush Jr say that "islam means peace"?)
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 countryââ¬â¢s justice system would continue to apply to non-Muslims. Most Filipinos are Catholic Christians, but Mindanao has scattered areas dominated by Muslims.
(And muslims will quickly resort to kidnapping-and-converting and convert-or-killing to make sure everyone in the region comes under the Shariah and it's turned into a dar-ul-islam.)
The government also has promised to pour development funds into the region, which has been stunted economically due to the fighting.
(Sort of like Kashmir. The islamics get every advantage and Filipinos none.)
The peace accord and the draft law came after 13 years of tough negotiations.
ââ¬ÅThis is the farthest distance we have reached in our peace journey with the MILF,ââ¬Â presidential adviser Teresita Deles said in a statement. ââ¬ÅEvery 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.ââ¬Â
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 Aquinoââ¬â¢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.
(Must be like the muslims who insisted they stay back in India rather than wandering across to Pakistan. After all, they need to leave a garrison behind to multiply in the dar-ul-harb and turn that into dar-ul-islams bit by bit too.)
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.
ââ¬ÅThis isnââ¬â¢t a partisan issue,ââ¬Â Casiple said. ââ¬ÅIf you go around saying youââ¬â¢ll block this, a stance the public fears would lead to war, I donââ¬â¢t think youââ¬â¢ll get support from the people.ââ¬Â