The rush into signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain
(MOA-AD) between the GRP and the MILF was a handiwork of the US government
to
further its control over Mindanao and Sulu.

The interventionist maneuvers of the US government are at work during these
last
few years in Mindanao. Using the United States Institute for Peace (USIP)
Philippine Facilitation Project 2003-2007, the American government guided
the
outcome of MOA to serve its tactical and strategic objectives in the country
as
well as in the Southeast Asian region.

The US Congress created and funds the USIP. It has made its presence felt in
practically all areas immersed in local wars, ethnic wars, and regional
conflicts. It ensures that through their sponsored conflict resolution mode,
it
safeguards US strategic interests in these areas.

Mindanao is no different.

The direct plea for help of the MILF late Chairman Hashim Salamat to Pres.
Bush
in January, 2003 facilitated the entry of the US in the peace talks.
Washington’s commitment hinged on the MILF’s renouncement of terrorism and
the
late Chairman made this policy public in June, 2003.

Since then, all the three parties held the conspiratorial yet the most
decisive
role of the US a secret. But at some point, MILF’s Kabalu said, “At the
moment,
the US is playing a clever role. They are involved, but only via the USIP”.

But the USIP is but one among the players for the US in Mindanao.

Taking Advantage of the Conflict in the South

After the nationalist lawmakers in 1991 voted to end the US’ long military
presence in the country, the US looked for a possible new hosting
arrangement
for their military installations in the country.

The MILF hinted on several occasions that undisclosed US authorities
approached
it about the possibility of establishing US military bases in the
MILF-controlled territory as part of the final peace deal. The MILF’s
spokesperson has confirmed this.

He added, “if the American interest is really in pushing this peace process,
then we can talk about military bases.”

The US has already established its military presence in the island through
the
Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines (JOSTFP). This command has
been
rotating its forces every six months and is composed of marine, air force,
navy,
army, and Special Forces personnel.

Expectedly, the GRP-MILF draft pact on the Bangsamoro homeland provided the
latter with the broadest concessions. One of these is the agreement of both
parties “to invite a multinational third party to observe and monitor the
actual
implementation of the comprehensive compact…..”

The establishment of the military installations within the BJE would serve a
de
facto peacekeeping role between the two sides. The possibility of a
US-sponsored
UN peace keeping force with the latter’s headquarters in the former’s
military
installations is a not a far-fetched reality. Such facility is pivotal to
their
whole military strategy in this part of the globe.

Gen. Abat, the former senior envoy to Beijing, contends that “establishing
a US
military base in Mindanao would make strategic sense for Washington on
several
fronts, including possible future naval interventions in the South China
Sea,
defending Taiwan from a preemptive Chinese attack and providing a launch pad
for
anti-terrorist operations in Indonesia, Afghanistan and Iraq.”

The US knows that the Philippines’ Constitution and laws remain to be the
greatest obstacle to the full realization of the Bangsamoro Juridical
Entity.
Without an iota of decency, the GRP panel and a bully clothed as
presidential
peace adviser proceeded with the MOA without laying the constitutional basis
for
it. They are clearly working according to the orders of their US master that
has
been breaching weaker countries’ laws while advancing its strategic
interests.

With the Philippine Supreme Court issuing a temporary restraining order on
the
scheduled signing, US Ambassador Kenney commented, “It is the rule of
law.”
After crafting a GRP-MILF draft pact as a route towards further entrenching
their military bases in Mindanao, she said, “…respecting the democratic
process
is never a cause for embarrassment.” She only can deliver this doubletalk
best.

Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) – Mindanao

August 8, 2008

Reference: Macelinda Cepe, KPD-Mindanao Spokesperson

Contact No. (0919-5371479)