December 11 - A symposium on the Zamboanga cty crisis entitled “RECONCLING A DIVIDED COMMUNITY” was held at the UP College of Mass Communication.
The speaker was Ms. Amina T. Rasul-Bernardo, the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy. Ms. Rasul-Bernando, possibly in her sixties, gave sharp comments about national issues, particularly, the unresolved crisis in Zamboanga. She related the events in Zamboanga to what is also happening in other cities in the coutnry. She said there is no peace in the South.
She said in Davao, the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) are welcome and are free to join protests. But in Zamboanga, it’s bloodbath. The MNLF and the MILF would listen to the Dutertes but never to the Philippine president, She also warned that terror is so easy to spread from the South to the North.
Of course prior to these conclusions, she narrated the history of how it all started. The issue can be traced back to the time of the Spaniards in the country, where there was a conflict between Christians and Moros (commonly known as Muslims). Mindanao couldn’t be conquered by the Spaniards because the Moros were repulsive to the foreigners. They’re what you’d call the pre-colonial Filipinos.
Fastforward to more recent years, MNLF says that the government is not fulfilling its part in the 1996 peace agreement and that in the process of reconciling with the MILF, the government forgot about the MNLF.
She also shared some rumors about the Philippine military’s involvement in the existence of these two armed groups. Mhmmmm.
The role of the the media
She complained about people in the media. She said, it’s okay to be political. But when you give your opinion, go out there. Talk to the people. Get the facts. Know the figures. This is clearly her opinion about a recent incident in Philippine media where a newscaster went far in doing her job by bashing a reporter of an international national news channel, in an attempt to defend her politician husband.
Her closing remarks
According to Ms. Rasul-Bernardo, even the poor sections of Muslim Mindano are media savvy. People could design a form. Include religious and radical people Talk about similar things and build on them. It’s a matter of common ground.
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