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Reflections
from Mindanaw: All-out war or all-out development?
By Ariel "Ayi" C. Hernandez
Last week was a week full of
irony and a lot of stress for Mindanawons while many Manila-based
media feasted on the idea of an all-out war in the wake of the
Al-Barka encounter between the Army’s Special Forces and MILF
rebels along with some “lost command” MILF forces. This was
further aggravated by another bloody encounter in the municipalities
of Kabasalan and Titay in Zamboanga Sibugay over the weekend. Then
another encounter erupted in Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del
Norte, although it has yet to be confirmed if MILF forces were
involved in the clash with Army troopers in the area. These
incidents worry everyone in Mindanaw, especially when the media
outlets in Manila add up to the fire rather than asking sensible
questions to objectively understand the situation while grieving and
giving full honors to the slain soldiers.
Having experienced relative
peace since 2008, majority of Mindanawons could only hope for the
cooler heads to prevail as investigation to the incidents are
ongoing to make sure that justice will be served in the Al-Barka
encounter.
On a positive note, last
Friday I attended a mini stakeholders forum’ hosted by Mayor
Loreto V. Cabaya of Aleosan and Balay Mindanaw after five barangays
there underwent a participatory barangay peace and development
planning. This was followed by a groundbreaking ceremony for the
construction of a three-door Madrasah building in Barangay Dunguan.
It was a collaborative effort of the Provincial and Municipal
Governments, the AFP thru the 40th Infantry Battalion, ABS-CBN
Foundation, Balay Mindanaw, and the community and people of Dunguan.
In his remark, Barangay Chairman Mholds Suga was thanking everyone
for making the long dreamt of project become a reality. He couldn’t
say much as tears rolled down his cheeks. His expression of
gratitude struck me deeply because I could feel that he had a lot to
say about his barangay – that in many instances it is the first to
get bombed, its people the first to evacuate, the first to suffer
the horrors and trauma of a bloody encounter between state and
non-state forces. Last Friday’s ceremony was symbolic in many
forms and meaning.
Having been isolated for so
long, development in the barangay is slowly taking place as partners
started contributing their resources. The barangay was fully
assimilated in the municipal services only in 2005. Before that, it
was fully off limits to government and other stakeholders. Now, even
with the trauma for having been through so many battles they have
experienced still untreated, you can, on one hand, feel how open
they are, how hungry they are for development, and on the other, you
can tell from their faces how tired they are of war, of running, of
being unheard, as the Manila-based media shout and demand for
all-out war.
I was just wondering, while I
grieve and pay my respects to the brave soldiers who died and are
willing to die, is there a way to talk to the communities in
Al-Barka and ask them what they really want? I’m sure after the
many encounters in the area, the communities are tired of war, tired
of running and tired of getting the blame as a safe haven for rebels
and criminal elements.
How I wish these media
outlets, which unfortunately could influence public opinion, can ask
more sensible questions. How I wish they could hear the cries and
the wails of the mothers and children in the midst of the violence
these media outlets are espousing. How I wish they could attend to
the sick in the evacuation camps. How I wish they could accompany
the families of the innocent victims of war as they bury their dead.
Or, on a positive note, how I
wish the media would ask what could they could do to help ensure
that the violence will not happen again. How I wish they would ask
how they could help the communities achieve their vision for peace
and development. I’m sure tears will also fall from their eyes
once they see the reaction of the people in the conflict-affected
communities. Then maybe these media outlets will not ask for all-out
war anymore. Maybe they will ask for an all-out development in these
strife-torn areas instead.
I was fully delighted when
the President ruled out an all-out war. I wish he could have added
we “will do an all-out development in these areas.” Then maybe
we will witness many tears of joy rather than tears from pains
brought about by war.
Gahub, Gingoog City, Oct
25, 2011
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