June 18, 2006

Amid the unjust wars in nations whose only crime is their aspiration for genuine sovereignty, all of humanity faces this question.

Poor people in a rich land torn by an unjust war has been the tragic irony that befell on the people of Iraq. Three years after the US’s invasion and occupation of Iraq, justified by a monstrous lie about weapons of mass destruction, it continues be ravaged by US-weaponry manned by soldiers who are nonetheless victims of their own country’s greed and folly.

A parallel situation, with a somewhat subtle and diffused complexion can be drawn from the experience of the Muslims in the Philippines. Like Iraq, Mindanao is covetously fertile and militarily advantageous to United States government’s interests. The existing conflict between the Moro liberation groups and the government Mindanao has not escaped the US’s keen eye. Through civic-military operations, deceptively named as "humanitarian missions," and justified by its anti-war on terror campaign, the US has stealthily positioned its war machinery in Mindanao --- from combat and intelligence personnel, both permanent and temporary military structures like air and ports to farm-to-market-roads. Most importantly, a pending change in the country’s charter, not far from the revision of the Iraqi constitution, will further cement its colonial hold in Mindanao and the whole Philippines.

Like Iraq, resistance to US military operations has been strong and the fight for the Moro peoples’ right to self-determination remains as the Moro peoples’ battlecry. But a great anxiety and helplessness has crept into the very heart of this otherwise potent force. Mindanao has been served to the US in a silver platter, and the prospect of achieving the long sought peace and self-determination is in grave danger. The Moro people are held hostage in their lands and their cries espousing anti- US sentiments are stifled with US propaganda mouthing peace and democracy.

As Iraq continues to bleed, like Mindanao, like every other nation threatened with war and occupation, our generation continues to face a collective guilt not far from what the millions of massacred and persecuted Jews asked the entire world during the Holocaust: To what has humanity come to?

It happens that amid the unjust wars in nations whose only crime is their aspiration for genuine sovereignty, all of humanity faces this question. And it happens that from all of us who are witnessing the worst slander against human rights, justice, peace and democracy, a greater amount of courage and sacrifice is being asked of us.

How could we live with the biggest lie that there is justice and democracy when despite the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and other such institutions supposedly formed to prevent crimes against humanity, barbaric wars are being waged from across the globe abetted by the crime of indifference by the middle-roaders from among us.

At this time when the world is torn by a war of economic and political hegemony and power, all peace loving people are called on to manifest in all means able, unity, strength and vigilance, against forces that aim to destroy the very foundations and essence for which humanity was founded on.



Ren Jalaluddin Ropeta

Vice-chairperson, Moro-Christian Peoples Alliance (MCPA)

Mapagbigay St. Brgy. Pinyahan , Diliman

Quezon City, Philippines

@yahoo.com