Mindanao, Philippines: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been mum on the criticisms hurled against it by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). We know it is not beneficial to both organizations if they are dragged into the verbal tussle. However, it is not good either if the MILF allows the one-way verbal assault continues. There must be a brake to it by way of this explanation.
The CPP in its 44th Anniversary Statement released last December 26, 2012 criticized the MILF bitterly for allegedly submitting itself to the supreme authority of the oppressive Manila government. It alleged further that the main objective of the Manila government is to pacify and subordinate the MILF and use it for the political and economic purposes of Manila and Washington. Truth is, this is very difficult to ascertain, but so far, the MILF finds the Aquino administration as real partner in peace-making.
In this write-up, we do not intend to defend or glamorize the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the four Annexes. Such an act is not necessary. The Agreement will prove its correctness or incorrectness in the course of time. History will judge the MILF.
Our purpose here is to appeal to the CPP to give the MILF the benefit of the doubt whether its decision to sign the FAB with the Manila government will redound to the benefits of our people, or it is a doomed exercise. The MILF and the FAB are different from the MNLF and the GPH-MNLF Final Peace Agreement of September 2, 1996, respectively. The leadership of the MILF also differs from that of the MNLF, especially in orientation and approach.
More importantly, we appeal to the CPP not to judge the MILF and its policies and decisions on the basis of the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideology. Besides, the MILF and the CPP are coming from two different points. The CPP believes in armed struggle as the sole route to people’s liberation, while the MILF gives armed struggle and non-armed struggle almost equal footing in freeing the Bangsamoro from bondage.
We hope this appeal will not be like a voice in the wilderness!
