Few lessons from Manila

EDITORIAL

Published: 9 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Philippine government and one of the major Muslim-led rebel groups have agreed to sign a pact next week that could end one of Asia's most murderous conflicts. If successful, the agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be a landmark achievement for a government in negotiating peace with a group holding such strong terrorist relations.

"If" is the potential stumbling block, because this is only the latest such deal between Manila and the southern Moros. But a major question is whether there is anything in the Philippine deal that can help Thailand.

The least obvious lesson for this country is the two-part process that allows President Benigno Aquino III to grab the glory of next Monday's signing ceremony. First came a commitment by a string of Philippine leaders to strive for a negotiated settlement. Without the serial and non-partisan decisions by presidents Estrada, Arroyo and Aquino, there would be no deal with the MILF.

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mogy71
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Discussion 3 : 09 Oct 2012 at 10.583
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Another major contributor to the Mindanao agreement is the island is overflowing in minerals and oil and the fact that the 'war' was going on meant nobody could reap the benefits. Now both sides are more than happy to get a portion of the profits from the raping of the islands resources. The south of Thailand doesn't have this benefit.
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pjt
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Discussion 2 : 09 Oct 2012 at 08.182
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Just because the lessons are not obvious does not mean they cannot be a source of learning. The southern problem requires a revolution in government involvement, leadership and thinking. Malaysia must be an active part of the solution as it is a source of both influence over and support to the southern terrorists. Surely the biggest lesson is that it takes a long time, there will be set backs and difficult compromises. Even if you do not have 100% solution the key question is did you move forward or back in the real war which is to persuade ordinary people to reject the terrorists and embrace peaceful means of problem resolution
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robins
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Discussion 1 : 09 Oct 2012 at 07.421
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Once you negotiate a so called peace with terrorists and criminals, you've opened the flood gates. Any time they want more, they can just go on the warpath and reap another settlement.
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Few lessons from Manila | Bangkok Post: opinion