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+--- Thread: The Moro Jihad: Continuous Struggle in Southern Philippines (/showthread.php?tid=9798)
The Moro Jihad: Continuous Struggle in Southern Philippines - Muslimah - 06-16-2003
All those who have been following the news recently will undoubtably
come across the situation in the Southern Phillipiines, where a group
of "Islamic Militants" have taken a group of western tourists
hostage. Unfortunately, most of us do not know the true situation of
the brothers and sisters in that region, so are unable to comment on
the situation. Insha'Allah, the article attached is intended to
provide us with some background details, so at the least we can be
aware and feel concerned about the state of the Muslims there.
Finally, I by no means condone the actions of the kidnappers there,
but doubt that an Islamic group is really behind it. And Allaah know
best.
The Moroland (presently known as 'Southern Philippines') is composed
of Mindanao island (the second largest island of the Philippine
islands) the Sulu archipelago, Palawan, Basilan and the neighbouring
islands.
The Moroland has the area of 116, 895 square kilometres (more than
one third of the whole Philippine islands), with the population of
more than twenty million of which 12 million are Muslims. The rest
are Highlanders (native inhabitants) and the Christian settlers from
Luzon and Visayas.
Arrival of Islam
The arrival of Islam at the Moroland was in the year 1210 AC, that is
more than three centuries before the arrival of Christianity brought
by Ferdinand Magellan (a Portuguese who was then working for Spain)
to the region in the year 1521 AC.
Islam was introduced to the Moros by some Arab merchants and Islamic
missionaries. Very soon after the arrival of Islam, the Islamic
Sultanates were founded under the reign of the Moro Sultans
themselves, such as;
* the Sultanate of Sulu embracing Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Palawan and the
neighbouring islands
* the Sultanate of Maguindanao where most of the Muslims are now
living.
The Spanish Invasion
The Spanish Invaders, led by Ferdinand Magellan, upon arriving at the
Philippines in the year 1521 AC had imposed the Cross and the
doctrine of Trinity upon the inhabitants by way of the sword.
Consequently, the inhabitants of Luzon and Visayas were all baptized
to Christianity. Of course, there had been an Islamic resistance
in Manila led by Raja Sulaiman and Lakandula, but that did not last
long after the martyrdom of the two said leaders in the battlefield.
None of the Islamic relics in Manila were left by the Spanish vandals
except for a fort known as 'Intramoros.'
On the 10th of December 1898 AC, the "Treaty of Paris" was agreed
upon by America and Spain by which the latter had to cede the
Philippines to the former. What is quite puzzling is that, inspite of
the fact that Spain was not able to subjugate the Moros, she included
the Moroland in the deal.
The Philippines Annexation of the Moroland
For more than three centuries the Spanish attempted to subjugate or
to exterminate the Moro Muslims, followed by the forty seven years of
the Americans attempt, which were all in vain.
The political approach of the Americans seemed effective in winning
over the response of the Moro Sultans and Datus to come to agreement,
whose conditions included the non-interface of the Americans in the
local affairs of the Moro Sultans and Datus. On this basis,
the 'Kiram-Bates' Treaty was signed on the 2nd August 1899. Similar
deals were made with the Sultan of Maguindanao.
On the 2nd March 1904, President Roosevelt of America, without moral
and ethical considerations, unilaterally declared the treaty null and
void.
On the granting of independence to the Philippines by America in the
year 1946, there was a strong objection by the Moros to the inclusion
of the Moroland but neither the Americans nor the christianised
Filipinos had listened to them, knowing that the Philippines is an
American agent in the region. The existence of American military
bases in the country is an obvious reflection of this fact. This is
not surprising as the Moroland is very rich of natural resources and
mines, not to mention the fertility of its soil.
The Moro Jihad at Present
The Moro Jihaad has been in three phases:
First Phase: the Moro Jihaad against the Spanish invasion (1521 -1
898) 377 years
Second Phase: the Moro Jihaad against the American colonisers (1898 -
1946) 47 years
Third Phase: the Moro Jihaad against the Philippine crusade (1970 -
present).
Since the granting of the Philippines Independence in the year 1946,
the Manila government launched 'settlement programs' for the
Christians from Luzon and Visayas in the Moroland. Prior to that the
Moro Muslims had been enjoying the administration of the region by themselves as the Provincial governors, the Municipal mayors and the Barangay captains were among themselves. The Christian settlers, with the assistance of the Manila government, started to take over the strategic politic and socio-economic posts soon after their influx into the Moroland.
The Question of Genocide
Obviously, the motive of the Manila government behind the influx of
the Christian settlers into the Moroland is not a mere settlement but
to carry out its genocide campaign against the Muslims. This has been
reflected by the organisation of the Christian militia (armed)
movement known as 'ilaga' to strike terror against the unarmed Moro
civilians, especially among the rural areas. A large series of
massacres and arsons were carried out. The Moro civilians leaving
their homes and farms were compelled to seek refuge in the urban
areas dominated by Muslims.These are the chances taken by the
Christian terrorists to take over farms and lands vacated by the Moro
refugees.
The Moro Youth Responded
The genocide campaign of the Manila government had reached an
alarming point. So the Moro youth and students, both domestic and
abroad, specially those who were studying in Arab and Islamic
countries led by Salamat Hashim had no choice but to organise
the 'Moro National Liberation Front,' to face the challenge. While
the 'Front' was still at the stage of organisation, a conflict between
Nur Misuari and one of the then Cairo graduates (a doctor) broke out as
both expressed aspirations to the chairmanship of the 'Front.' Sheikh
Salamat Hashim, who was the leader of the whole group did not insist
to the chairmanship to avoid further dispute and eventual failure. So
Misuari became the chairman of the 'Front.'
After a few years of the start of the struggle Misuaris' inefficiency
had unveiled itself and most, if not all, of the field commanders
signed a petition that Misuari should step down and give way for
Salamat Hashim to assume the chairmanship, but Misuari cunningly
insisted to stay and Salamat Hashim has to lead the 'Front' in
accordance with the choice of the majority.
In order to avoid confusion, the members of the Central Committee had
decided to replace the word 'National' with the word 'Islamic' so the
true 'Liberation Front' aiming at the reestablishment of a sovereign
Moro Islamic State was given the title 'Moro Islamic Liberation
Front.'
The Military Strength of the MILF
* 120,000 men (six divisions) regular Islamic Armed Forces of which
more than 80% are well armed;
* 300,000 militiamen and even more.
The Demand of the MILF
The demand (objective) of the 'Moro Islamic Liberation Front' is
precisely no less than Independent (sovereign) Moro Islamic State.
Why Economic Underdevelopment?
The Moroland is rich of natural resources and mines, aside from the
fertility of its soil, yet quite behind in economic development
because of being neglected by the Manila government. Since annexation
of the Moroland by the Philippines, a vast amount of Pesos is being
generated by the crusade Philippine government out of the Moro wealth
on the account of the Moros themselves.
Unless, the would-be Moro sovereign Islamic State is established, no
real economic development is expected
Sheikh Abu Zahir
Taken from 'The Call of Islam' Issue 23 Vol 5
La Ilaha Illa ALLAH, Muhammadan Rasulullah.