Development worker confirms: 
Pikit Offensive, GMA’s Support 
of Bush Would Radicalize Moros

Many Muslims in Mindanao already perceive the war against terrorism as anti-Islam and, because they are being told that the offensives in Central Mindanao are in line with the campaign against terror when they actually see that the drive is directed against the MILF and civilians, Muslims cannot be faulted if this perception gains ground.

By Carlos H. Conde 
Bulatlat.com

PIKIT, North Cotabato – The government is running the risk of radicalizing Muslims in Mindanao because of its renewed offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that has reportedly killed more than 200 people and displaced more than 62,000 residents, scholars on Islam and development workers in the region said.

This radicalization, according to them, could offset whatever good the U.S.-sponsored war on terrorism in the Philippines has produced and could put to waste the development efforts in Central Mindanao that costs hundreds of millions of dollars since the early ‘90s.

Moreover, they said, many Muslims in Mindanao already see the war against terrorism as anti-Islam and, because they are being told that the offensives in Central Mindanao are in line with the campaign against terror when they actually see that these are directed against the MILF and civilians, Muslims cannot be faulted if this perception is reaffirmed.

They warn that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s “strong support” for U.S. president George Bush in the latter’s campaign against Iraq will worsen the situation.

A development worker in Mindanao said it is “very, very likely” that moderate Muslims would now be radicalized and would begin to harbor resentment against the government and the West because of the offensive in Pikit and the neighboring towns.

“I have been to these villages and during sermons in the mosque, they are being told that violence is an option against those who harm them and Islam,” the development worker, who is based in Central Mindanao, said on condition of anonymity. “When they are displaced like this, when they are being violated like this, that option is reaffirmed and the use of violence against their perceived enemies is validated,” the source said.

Extreme views

The source said that, during one consultation by a development agency with teachers in these far-flung Muslim villages, the teachers told of how the elders and religious leaders in the villages would “preach violence.”

“These are extreme views, I know, but I tell you, this is prevalent. These sentiments shared by Muslims are real and the main reason for that is they feel they are being victimized,” the source said.

Prof. Rufa Cagoco-Guiam, who teaches at the Mindanao State University in General Santos City and who heads that school’s Center for Peace and Development Studies, agrees. In fact, she says, “the war in Pikit has already radicalized many Muslims, even those who are secular.” She said many of her own friends who were not fond of the MILF are now sympathizers. “The Muslims now feel persecuted,” Ms. Guiam, who is herself a Muslim, said.

She also cited the growing number of Muslims who take to the streets to join rallies. “Remember, the Moro National Liberation Front became popular under these same conditions of persecution and injustice,” she said. If this persists, Ms. Guiam said, extremists and radicals could take advantage of the situation. “Then we would see Muslims who would be willing to die for Islam, who will not hesitate to become suicide bombers because they are convinced of the justness of their cause. I’m afraid, to be honest about it,” she said.

So afraid, in fact, that Ms. Guiam and her husband are now planning to launch a program called da’wah to educate young Muslims about Islam. “We feel that the young ones now should know the basics of Islam – that it is not a violent religion -- before they can be radicalized,” Ms. Guiam said.

Eid Kabalu, the spokesman of the MILF, said these sentiments “have a basis.” He pointed out that the Pikit attack, as well as previous other military offensives, occurred during the Eid, a Muslim holiday. “Muslims most certainly are outraged because the attacks are timed during holidays. This is why they consider these offensives anti-Islam,” he said in an interview.

Mr. Kabalu said the situation “is very, very ripe” for radicals and extremists to exploit. “The MILF denounces extremism and is very concerned about this,” Mr. Kabalu said.

War on Iraq

Compounding the situation is the war in Iraq and the support to it by President Arroyo. The President’s support of the United States on Iraq “will add to Muslim grievances,” said Dr. Zachary Abuza, a professor of East Asian studies at the Simmons College in Boston and author of the forthcoming book Terrorism and Radical Islam in Southeast Asia.

“The coming war in Iraq,” said Dr. Abuza in an email interview, “has redoubled the sense of persecution of Muslims in Southeast Asia, who have always considered the war on terror to be anti-Muslim.  But they watch the Bush administration's double standard when it comes to North Korea.”

Dr. Abuza expects “massive demonstrations around the region once war begins.” He also sees the “further radicalization of many fence sitters or moderates, and a successful recruitment drive for radical groups.”

The development worker interviewed for this article said that what is worrisome now is the difficulty to regain the trust of the people who have gone through an experience like Pikit. “This is going to be a struggle for us, especially because development projects are almost always associated with the very government that Muslims have lost faith in,” the source said.

Armed struggle is just

The U.S., through the USAID, has provided $136 million in assistance to Mindanao from 1994 to 2002, mainly in the form of grants for livelihood projects. The UN Development Program has provided a total of $40 million worth of projects and assistance to Mindanao since 1997. Grants and aid amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars have also been provided by the World Bank, the United Nations and aid agencies from the European Union, Australia, Canada, Japan, Spain and Italy.

These resources, the source said, means nothing to the Muslims who are constantly running for their lives. The tragic thing is, the official added, “because of what is going on, I end up feeling sometimes that, somehow, the armed struggle being waged by the Muslims understandable, that the attraction to violence as a last resort is justified.” Bulatlat.com

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