This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 14, May 15-21, 2005
Moros Enraged by U.S. Officials’ Remarks BY
GRACE S. UDDIN Amira Lidasan,
secretary-general of the Moro-Christian People's Alliance (MCPA) stressed this
fact as Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema hogged the headlines recently for
burning an American flag. This was in reaction to a statement made by a U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) official who threatened to
terminate their projects in the area because Sema's alleged coddling of
terrorists. Lidasan said Sema received
guests from the Muslim World League sometime in the last week of April only to
be tagged later as a "coddler" of terrorists. In April, U.S. Charge
d'Affaires Joseph Mussomelli said Mindanao's borders are so "porous" that it
runs the risk of becoming the "next Afghanistan." Following his statement,
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick warned that the security
situation in the Philippines remains "dangerous" because of apparent links
between Muslim separatists and international terrorists in southern Mindanao. Batting in, outgoing U.S.
Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said Cotabato City is being used as a "doormat"
for terrorists.
Derogatory, dangerous Reacting, Moro leaders in
this province said that the U.S. officials’ remarks are not only derogatory but
also pose grave danger to the lives of Moro communities. Leaders from Madaum,
home to one of the largest groups of Moro Kalagan tribe in southern Mindanao,
lamented the plight of Moro people who are often made the usual victims. Moro communities in Madaum
have gone through all sorts of tagging in the past. When two bombs went off in
Davao City in 2003, civilian and military officials were quick to call their
place as "the center of Muslim extremism in Davao." Immediately following the
Seaport bombing, a mosque in Madaum was lobbed with grenades. The community was
subjected to a violent raid by a composite team of military officers who swooped
down on the area barely a month after the seaport bombing took place. Following this, local
papers quoted a military officer who tagged Madaum as suspected entry point of
lawless elements. Accusations were also hurled that the communities were
coddling bombers, bomb experts and of late, they were a haven for mobile phone
snatchers. Moro leaders interviewed by
Bulatlat lamented that their problems with these claims go beyond the
issue of negative publicity. They said that these have put their community and
the lives of the members in grave danger and under threat of attacks. Chilling
effects With many southern Mindanao
communities going through military raids in the past as well as abduction of
some of their community members by military elements, Lidasan said that hearing
pronouncements from prominent U.S. officials sends a chilling effect. "It is not easy to live
under constant fear. We have long wanted to live in peace, to live normal lives,
without fear of being invaded, without fear of being attacked," Lidasan said. Economic
reason Lidasan believes there are
underlying reasons for statements made against their community. Madaum, which is home to
Moro tribes indigenous to the area, is strategic since it opens to wide coastal
lines near the major seaport of Davao City, Lidasa explained. The area is also a
vast land of fertile soil where inhabitants thrive mainly on agriculture.
However, inhabitants are said to be threatened by the possible encroachment of
capitalists who are reportedly planning to put up businesses in the area, among
which are a jeans factory and a real estate development business. Surrounding the area at
present are privately-owned banana plantations as well as major transport
facilities such as seaport and airport in the land area. With a report from
Cheryll D. Fiel / Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Moro leaders have expressed concern over statements made by U.S. officials with
regards dangers of living in Mindanao. Such statements are not just a product of
prejudice but also a move to drive Moros away from lands that can be exploited
for profit by capitalists.
Bulatlat
DAVAO DEL NORTE – Statements from U.S. officials against Mindanao have been
found to be so audacious that even influential Moro leaders who used to be close
to U.S. officials have been repulsed.