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[av_heading heading=’ PROBE TO PROVE ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY AMBASSADOR BAYANI V. MANGIBIN (Ret.)
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MARAWI was once a peaceful place. It is the only official Islamic City in the Philippines; thus, symbolic of “peace” as it bears the name of Islam – a religion of peace. The Islamic way is the path of peace. But on May 23, 2017 the “Battalions of God’s Fighters”, aka Maute fighters et al., took the violent path of war. Rapid fire of guns, bombings, and black smokes replaced the tranquillity and beauty of the place. Peace ceased to exist. It is ironic to mar away Marawi with massive loss of lives, unbearable human sufferings, and wanton destruction of properties on the holy month of Ramadan.
The irony is in its timing. Spreading violence on Ramadan is a mockery to its sanctity. This is a month of sunrise-to-sunset abstinence of all evil thoughts and deeds. It is the time to be most compassionate and most merciful. Yet, on the first day of Ramadan on May 27, people were killed, injured, and displaced. A substantial number of Marawi’s population has been evacuated and 19 people lost their lives.
Why make war on Ramadan?
Supposedly, the gates to heaven are believed to be opened and the gates to hell are closed during Ramadan. This is, then, the opportune time for the militants to fight. If they die they believe that they will go to “jannah” (paradise) since its gates are opened and never in “jahannam” (hell) because its gates are closed. This provides explanation to the military’s observation that the Maute fighters are “suicidal.” They are not afraid to die as they probably believe that death would make them martyrs with a heavenly reward of “72 dark-eyed virgins” (“houri”).
This belief is a source of willpower and the desire to fight. As long as there is this will and desire, the words “surrender” and “defeat” are but empty expressions. It takes more than a military strategy to attain victory over fighters under a spell. It does not count much to kill or capture physically a rebel. With every death or capture, another one or two or three Mautes will take his place. This only perpetuates a “long war”. Peace could not be maintained by countering terror with terror. This is the strategic error that has resulted to protracted Mindanao conflict from the Spanish period up to the present time.
The government should appease not tease the rebels. As early as December 2016, the government was already aware that the Maute group will attack Marawi City. Instead of looking for ways to placate the Maute plan, President Rodrigo Duterte dared the Maute group to push through with its plan to attack Marawi City and “raze it to the ground” (“Duterte dares Maute”, Manila Standard, Dec. 12, 2017).
The five-month period from December 2016 to May 2015 was quite enough to implement measures not to prolong the Mindanao conflict. The government should have worked out a plan of action and prevent this plan of destruction. The government should have adopted a strategy first used by French General Louis Hubert Gonzalve to counter the Black Flags (almost like ISIS) rebellion in 1895. This is the strategy of counter-insurgency: “winning hearts and minds”.
As the willpower is the strength of mind while the heart is the seat of emotions (i.e. desire), winning the hearts and minds of the whole population in Mindanao, specifically the militants, is a logical strategy. Pacification is the magic word – the path of peace! The peace process is the right path.
This strategic direction means acting directly to the factors that make them a rebel and foster in them the willpower and desire to exist in peace, rather than fight, with others. A comprehensive peace process that encompasses inclusive governance, economic prosperity and equality, social justice, and full appreciation and respect of the Islamic faith builds up a path of life that assures the way to “jannah” while they are living and not only after death. Mindanao should now be transformed from a Land of Promise to a Land of Contentment. This will pre-empt the achievement of ISIS’ objective to make Mindanao as the Southeast Asia hub of terrorism. This will prevent Marawi to mar away. (ambaniman@gmail.com/PN)
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