Manila (Fides Service) - In two recent episodes of violence on Mindanao rebels killed at least 16 people. According to Philippine army reports, in the Christian village of Calauit, in Dipolog, diocese, Zamboanga penisola 14 Christians lost their lives in rebel attacks.
Despite a cease-fire signed in 2001 between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebel group violence in Mindanao shows no sign of stopping. The conflict has its roots in clashes between Christians and Muslims during Spanish colonial rule (1565-1898), which continued during US administration (1898-1946) and also under the present government
In the early seventies, the Muslim minority on the island of Mindanao, stepped up its struggle for a Bangsamoro, Muslim state, independent of the Philippines. The request came mainly from the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Lano del Norte, Maguindanao and municipalities in the neighbouring provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and the centre of the Island. The regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos replied by sending the army to put down the revolt.
Despite an agreement reached in Tripoli 23 December 1976, which granted partial secession, in 1978 armed conflict was resumed. However the Muslim front began to crack: in 1978 the original Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which demanded greater autonomy, split to form the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) a more radical wing calling for independence.
After years of fighting in 1989 the government led by Corazon Aquino granted administrative autonomy but only 4 out of 13 provinces accepted (Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and nearby archipelago Sulu e Tawi-Tawi. In September 1996, the MNLF reached an agreement with the central government led by Fidel Ramos which set up the "Autonomous Muslim Region of Mindanao" which included also the 4 provinces already autonomous. Most rebel military were absorbed by the regular army and police forces and Nur Misuari, leader of MNLF, became the governor of the Autonomous Region.
However the MILF, 15,000 men strong, rejected the agreement and began to recruit new forces. There follow massacres, kidnapping, involving also several missionaries. In 2000 President Estrada re-launched an iron fist attack against the MILF, with a massive military campaign which increased the number of internally displaced (more than 300,000). With the present government led by President Gloria Arroyo a cease-fire was reached but it did not stop violence completely. In 2002 a contingent of US troops was sent to Mindanao to flank the Philippine army in controlling the rebels.
To help stop the conflict in Mindanao the Church is active in promoting Christian-Muslim dialogue. In 1996 the local religious leaders formed a Bishop-Umala Forum, to mediate in situations of conflict. In 1986 in the Zamboanga area the Movimento Silsilah for dialogue was started and in May 1999 it opened a house of formation with courses of interreligious dialogue for religious and laity, Christians and Muslims..
The island of Mindanao has a population of 14.5 million, about one quarter are Muslims. In the Autonomous Muslim Region (population about 2 million), Muslims are the majority although there are large Christian communities. According to government sources at least 120,000 people have died in 30 years of civil war. (PA) (Fides Service 20/2/2002 - lines: 49 words: 530)