Arroyo urges southern Philippines to give Muslim self-rule a chance<\/p>\n
COTABATO, Philippines (Agencies): President Gloria Arroyo, in
\nthe southern Philippines ahead of a crucial plebiscite, urged
\nvoters Monday to give Muslim self-rule a chance amid strong
\nopposition from Christian areas.<\/p>\n
\"Let us resolve to forge unity out of our diversity, to make
\nourselves complete and united despite differences in faith and
\nculture,\" Arroyo said in a speech to local officials during a
\nbrief visit.<\/p>\n
\"Let us help turn the ARMM plebiscite into a day of
\nreconciliation and brotherhood for Philippine Muslims and
\nChristians.\"<\/p>\n
However, Philippine local officials on Monday in Manila
\npredicted a massive \"no\" vote for the expansion of a four-
\nprovince autonomous Muslim region in the south, where President
\nArroyo visited on the eve of the crucial plebiscite.<\/p>\n
Even Arroyo concedes the proposal is sure to lose in key areas
\nlike Zamboanga city.<\/p>\n
Local officials in the mainly Christian provinces are
\ncampaigning for a massive \"no\" vote.<\/p>\n
\"We do not want to experience the hardship of our Muslim
\nbrothers in the ARMM,\" said North Cotabato provincial governor
\nEmmanuel Pinol.<\/p>\n
Pax Mangudadato, the Muslim governor of the multisectarian
\nSultan Kudarat province, is adopting a similar stance.<\/p>\n
\"We are better off today. Why should we join ARMM?\" he said.
\n\"It would be like bashing our own head with a rock.\"<\/p>\n
Even ex-rebel leader Nur Misuari, the region's governor, has
\nslammed the plebiscite as an \"exercise in futility\" and is
\ncalling on Muslims to join a boycott.<\/p>\n
\"The outcome will not be binding on us,\" he warned.<\/p>\n
Misuari insists that the plebiscite violates the peace pact
\nbetween Manila and the MNLF, which he claims provides for the
\nautomatic expansion of the coverage of the ARMM after a
\ntransition period.<\/p>\n
The four provinces of the ARMM account for 4 percent of the
\nPhilippines' total land area. But the area is predominantly poor
\nand contributes just 0.9 percent of the country's gross domestic
\nproduct, according to official figures.<\/p>\n
It was set up following a 1989 plebiscite and its creation
\nhelped convince the MNLF to sign a peace treaty with Manila in
\n1996 ending a separatist guerrilla campaign begun in 1971. The
\nMILF broke away from the MNLF in 1978.<\/p>\n
More than 4.9 million Filipinos from 15 provinces and 14
\ncities, including the western province of Palawan and its capital
\ncity of Puerto Princesa, are eligible to vote on whether they
\nwant their province or city to join the ARMM.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arroyo-urges-southern-philippines-to-give-muslim-self-rule-a-chance-1447899208",
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