Too much time wasted<\/p>\n
Third World countries are used to encountering internal
\nethnic, ideological and religious differences. Often, these
\nconflicts turn into bloody ones which sap resources, disrupt
\npeople's lives and lead to a host of other problems.<\/p>\n
Through strong leadership, as in the case of Peru for example,
\nsome have managed to resolve such differences. The same cannot be
\nsaid of Indonesia, Algeria or Sri Lanka, however.<\/p>\n
But questions arise as to the methods used.<\/p>\n
Usually, steps taken to neutralize the problems are harsh and
\nany success achieved is criticized as having been due to stepping
\non the backs of other people.<\/p>\n
In the case of the Philippines, it seems that some
\nunreasonable demands from a dwindling band of leftist insurgents
\nand a waning Muslem secessionist movement come up every time the
\ngovernment tries to settle its differences with them.<\/p>\n
Take, for example, the Communist Party of the Philippines'
\n(CPP) recent postulation that a newly-captured regional leader be
\nreleased before talks can start in Belgium, or the Moro National
\nLiberation Front (MNLF) leaders insistence that a provisional
\ngovernment with judicial, executive and legislative powers be
\nestablished first if hostilities between their followers and the
\nArmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are to cease.<\/p>\n
These two groups have been trying to destabilize the
\nPhilippine government for more than two decades. The MNLF started
\ntheir struggle for a separate homeland during the time of
\nFerdinand Marcos, who waged a relentless war to annihilate them.<\/p>\n
Those who survived and still challenge the government have now
\nturned to banditry, kidnapping and piracy in a desperate attempt
\nto keep a dying cause alive.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the CPP has been marginalized largely due
\nto the global collapse of communism and the improvement of the
\nPhilippine economy.<\/p>\n
President Fidel Ramos stressed upon assumption to power that
\none of his priorities would be the settling of internal conflicts
\nthat had already taken a huge toll in the loss of lives and
\nproperty.<\/p>\n
And he took the right steps by initiating dialogs with CPP,
\nMNLF and the Revolutionary Alliance of the Masses (RAM), the
\nrightist soldier group.<\/p>\n
Talks with the third group have proceeded well and some of
\nRAM's prominent members even took part in the last local
\nelection, with leader Gregorio Gringo Honasan winning a senate
\nseat.<\/p>\n
But nothing has come out yet on the talks with the CPP and
\nMNLF.<\/p>\n
How long should the Ramos government keep bending backwards?
\nBased on their arrogant attitudes and actions, these two groups
\nare not obviously keen on having peace at all.<\/p>\n
Ramos should also be careful not to commit the same mistakes
\nof his predecessor, who wasted a lot of time negotiating with the
\ntwo groups at the expense of the country's economic well-being.
\nAs a former military man, Ramos should know what the option is if
\nthe twin talks fail.<\/p>\n
The Philippine economy was ravaged by Marcos' 20-year
\ndictatorship and Aquino's six years of aimless drifting. Ramos
\nshould realize that so much time has already been wasted and that
\nthe people have been patient long enough.<\/p>\n
-- The Nation, Bangkok<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/too-much-time-wasted-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }