Too much time wasted

Too much time wasted

Third World countries are used to encountering internal
ethnic, ideological and religious differences. Often, these
conflicts turn into bloody ones which sap resources, disrupt
people's lives and lead to a host of other problems.

Through strong leadership, as in the case of Peru for example,
some have managed to resolve such differences. The same cannot be
said of Indonesia, Algeria or Sri Lanka, however.

But questions arise as to the methods used.

Usually, steps taken to neutralize the problems are harsh and
any success achieved is criticized as having been due to stepping
on the backs of other people.

In the case of the Philippines, it seems that some
unreasonable demands from a dwindling band of leftist insurgents
and a waning Muslem secessionist movement come up every time the
government tries to settle its differences with them.

Take, for example, the Communist Party of the Philippines'
(CPP) recent postulation that a newly-captured regional leader be
released before talks can start in Belgium, or the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF) leaders insistence that a provisional
government with judicial, executive and legislative powers be
established first if hostilities between their followers and the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are to cease.

These two groups have been trying to destabilize the
Philippine government for more than two decades. The MNLF started
their struggle for a separate homeland during the time of
Ferdinand Marcos, who waged a relentless war to annihilate them.

Those who survived and still challenge the government have now
turned to banditry, kidnapping and piracy in a desperate attempt
to keep a dying cause alive.

On the other hand, the CPP has been marginalized largely due
to the global collapse of communism and the improvement of the
Philippine economy.

President Fidel Ramos stressed upon assumption to power that
one of his priorities would be the settling of internal conflicts
that had already taken a huge toll in the loss of lives and
property.

And he took the right steps by initiating dialogs with CPP,
MNLF and the Revolutionary Alliance of the Masses (RAM), the
rightist soldier group.

Talks with the third group have proceeded well and some of
RAM's prominent members even took part in the last local
election, with leader Gregorio Gringo Honasan winning a senate
seat.

But nothing has come out yet on the talks with the CPP and
MNLF.

How long should the Ramos government keep bending backwards?
Based on their arrogant attitudes and actions, these two groups
are not obviously keen on having peace at all.

Ramos should also be careful not to commit the same mistakes
of his predecessor, who wasted a lot of time negotiating with the
two groups at the expense of the country's economic well-being.
As a former military man, Ramos should know what the option is if
the twin talks fail.

The Philippine economy was ravaged by Marcos' 20-year
dictatorship and Aquino's six years of aimless drifting. Ramos
should realize that so much time has already been wasted and that
the people have been patient long enough.

-- The Nation, Bangkok