Duterte Signs Treaty Allowing for More Muslim Autonomy

      A friend of mine, a fellow reader of "The Wall Street Journal," asked me recently what I thought about a recent article about the treaty with the Muslims in Mindanao.  I promptly replied that I was pleased with that news, even though I am grudging about giving Duterte any credit about anything.  I went on to explain that the treaty was a positive development, even though the Muslim leadership (of the former major militant opposition, the Moro National Liberation Front) would have liked more independence from Manila than they finally got.  The treaty granted self government in most major areas, except for military defense, which would remain with the government in Manila.

     My friend then asked me two astute questions.  "Isn't there likely to be continued friction between the separatists and the central government.  And will the Muslims in the newly independent area be represented in the military?"  I have to admit that I did not have ready answers.  I had been hoping for a successful conclusion to the lengthy (years long) "truce" that had basically held between the MNLF and Manila.  I had not recently looked closely at the terms of the treaty, and I did not know how to answer his question.  Of course, I promised to do some searching in my news sources and one or two contacts.

     I haven't quite gotten to the research yet, but I decided to share the questions with you.  I'll let you know when I have something further, but I welcome your thoughts in the meantime.

July 31, 2018    
rhb