I dreaded writing or commenting about this. I knew a recurrence of hostility was possible in Mindanao even as peace talks are ongoing, but it never occured to me it will be this soon. As I was writing my last post “Winners and Losers“, I was oblivious of the brewing issue of evacuation in the affected towns of North Cotabato, starting with 16,000 and increasing to Winners and Losers“, I was oblivious of the brewing issue of evacuation in the affected towns of North Cotabato, starting with 16,000 and increasing to 80,000 as the last report says.

As it turns out, despite assurances of MILF leaders that they are willing to withdraw troops in affected areas  — which they rather call “repositioning“, they seem to have no “real” control of their troops. It’s either that or they’re just “playing” us all. This very moment that I write this post, there is consistent exchange of gunfire from the MILF and our government troops. The MILF admits to no fault while claiming that they were “repositioning” peacefully when some militiamen fired at them so they had no choice but to protect themselves. If this is true, it only proves how “taking up arms” by civilians is such a pain in the arse for the government! This peace process should be between two parties alone. A third “wheel” spoils everything! Indeed, whoever said “three’s a crowd” is a genius!

How can we move forward in this “wedding” of sorts (borrowing an analogy used by Abe Margallo on his article “What’s all the big fuss about the MoA-AD?” at Filipino Voices.com) if an “ex” keeps on barging in, obviously uninvited (damn gatecrashers..) — and shouts “stop the wedding! i’m pregnant!“? I mean, come on! Please. Guards, where are you? Somebody please take that “lady” and let’s get on with the ceremony. After all, if both “bride” and “groom” are committed to this “wedding” then no threat from an “ex” should stop a long-awaited “marriage“.

Note: The “ex” here refers to both militiamen (civilians who took up arms in defense of themselves – comprised of The CAFGU [Civilian Armed Forces Geographic Unit] and the CVO [Civilian Volunteers Organization] ) and the stubborn MILF subordinates frustrated and emotional of the TRO and who wouldn’t respect and obey their leaders’ orders.

The “ex“, upon seeing the MILF forces “repositioning” assumed “they were under attack“, thus the exchange of fire. Well, I say “what the hell?” Don’t these guys get informed of “developments”? Or at the very least, don’t they listen to public radio? How can we be capable of talking peace when we can’t even communicate the simplest instructions without incurring mistakes or misinterpreting information? Good God!

What’s worse is that this is currently happening in a mostly-Christian-dominated town who doesn’t have anything to do with the hostilities there. Why do civilians always have to pay the price? We are waging an unnecessary war here! These guys (the “ex”) are derailing the peace process. And the way I see it — no mind-reading necessary — whatever it is that they want (which motivates them to do this) is anything but peace. They are no more than “trigger-happy” bandits who have no respect for the rule of law, much less for themselves. The government must know what to do with these people.

Which prompts me to recall an event: On April 7, 1865, with the Civil War raging, Lincoln needed to communicate with one of his generals on the front lines. His credibility as president — and the country’s future — hung in the balance. He wanted his message to inspire, but also to be clear. Here’s what he wrote:

Lieut. Gen. Grant,
Gen. Sheridan says, “If the thing is pressed, I think Lee will surrender.
Let the thing be pressed.
Lincoln

PGMA is still in Beijing and will be back Monday morning even as Timor Leste President arrives here today. I wonder what instruction she gave her generals. If I were president, I’d second Lincoln (not because he is Lincoln, but because his was a wise decision conveyed with such brevity and wit) and tell them, “Let the thing be pressed.” And this is coming from a peace advocate.

Meantime, as we fight local insurgency here, war has broken in Georgia’s South Ossetia — another problem with “separatism“. But that’s a different story altogether. Peace is definitely the most elusive luxury in the world.