The Mindanao Massacre

I’m sure every Filipino’s sensibilities (not to mention their sense of justice) were offended by last week’s horrific killing of at least 50 people (including journalists and lawyers) in what appeared to be a tribal war between two powerful Muslim families in Mindanao over the filing of a candidacy for the gubernatorial race by Vice Mayor Ibrahim Mangudadatu, representing the Mangudadatu clan, against the incumbent, Andal Ampatuan, Sr. of the influential Ampatuan clan. World leaders, foreign journalists, and international organizations workers were also quick to condemn what happened.

That's why it was baffling to read in this Philippine Star article that some Filipino Muslim groups would rather raise "the possibility that top government officials may be involved in the massacre in Maguindanao to pave the way for emergency rule in the country.” According to Amina Rasul, chair of the Philippine Council for Islamic Democracy, “some Muslim groups are not convinced that the Ampatuans should be held solely responsible for the killings. . . “The conspiracy may involve the national government,” Rasul said.

Given the mounting evidence to the contrary, such assertion is absurd and irresponsible. It deflects the blame from those who are otherwise guilty of these heinous crimes. It does not serve both truth and justice. It is also clannish and myopic. It is playing politics as usual, Philippine style.

Amina Rasul was a United States Institute of Peace (USIP) fellow. USIP at one time underwrote the US policy towards Mindanao.

What happened last week reveals the political dynamics in these communities and the clannish nature of Mindanao politics. If those engaged in the upcoming peace talk are hoping that transferring power and resources to the Filipino Muslim leadership will resolve the Muslim conflict in the country, they are in for a rude awakening. For as long as these leaders are governed by their oligarchic interests (and religious indignations), they will use that power against the national community and against each other.