Manila to boost defence spending
Updated
The Philippines says it will boost military funding next year, in a fresh bid to end the Maoist-led insurgency in the troubled southern island of Mindanao. President Gloria Arroyo says the government plans to buy more than US$200 million worth of new equipment.
Presenter: Girish Sawlani
Irene Santiago, former Mindanao peace negotiator; Dr Steve Rood, Philippines country representative, Asia Foundation; Eid Kabalu, spokesperson, Moro Islamic Liberation Front
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SAWLANI: The past year has seen situation in Mindanao deteriorate to new lows. Peace negotiations with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front broke down in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the signing of a peace accord - leaving mediators in Malaysia frustrated. Moreover, its ongoing war with Maoist insurgents have led to the escalation of violence in the troubled island. Earlier this month, Filipino forces killed a leading commander of the Communist New People's Army, prompting President Arroyo to boost efforts to end the 40-year Maoist insurgency by announcing a multi-million dollar funding boost for the military.
The defence department says it'll receive more than $US200 million in 2009 to acquire new equipment such as helicopters, boats and new weapons. But some see this as an attempt by President Arroyo to maintain political power. Irene Santiago is former member of the government's team to the MILF peace panel.
SANTIAGO: When you put it in the context of the peace talks and the entire peace processes, then you see that the reason for the increase in funding is really not to address the insurgency, but really to ensure that Gloria Arroyo has her hold on power, remains with the power in tact. Whatever seems to be her tack, whether it's now and then go back to the negotiating table or this or that. It's always in the context of how am I going to survive politically and that's not a very firm way of dealing with insurgency.
SAWLANI: Dr Steve Rood is a Mindanao observer from the Asia Foundation. He says he does not expect significant changes in the ensuing conflict with the Maoists in 2009.
ROOD: I don't actually see much of a change in the overall situation with respect to the insurgency over the next year. The insurgency is fed by a large number of overarching issues such as poverty and injustice, and undisciplined security forces, none of which are being addressed by any increase in the military allocation.
SAWLANI: While the government sets its sights on crushing the communists, it's also promised to renew peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. President Arroyo says the government is preparing itself to proceed with talks. But the separatists are not confident of a resolution. Eid Kabalu is a spokesman for the MILF.
KABALU: We are still hopeful that the talks will resume, but we are not so much optimistic of the outcome. Right now, they have yet to complete the composition of their own panel, because their own panel was disbanded. But then again in the case of the MILF, our committees directly involved in the peace processes are all in tact, so that we are ready and willing to go back to the negotiating table, minus these issues that they are trying to impose, as a precondition on the resumption of the talks.
SAWLANI: Dr Steve Rood from the Asia Foundation adds the Arroyo administration lacks a viable solution.
ROOD: I think an indication that it will just be more of the same in terms of not making much progress is the fact that the rest of the peace panel was not announced when the president said it would be announced yesterday. Instead there only is the veteran diplomat, who is now head of the government's panel. So they don't seem to hvae found a way forward as acceptable both to the government and to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, much as both sides would like that to happen.
SAWLANI: Further complicating the situation, is the fact that the government believes the MILF has formed an armed alliance with the New People's Army. The MILF has denied those accusations. And former peace negotiator Irene Santiago says any alliance between the Maoists and the MILF is irrelevant in the context of achieving peace in Mindanao.
SANTIAGO: It's nothing that we should factor in analysing what is going on. I think the most important elements here is to see whether Gloria Arroyo has changed in the sense of is it her political survival that's the most important or is it the peace process?
