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April 17, 2007 | Editor Al Santoli
Spring 2007 is proving to be a critical turning point in the global conflict rooted in religion, resources and culture. Widespread instability caused by increased terrorism, endemic government corruption and suffocating poverty is tragically compounded by an increasing reliance on the use of force. Despite increasing calls to stabilize core institutions in the conflict areas, there remains a grave lack of coherency in practicing comprehensive solutions. In Afghanistan, Iraq, North Africa and the Muslim regions of Thailand and the Philippines the impact of orchestrated and reflexive violence committed by both Islamic extremists and the American forces and their allies have only escalated the destruction of numerous communities, furthering cycles of vengeance. Yet, several development organizations have chosen to focus non-violent methods that emphasize the role of education, arts and livelihood programs. Their success has demonstrated alternatives that can reduce or stop pervasive violence.
Royal programs in Thailand and the Asia America Initiative, US Institute of Peace, Tabang Mindanao, Datu Paglas and others in Mindanao, Philippines have helped to stabilize and empower communities they are assisting. Currently, there is a need to balance security with sustainable development in conflict-plagued areas. Terror organizations target foreign and local humanitarians and educators intending to terminate any hope for peace and a better life. Furthermore, private NGOs and local communities who have chosen peace are also being violated by aggressive U.S.-backed military campaigns.
Another obstacle to expand successful programs is an imbalance in public information. Private organizations often lack essential funding for extensive publicity. Meanwhile, journalists seer war stories to expand their audience. Expensive military "Information Operations" fund media campaigns that convey false lessons-learned emphasizing progress is a result of armed force, with Vietnam-like body counts of enemy dead as the gauge for success.
The April 15, 2007 Washington Post and numerous news agencies reported that in Afghanistan, near Jalalabhad, trust was shattered in one of the few Pashtun tribal areas that had preserved come openness toward American-led anti-Taliban forces. This happened when U.S. Marines opened fire on unarmed civilians killing at least 10 and wounding 33. The incident occurred on March 4 following a suicide bombing by a Taliban terrorist. Instead of building solidarity with the local people against terror, the marines' special operations unit was removed from the country. Their indiscriminate violence caused revulsion against U.S. and Afghan government presence.
The same edition of the Post front page was dominated by colorful photos of American mercenary "contractors" in Iraq, resembling characters from "Triple X" movies, who were accused of murder against civilians. Unfortunately, to populations who endure life in such war zones these men characterize the America that they have come to distrust. This is especially tragic, because as Georgie Anne Geyer cited in her April 15 syndicated column, in a recent national poll taken by Foreign Affairs magazine, "68 percent [of Americans] think the world sees us negatively, and a large majority has a negative opinion on military options."
There is a crucial need to defeat terrorists who gain from strategically planned violence. Yet, brutal and sometimes lawless tactics by governments of "democratic" countries cause bitter populations to become more vulnerable to terrorist recruitment. The April 15, 2007 Bangkok Nation reported that in the Muslim province of Pattani, where Buddhist and Muslim school teachers are routinely assassinated, three unarmed boys ages 13 and 14 were shot and killed by Thai paramilitary rangers. The rangers believed the children were about to attack them. The following day, hundreds of angry local residents gathered on a main road near the Pattani Central Mosque shortly after burying the 13- to 15-year-old victims. Witnesses said the three victims and two other injured boys were playing tag on the road at the time of the shooting.
In late March 2007 Director Al Santoli of Asia America Initiative (AAI) returned to the Autonomous Muslim region of the Philippines. There, Santoli continued to expand AAI's innovative program, Development for Peace in Sulu (DPIS), which works to integrate education with livelihood programs. AAI brought some $500,000 [retail value] of fresh medicines to the regional hospital and school clinics, despite limited operational funds and no US government support. Additionally, in partnership with Manila-based NGOs, AAI is distributing some 30,000 text books and library books to 16 Model of Excellence public schools-from elementary through college-as part of the DPIS program.
The most inspiring DPIS achievement is the 2007 performance of AAI assisted schools in regional academic exams. With the help of AAI, Mohammad Tulawie Central Elementary School which initially had a scarce number of text books and six students per one termite-eaten desk finished first among 93 schools in both the Math and the General Subjects exams. The first Peace Zone School, Kasambuhan Elementary, located in the Indanan war zone near where the Abu Sayaf threatened to harm Santoli, finished second in the Math test. Furthermore, Kawmpang Elementary, which was an overcrowded site lacking the most basic educational materials finished third in the General Subjects category. AAI's Community Service college scholars began volunteering Kawmpang Elementary School in 2005.
The hope created by the program, nearing its fifth anniversary, is credited with assisting the local community in building and holding peace in the volatile southernmost region of the Philippines, near Indonesia and Malaysia. The peace continues to hold in the DPIS project areas despite heavy military activity by US-trained Philippine forces in the surrounding area. Still, due to instability, the need for enhanced development persists. Recently, Manila- based Habitat for Humanity and the Filipino Gawad Kalinga organizations have offered to assist AAI in building homes in Jolo and Indanan Peace Zones. That, however, will require additional fundraising.
During Santoli's visit, US military advisors chose to avoid any contact with the AAI team. Within the past two months US military teams conducted some medical civic action visits to selected villages, and completed some much-needed construction projects. However, local residents have voiced mixed feelings and questioned the underlying purpose of the military's presence. Their apprehension is fueled by the arrival of thousands of Filipino scout rangers trained by American military advisors to conduct search and destroy operations against a handful of Abu Sayyaf kidnap and terror gang members. The result of aggressive operations by the military has resulted in growing numbers of displaced families throughout the province. Hauntingly similar to the February incident in Thailand, scout rangers in the Indanan shot unarmed 13 and 14 year old boys returning home from the market. Rather than terminating Abu Sayyaf, it caused conflict with the Moro National Liberation Front [MNLF] a signatory of the 1996 peace accords and who had not previously interfered with military operations.
Sadly, despite their incredible academic achievements, Kasambuhan Elementary students had to forego Commencement ceremonies. It was because the school grounds became the emergency shelter for some 200 families displaced by military operations by US-trained Philippine forces. Despite valiant efforts by the Red Cross, local volunteers and the Tabang Mindanao NGO, the families lacked adequate food, clothing and other basic necessities. Consequently, Ms. Rohaniza Sumnad, AAI program coordinator and a Maranao Muslim, organized a group of Manila-based students from at least six Catholic universities and collected a large amount of rice, noodles, powdered milk, cookies and canned food. AAI emphasized how this effort exemplified that people of different religions and backgrounds could demonstrate care for each other in times of crisis. This is a critical step for peace building in a region torn by religious and ethnic violence.
Pointedly, with surrogate forces operating in the surrounding area, no US military representatives visited the displaced site to offer some form of token assistance. Instead they offered millions to bounty hunters for the capture of a few Abu Sayyaf criminals. The site lacks water and sanitation facilities for the population of up to 1,000 persons. Ironically, a large poster board dominated the school yard advertising that US and Philippine military have recently dug a water well, although not a drop of water came out of the rusted pipe.
More civilian deaths and increasing numbers of families displaced by military operations could turn the area into another Iraq or southern Thailand. This would create ideal conditions for international terrorists from elsewhere to enter and take advantage of the situation, while radicalizing the population into another cycle of civil war.
This danger was driven home during the weekend after Easter, when renewed violence broke out between US-backed Philippine marines and MNLF forces in an area outside of the AAI Development for Peace project. More importantly, it threatens peace and stability throughout the entire region. The April 15 Philippines Star reported that 18 people, including two Marines and a child, were killed in fresh fighting between the military and "renegade members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)" in Panamao and Talipao towns. Fifteen rebels were killed and 17 soldiers wounded in the fighting triggered by a mortar attack on Panamao town by a MNLF group led by Habier Malik. The militants also attacked a Marine detachment in Barangay Tayugan.
''A child was killed and other another one was wounded,'' Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan told the Star. The military dispatched at least 10 attack helicopters and four OV-10 Bronco bombers to soften the MNLF's defenses and pave the way for the capture of the rebel camp in Panamao. A senior military official told the Star of mounting casualties on both sides. The fighting triggered massive evacuation from five neighboring barangays [villages]."
The April 16 Philippine Star cited officials in Jolo who said that the guerilla attack against the marines could have been triggered by an earlier unprovoked attack by US-trained forces that inflicted casualties on Malik's group.
AAI is determined to continue with or without the assistance of government funds . The first step is to relieve the suffering in the Sulu war zone and to further a five year model of building peace that many thought impossible. Ms. Sumndad and Sheena Acero have organized AAI music and arts projects and benefits, such as "Play for Peace" a college-based battle of the bands in Manila. Included will be the music of Awakening Echoes, a peace-oriented singing group comprised of three young sisters and their father who live in Sulu. Dole Fruit Company is also assisting AAI projects with a "Peace-O" program, that places donation cans decorated with AAI and Dole logos in supermarkets and restaurants.
Training young leaders for peace and development for the long term is a main goal of the DPIS project. AAI's expanded Community Service College Scholarship program now includes teaching, agriculture and nursing students at Sulu State College. The first AAI scholarship graduate of Notre Dame College of Jolo qualified for a professional midwife exam. Additionally, the Fisheries High School and Fisheries College at Mindanao State University expanded successful livelihood programs which help to bring income to their underfunded schools. Related livelihood activities include local fishermen and family seaweed farmers being coordinated into cooperatives by AAI scholarship students at the Fisheries College of Mindanao State University in Jolo.
Singaporean college student, Bernice Ang, 20, attends George Mason University and interns at Asia America Initiative's Washington office. She is motivated, in part, because her family lives on edge of the Southeast Asia terror zone. Ms. Ang recently reflected, "It is sad that America is becoming known for negative behavior in the war on terror. There are admirable values in the American people and tradition that many in the world remember and want to respect. We want to believe that it is still there. Those great qualities of justice, generosity, democracy and freedom that Americans pioneered are definitely needed in this world. We can not let that be lost."
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