Scotland today, Bangsamoro tomorrow

As I write this column on the eve of the historic vote, the Scottish nation is split just about even on the proposition to establish independence and secede from the United Kingdom. There are good arguments on both sides of the proposition, but the interesting aspect is that they got this far.

The union of England and Scotland has existed for more than 300 years. If this divorce can happen after three centuries, how solid are countries with large cultural minorities like Spain, Belgium and yes, the Philippines? Is  it Scotland today and Bangsamoro tomorrow?

Many nations, including ours, are in essence artificial nations… forced to be a nation by a treaty or some colonial power. Are we truly a “Filipino” nation (even the name “Filipino” is derived from a Spanish king) or merely a group of tribes forced together by circumstances?

I turned to an article of George Friedman in Stratfor to have a better understanding of what exactly this Scottish vote is all about.http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/origins-and-implications-scottish-referendum#axzz3DXUrLkC8

Friedman explains: “The incredible power of the nation-state as a moral principle and right could be only imperfectly imposed. No nation was pure. Each had fragments and minorities of other nations.

“In many cases, they lived with each other. In other cases, the majority tried to expel or even destroy the minority nation.

“In yet other cases, the minority demanded independence and the right to form its own nation-state. These conflicts were not only internal; they also caused external conflict over the right of a particular nation to exist or over the precise borders separating the nations.”

Friedman explains that Scotland and England are historical enemies. “Their sense of competing nationhoods stretches back centuries, and their occupation of the same island has caused them to fight many wars. Historically they have distrusted each other, and each has given the other good reason for the distrust.

“The Union of 1707 was the result of acts of parliaments on both sides and led to the creation of the Parliament of Great Britain. England’s motive was its old geopolitical fears. Scotland was driven more by financial problems it was unable to solve by itself.

“What was created was a united island, acting as a single nation. From an outsider’s perspective, Scotland and England were charming variations on a single national theme -- the British -- and it was not necessary to consider them as two nations.”

Friedman goes on: “Nationalism, the remembrance and love of history and culture, is not a trivial thing… The upcoming Scottish election, whichever way it goes, demonstrates the enormous power of the desire for national self-determination. If it can corrode the British union, it can corrode anything.

“The right to national self-determination is not simply about the nation governing itself, but also about the right of the nation to occupy its traditional geography. And since historical memories of geography vary, the possibility of conflict grows.”

Reading about the Scottish vote made me think of Bangsamoro and what we are trying to do with the Bangsamoro Basic Law. I have attended two briefings on the BBL led by our head negotiator, Prof Miriam Coronel-Ferrer. I have no doubt the BBL will be controversial, but also there isn’t much choice if we want peace and justice to prevail.

This early, I am hearing voices claiming that the BBL violates our Constitution and that PNoy and his negotiating panel are traitors for even thinking of “giving away” territory and sovereignty.

I don’t think so. I think PNoy is being both brave and statesmanlike for daring to accomplish what needed to be done for many years now. He could have just kicked the can down the road for his successor to deal with, but he didn’t.

Traitors? It isn’t as if the BBL is giving up anything to the Chinese. The Bangsamoro people are Filipinos too, as far as the current Constitution defines who are Filipinos. The BBL is merely providing them a different way of governing themselves, which isn’t a bad idea.

Maybe, if the BBL works well, we will realize that the country called the Philippines will function better as a federation of Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Bicolanos, Warays, Cebuanos, Hiligaynon, etc. Break up to make up a better nation state.

The BBL will give us a chance to settle centuries of differences as well as learning something new we can adopt. Our ways of governing have deteriorated through the years, and yet there is a strong resistance to introduce changes. Maybe, seeing the Bangsamoro achieve some success by using new ways of governance will be good for all of us.

The Foundation for Economic Freedom, of which I am a Fellow, has been conducting training programs for potential leaders of the Bangsamoro on how to manage the economy. Everything, from investment incentives, labor laws and banking policies, has been discussed in depth by FEF economists in workshops attended by the Bangsamoro leadership.

Indeed, Toti Chikiamco, FEF president told the Bangsamoro attendees that “if I have just one piece of advice to give to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Government, it’s this: “Don’t follow, Manila.” Indeed, the worst thing that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Government can do -- and is a sure formula for failure -- is to replicate the same dysfunctionalities that the national government exhibits.”

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Government will have the right to formulate laws and exercise broad powers within its region, except those powers that are exclusively reserved for the national government (national defense, foreign affairs, coinage and monetary policy, immigration and citizenship) and those powers that are concurrently exercised with the national government (the administration of civil service, coast guard, social security, and so forth). In other words, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Government will have enough powers to chart its own economic and political course.

In more specific terms, Toti advised the Bangsamoro leaders to make the region investment-friendly, especially to foreign investors… “What you need are jobs for your people, especially since a number of your armed followers will be demobilized and would need jobs. The key to jobs is investments and, therefore, it’s important that the environment be investment-friendly.”  

Toti also urged them to enact laws that promote greater security of property rights and not undermine it. “Again, don’t follow Manila. Don’t extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and don’t establish a retention limit of five hectares.

“CARP is the single biggest reason private investments in agriculture and in rural areas have been low…  

“Scrap the total log ban and allow the private sector to grow and sustain the forests, as they do in countries like Norway. In mining, adopt international best practices in regulation and taxation, but establish a stable policy regime.”

Toti then encouraged them to invest in institutions. “You are starting off correctly by having a parliamentary system, but you need to ensure that the political parties in the Bangsamoro aren’t dominated by rich clans or family dynasties. Consider public funding of political parties. Consider investing in a competent bureaucracy.

“Don’t follow Manila. Instead, with the right economic model, you can build the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region into a Taiwan, a Hong Kong, a Singapore, or a Shenzhen. You can show that inclusive development…”

The economics of the Bangsamoro aside, we really cannot ignore the need to recognize the cultural and historical imperatives behind the Bangsamoro. In just the same way that these imperatives now power the Scottish drive for independence, our Bangsamoro brothers have the same stirrings in their hearts.

This has led to several Moro wars of independence that sought to reclaim the sovereignty of the sultanates, usurped by colonial powers. There is undeniable legitimacy to this desire of our Bangsamoro brothers for a greater degree of self determination.

It is my feeling that granting them genuine autonomy is just and a fair price to pay for lasting peace within a Philippines that remains united as a nation. The Bangsamoro can demand total independence and there will be plenty of examples worldwide they can cite to justify it, the Scottish vote being just one of those.

I also worry about the growth of extremist Islamist groups worldwide, calling for the formation of an Islamic State. Alienated Filipino Muslims are said to have joined the ISIS army. If we are able to make the BBL work, we can show the world there is an alternative where Muslims and people of other faiths can live together in peace and prosperity.

I agree with the question posed by Amina Rasul Bernardo: Can we really afford the alternative?

An independent Scotland may or may not happen by the thinnest of margins. But there is no denying the nationalist stirrings that cannot be extinguished even by time.

Scotland today... Bangsamoro tomorrow. Nations are created not by treaties or laws, but right there in the heart. And we know what the heart wants, the heart will fight to get.

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is[email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco