Why hold those ‘peace talks’ with Filipino rebels in foreign or ‘shifting’ venues? - BY THE WAY by Max V. Soliven

Although Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process, retired General and former Congressman Eduardo R. Ermita tried to explain yesterday why peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels are supposed to begin (before June 24) in "shifting venues" – meaning either in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or Jakarta, Indonesia – I still fail to see why those discussions with homegrown insurgents have to be held abroad and, to cap it all, in Muslim-dominated countries.

President Arroyo’s peace facilitator offered his explanation yesterday morning at the Greenhills Walking Corporation Forum, which was also attended by Defense Secretary Angelo T. Reyes, General Diomedio B. Villanueva, the Armed Forces chief of staff, Lt. General Roy A. Cimatu, Deputy AFP Chief, and, as a special guest, Col. Renato P. Miranda, the commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, the unit whose offensive in Sulu resulted in the American hostage Jeffrey Schilling being rescued from the insurgent Abu Sayyaf.

Also speakers at the breakfast forum, which was broadcast nationwide by Radyo ng Bayan, were United States Chargé d’Affaires Michael E. Malinowski and US Consul-General John Caulfield, who both reiterated their gratitude for the recovery of Schilling and said that he had arrived home in the US to be reunited with his mother, Mrs. Carol Schilling, yesterday morning.

Malinowski – who has been "acting Ambassador" since the former American Ambassador, Thomas Hubbard, left for a new post in Washington, DC on July 24 last year – also explained during the open forum why the US insists on a continuing presence in the South China Sea despite the frowns of Beijing.

He read a prepared statement declaring that "the US has an abiding interest in the maintenance of peace and stability in the South China Sea. While we take no position on the legal merits of competing claims to sovereignty in the area, maintaining freedom of navigation is a fundamental interest of the United States. Unhindered navigation by all ships and aircraft in the South China Sea is essential for the peace and prosperity of the entire Asia Pacific region, including the US."

He added: "The US continues to call upon all claimants to intensify diplomatic efforts which address issues relating to competing claims, taking into account the interests of all parties and which contribute to peace and stability in the region."

Finally, Malinowski underscored, "The US strongly opposes the use or threat of force to resolve competing claims."

Shorn of all the diplomatese, I’d translate that statement to say: "We, Yanks, are here to stay because the South China Sea and the Pacific are Mare Nostrum, too, dammit! As for you guys claiming the Spratlys, Taiwan, etc., just keep on talkin’ and no shootin’, dammit. If you use force, we’ll oppose you strongly." Capisce?

Malinowski comes from Chicago, so forgive him if he sometimes sounds like Al Capone and John Dillinger. But he’s a compleat diplomat, for all that.

* * *

To return to our friend Secretary Ermita, I still believe it’s detrimental to our sovereignty and self-respect that he was conned in Kuala Lumpur into agreeing to parley with Al Haj Murad’s MILF bunch in Muslim states where the "climate" of enveloping public opinion is hostile to us. It’s almost like requiring the MILF’s Hashim Salamat, Murad, Eid Kabalu and their gang to hold peace talks with the Philippine government in Vatican, under the wary eye of the Pope’s Swiss Guards.

It could have been worse: Ed might have okayed talks to be held in Mecca – but Islamic-run Malaysia whose government has been at odds with us ever since, with American and British connivance, Sabah (North Borneo) was shanghaied into the "Federation of Malaysia", leaving the astonished Sultan of Jolo, the late Jamilalul Kiram, holding an empty bag.

Let me say it once more: Why do we go on invoking the Tripoli Agreement which was a sordid deal hatched by the Marcos "martial law" government, signed by the former First Lady Imeldific R. Marcos and the late Deputy Minister of Defense Carmelo Z. Barbero and witnessed, by the way, by General Ermita himself, who had been present as senior aide to Miling Barbero? It puzzles me why, since we kicked out the Marcos dictatorship in the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986, we continue to stubbornly uphold the unequal treaties and agreements inked by the Marcoses with Libya’s strongman and terrorist-funder Col. Moammer Gaddhafi (who once again meddled and humiliated us by injecting ransom money into last year’s Abu Sayyaf hostage crisis).

When are we ever going to grow up, instead of allowing every Tom, Dick, and Foreign Fixer to jerk us around when it comes to our own national problems and affairs? We’re a "mental colony" indeed.

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Equally disquieting is the GMA administration’s lamebrain plan to hold "peace talks" with the National Democratic Front and the Communist Party of the Philippines in Oslo, Norway. Look at what happened to the so-called Oslo Peace Accords signed between Israel and the Palestinian leadership (egged on by the departed Bill Clinton) in 1993! The Israelis and Palestinians soon resumed shooting at each other, one side "bombing" Israeli cities while the Israelis retaliated with helicopter gunship assault, missiles, rocket fire, and armored intrusions into Gaza. In short, as I’ve said, Oslo must be jinxed.

I guess we belong in the Guinness Book of Records. We’re the only country whose government is prepared to go several thousands of miles outside of our capital, Manila, to parley with the leaders of a local Communist rebellion who issue their "battle orders" from Utrecht, Holland, and whose chieftains – CPP Supremo Joma Sison (originally from Cabugao, Ilocos Sur) and defrocked Father Luis Jalandoni (formerly from Negros Occidental) – are actually Dutch citizens.

And why Oslo? As Secretary Ermita explained yesterday, among other things the site was chosen because Sison, Jalandoni, and their Holland-based group could "save money" by travelling the shorter distance to Norway, instead of having to buy airplane tickets all the way to the Philippines! Susmariosep. How "considerate" of our mealy-mouthed government to worry about the enemy’s expenses!

Another argument fielded by Ermita is that foreign or "shifting" venues are more desirable for talks with both the NDF and the MILF because "we can’t provide enough security" for the peace negotiators here! Whaat? If we can’t provide security for everyone – including our peaceful citizens, incidentally – then we’re kaput as a viable and well-run Republic. We might as well arm everyone and adopt the motto: "Every man for himself."

* * *

The articulate Marine Col. Renato "Boy" Miranda impressed the large audience which packed the Ristorante La Dolce Fontana yesterday with his modest yet forceful personality. In a matter-of-fact tone, he recounted the events that led to the rescue of Schilling who had been held for almost seven months by an Abu faction led by the aggressive Commander Abu Sabaya.

Miranda also stoutly denied that the other officer and the Tausug policeman who had played a major role in retrieving Schilling were being left out of the commendations. In fact, he produced an affidavit signed by Schilling which gave credit to all involved.

The Schilling declaration said: ". . . I was successfully rescued by the members of the 2nd Marine Brigade under Col. Renato P. Miranda, specifically the team of 1Lt. Armando B. Custodio and SPO3 Hajim A. Timbang at an area called Barangay Kan Midas, Luuk, Sulu, on April 12, 2001."

Both Miranda and DND Secretary Reyes underscored that both are being decorated and that the affidavit giving them credit has been placed clearly on record. In his statement, Schilling wrote: "I personally witnessed the bravery of the Marine officer named 1Lt. Custodio and Police Officer named SPO3 Timbang when they engaged my abductors in a firefight in the mentioned area." He pointed out that first Lt. Custodio "risked his life" and "inspite of the heavy volume of fire" had been "at the forefront of the maneuver, directing his soldiers to take vantage positions during the battle."

Schilling also handed a handwritten note to Colonel Miranda just before his departure for Manila which averred: "I would like to thank you and your men, especially Lt. Custodio, for my safe rescue. You have displayed the height of professionalism which the Marines are known for. I feel very privileged to have made your acquaintance. You and your men have made me feel as if I am an honorary Marine while I have been in Luuk."

The freed hostage (he was in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf since August last year) urged: "The Marines, the AFP, and the Republic of the Philippines must continue the operation against these bandits . . . to put an end to their violation of Islam and the sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines."

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Miranda, who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1974, by the way, hails from Calamba, Laguna, the hometown of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. (He said he was pulled out of the fighting in order, "as a reward", to celebrate his Silver Wedding anniversary, which of course, has delighted his wife, Delia.)

As for Schilling, American Consul-General Caulfield related that the rescued man was first flown to Guam (the nearest Pacific territory of the US) for two days of debriefing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, before being taken back to Oakland, California, where he lives.

Did the Americans really think there was an actual threat to Schilling’s life posed by the Abus, particularly in the light of Abu Sabaya’s insolent threat to behead him and present his head to President Arroyo as a "birthday present"? That’s what I asked Caulfield. The US official replied that, on the occasion of former President Estrada’s birthday a year ago (his birthday happens to fall, once more, on this very day) the Abu Sayyaf had decapitated two women hostages. "Recalling this," Caulfield pointed out, "of course we took the Abu threat to kill Schilling very seriously."

Miranda estimates that the campaign against the Abus will take two more months, at least. He hastily added: "This is not a deadline set by Malacañang or the government. It’s just a deadline we in our outfit have imposed on ourselves!"

I won’t suggest that you take your time, Colonel. But a caveat: Haste makes waste. When you’re fighting a deadline, you won’t be able to concentrate on the real task at hand: Wiping out the Abu Sayyaf. Those murderous and greedy ruffians don’t deserve to live a day longer, but they won’t be too easily scalped. Engaging a deadly guerrilla "army" in combat isn’t a piece of cake.

Just do it, Marines! Give ’em hell.