Abubakar: Why not a city or an economic zone of peace?

Director General, Center for the Promotion of Peace and Development of Mindanao

E-mail: [email protected]

The recent announcement of the planned conversion of Camp Abubakar in Central Mindanao into a military camp and renaming it into Camp Datu Sinsuat could be open to public debate. I figure that my views may catch the ire of those who are in favor of such a change, especially the military establishment or the statistical few who may be benefited by the plan. I hope though that they will take my views as a frank and honest initiative to enrich the collective thinking of the enlightened public in the interest and common weal of advancing the peace and progress of Mindanao, particularly Abu-bakar and its surrounding communities and people in this case.

There is nothing wrong in establishing a military camp in Central Mindanao. But to convert Abubakar into a military camp and rename it as Camp Datu Sinsuat is not a productive proposition. The justification of creating livelihood projects and jobs for Muslims or improving the place into an agricultural and industrial area and tourist destination in addition to a military camp is hackneyed reasoning. It does not jibe with sound and visionary socio-economic and physical deve-lopment planning for the future of the region and people. At the same time, it only contributes to the constraints in the GRP-MILF Peace nego-tiations. What is the essence of entering into the much-publicized GRP-MILF interim agreement of co-operation for development and recon-struction of Mindanao? What message is the go-vernment sending to the people of Mindanao? Where and when is the healing process in war-torn Central Mindanao going to start? Is a military camp better than converting Abubakar into a city or economic zone of peace? Where the people consulted on what is the best way to utilize this historical landmark? There must be a better alternative, and that is converting Abubakar into a city or economic zone of peace, that includes the surrounding idle lands and communities.

There are many areas where a military camp can be established. Why does it have to be in a place where Muslims can be given the chance to start to learn the ropes of governance? Why not Abubakar City or Abubakar Economic Zone of Peace? When one mentions Abubakar around the world, they immediately know that it is in Mindanao and in the Philippines. Why can’t we be imaginative? Look at the Alamo and Bull Horn. During the American Civil War many Northerners died there with their boots on. But they did not change the name of Alamo. Instead they popularized the place into a tourist destination. Why can’t we be good students of history? Why can’t we not look far ahead of our times? Why think only of the short term? Maybe I should ask my friends and brother Upsilonians Dick Gordon and Dante Canlas. They have prolific ideas about improving tourism and inward investment development.

What economic returns will a military camp provide? How much will the government spend in developing the area into a military camp? Yes, maybe they can get foreign aid. But these aids are loans. Everybody has to pay for them. In other words, we are going to further sink the economy of the region in debts even before we can start productive development and reconsideration.

Why is the government spending billions and billions of pesos to win the peace in Mindanao with the MILF? Have they considered that the present essence of the GRP-MILF Peace Negotiations is to win the MILF and their constituency into the mainstream society? This is not a numbers game. The present MILF leadership may be gone but there are those who will follow their footsteps as rebels if they are not convinced that military camp is designed to obliterate their way of life, their culture and belief. Please don’t get me wrong. Let us not forget that most of the differences or problems between the government and the Muslims are rooted in feelings of mistrust. Is a military camp in the heartland of the place that bred insurrection the solution?