Japan talks will not end war in South

MILF: Noy gave us hope—Inquirer’s banner headline yesterday.

In return, what did the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) promise President Aquino during their secret talks in Japan?

Lasting peace in Mindanao?

Obviously, Aquino doesn’t know his history.

Religious and cultural differences, not political, are the root cause of the war in the South.

Centuries after the Crusades, the Muslims have still not forgotten the religious conflict between Islam and Christianity.

Muslims in Mindanao have been fighting the government in Manila from the time of the Spaniards because they believe they’re being persecuted.

Yes, the Spaniards tried to convert them to Christianity but failed miserably.

But the American colonial power and the administrations that succeeded that regime after independence gave them freedom of worship.

* * *

Many Moros love to fight, especially those who belong to religions different from theirs.

Most of them, too, also love to fight among themselves.

Some of their leaders who have gone to universities have found a reason for Moros to wage war against the government in Manila: Independence.

But there are also those for whom fighting for independence is farthest from their mind since they just want to make war against anyone for not believing in Allah.

* * *

If the President thinks his talks with the MILF will eventually lead to lasting peace in Mindanao, he’s being naive.

The original group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which broke away from the MILF, should also be included in the talks.

Aquino has also probably forgotten about the New People’s Army.

* * *

Former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo did a Douglas MacArthur when he came back to Manila and declared, “I am back!”

Arroyo threatens to file charges against the people who have accused him of wrongdoing.

Among them is Archibald Po, president of the company which sold two pre-owned helicopters to the Philippine National Police (PNP) which were passed off as brand-new.

Po told a Senate probe committee he sold the choppers to the PNP upon instructions from Arroyo who allegedly owned the helicopters.

If Arroyo’s lawyers advised him to file charges in court against those who besmirched his reputation, then his lawyers are dimwits.

In the first place, how can one besmirch a reputation which has been completely stained for years now?

Secondly, Arroyo’s lawyers—if indeed they advised him to file suits against his accusers—probably don’t know of his very delicate heart condition.

He might have a heart problem during the trial of the libel cases he would file in court.

* * *

Some naughty Arroyo bashers want him to do just that—file cases against them in court to complicate his heart problems.

Being his former friend, I’m dissuading him from following his lawyers’ advice because I know his condition.

After a heart and aneurysm surgery years ago at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, doctors advised him to drop all the libel cases he had filed against his journalist-critics, including this writer.

One of his lawyers—a garrulous old man whom he gave a government sinecure—insisted that Arroyo continue with his persecution of his journalist-critics.

Had Arroyo followed the advice of his lawyers then we would not be bashing him today.