The government in the Philippines has once again opted for peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Last week President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced a mutual agreement to halt military operations in hopes of ending three decades of fighting. The odds of success are long, but the conflict's longevity is proof that the search for a military solution is futile. Only negotiations will bring peace to the Philippines. Japan can facilitate that process by working with the Manila government to help develop the impoverished south and eliminate the conditions that breed discontent and radicalism.
The MILF, the largest of the rebel groups fighting for an Islamic homeland in the southern Philippines, has been waging war for decades. The battle has degenerated into a bloody stalemate, punctuated by sporadic acts of violence and crime, such as kidnapping. While the rebels have been unable to make much progress, they have been able to prevent Manila from bringing order, stability and development to the south, one of the poorest parts of the country.
Peace talks are not unprecedented, but they have invariably broken down. After the latest failure, the government launched a serious offensive earlier this year, but it, too, quickly bogged down. Manila lost its enthusiasm for negotiations after a series of attacks this spring; two May bombings left over 50 people dead. Allegations of MILF links to Islamic terrorist groups, such as Jemaah Islamiyah, contributed to the Manila government's reluctance to negotiate.