Terrorist OR Revolutionary Armed Group?

Just a reminder that in 2002, Bush has considered placing the MILF on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, until in 2003 then-MILF head Salamat Hashim (now deceased) wrote a letter to the US President. 1/n https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2008/08/01/76398/milf-letter-bush-sped-settlement">https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2... https://twitter.com/Maverick112018/status/1275366216756912128">https://twitter.com/Maverick1...
To be fair to GMA, she took a different tack from Erap& #39;s All-Out War vs MILF. Despite accusations of MILF having links with Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah, GMA has chosen not to classify it as a ‘terrorist organization’ and decided to continue with peace talk even if bumpy. 2/n
That decision of GMA admin to prioritize peace process over military action & not to tag the MILF as & #39;terrorist& #39; bore fruit in 2005 when MILF leadership laid down policy of cutting off all links with JI, Abu Sayyaf & other terror groups (Quimpo 2016). 3/n https://www.academia.edu/33214552/Mindanao_Nationalism_Jihadism_and_Frustrated_Peace">https://www.academia.edu/33214552/...
While peace talks hit a wall when MoA-AD faced constitutional crisis, the prudence PH govt vis-a-vis MILF to not mix-up definitions/approaches to #insurgency & #terrorism ensured MILF remains on negotiating table & as tactical ally in ensuring FTOs do not gain much ground. 4/n
If PH & US govts had taken short-cut of tagging MILF as & #39;terrorists,& #39; MILF have spiraled into the network of JI and AQ, and we will not be where we are now – with a functioning transition regional govt, ongoing decommissioning arms and fighters & relative peace in the #BARMM. 5/n
Negotiating w NSAGs can indeed lead to their legitimation, but this very legitimation may offer these groups alternatve
path & chance to transform into nonviolent actors. That was the lesson w #MILF. Let& #39;s not forget that when talking about #CPP #NPA. -end https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/5141-legitimacy-and-complexity-in-terrorist-conflicts">https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/file...
You can follow @marcbbatac.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: