Philippine child
Resources Recent History of the Bangsamoro Struggle for Self-Determination from ISM Secretariat 1968 - The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was established with Nurullaji Misuari as founding Chairman. The first members of the MNLF were drawn from 90 Moro youth that underwent secret military training in Malaysia in 1968. These young Moros (that included Misuari himself) had a secular education and some had briefly participated in radical including left-wing student politics in Manila in the late 1960's. They were dissatisfied with the traditional Moro leadership, which they accused of betraying Moro interest. Since its founding, the MNLF's goal was an independent Bangsamoro Homeland. However, due to pressure from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), it has opted for autonomy within the Republic of the Philippines since the signing of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement. 23 December 1976 - Talks between the government and the Moros (under the auspices of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, a union of Muslim nations to which the Moros looked to for support) led to an agreement between the Philippine government and the MNLF signed in Tripoli that year providing for Moro autonomy in the southern Philippines and for a ceasefire. [More] A "STRONG REPUBLIC" FOR THE OPPRESSORS AND EXPLOITERS: A LOOK AT THE CURRENT HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES by Edre U. Olalia, Public Interest Law Center (PILC), International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) I would like you to travel with me and let me walk you through what is happening lately in the country where I come from and show you what the so-called "Strong Republic" announced proudly by its President is really all about. There you would see how the government of Arroyo is faithfully continuing on an even unprecedented scale the repressive policies and programs towards supposed "terrorists," political activists, critics, and the public in general. [More]