BANGSAMOR

The Republic of Philippines

Capital: Manila
Official Languages: Tagalog, English
Demonym: Filipino
Government: Unitary Presidential and Constitutional Republic
The 15th President: Benigno Aquino III
Population: Approx. 99 Million
Ethnic: Moros represent approx. 10% of the population
Religion: Approx. 81% Roman Catholic, 5% Islam
HDI: 114th

Road to Bangsamoro

Spanish
Imperialis
m (1565)
The
arrival
of Islam
(1380)

SpanishAmerican
War (1898)

Treaty of
Paris
(1898)

Philippine
sAmerican
War
(18991902)

Peace
Agreeme
nt 1996
Treaty
of
Manila
1946

Framework
Agreement
on the
Bangsamo
ro (2012)

Zamboang
a City
Crisis
(2013)

Bangsam
oro Basic
Law
(2014-)

In 1380,Karim ul' Makhdum, the firstIslamic missionary to reach

theSulu ArchipelagoandJolo, brought Islam to what is now the
Philippines. The first mosque: Sheik Karimal Makdum Mosque was
built.

Colonization began when Spanish explorer Miguel Lpez de

Legazpi arrived from Mexico in 1565 and formed the first European
settlements in Cebu. The Spanish established Manila as the capital
of the Spanish East Indies in 1571.
Massive propaganda and colonial policies contributed to the spread
of Roman Catholic among the locals.

American intervention in the Cuban War of Independence had

provoked the Spanish-American War. As a result, the Spanish
Empire collapsed.
The Treaty of Paris took effect in 1898 which gave the right to the
US to take over the Spanish colonies.
A payment worth 20 million dollars was made by the US in
exchange of Philippines. Spain included Mindanao and Sulu in the
cession of its territories even though it didnt have sovereignty over
these islands.

The Treaty of Paris spurred the Philippines-American War

(Philippines War of Independence).
The Moros took part in the war on behalf of the Sultanate Sulu. The
Moro Rebellion ended after the US decisive victory in the Battle of
Bud Bagsak.
In 1946, the Treaty of Manila was ratified.

The Moros wanted an independent and sovereign state of Southern

Philippine. Hence, Moro National Liberation Front was formed to
carry the aspiration.
In 1989, President Corazon Aquino agreed to establish
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. After holding a
plebiscite, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi voted
in favor of inclusion in the new autonomous region. Basilan was
included after another plebiscite.

The resistence continued. MNLF aspired to expand the ARMM.

Seeking for more autonomy from the Govt.
President Fidel Ramos persuaded Nur Misuari diplomatically to
sign a Joint Ceasefire Agreement. Both agreed to settle down given
that MNLF was allowed to carry and possess and firearms in
certain provinces in Southern Philippines. More autonomy was
granted. The 1996 Peace Agreement was signed.
The agreement caused the split of MNLF and the establishment of
MILF. MILF refused to recognise the agreement and fought for an
independent islamic state.

The MILF and the Philippines held peace talks in Kuala Lumpur in
Malaysia from 26 October 2012.
In 15 October 2012, President Benigno Aquino III applauds the
Framework Agreement which calls for the creation of an
autonomous political entity named Bangsamoro, replacing the
ARMM.
According to the framework, this Bangsamoro area would have a fair
economic distribution, budgetary autonomy, its own police,
and sharia law only for Muslims. The MILF will stop armed
movements and allow the national government to retain its
control of national security and foreign policy in exchange.
MNLF rejected the agreement and in July
2013, Nur Misuari
proclaimed the
creation of Bangsamoro Republik. Soon
after
his
public
disappearance,
Zamboanga City was engulfed in an
armed conflict which prompted the Govt
to deploy Philippines army. The crisis
began in Sept 2013 and lasted for almost
3 weeks.

Conclusion
International reaction:
The OIC welcomed the preliminary peace agreement signed
between the Philippine government MILF
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton: It is a testament to the
commitment of all sides for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in
the southern Philippines
Thailand: The agreement has been studied by Thailand as a
possible framework to help solve its own southern Muslim
insurgency
ASEAN, UN also welcomed the Framework Agreement.