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University of Southern Queensland Redefining Domestic Counterinsurgency Post-2001: Sulu Province, Republic of Philippines. A Dissertation submitted by Robert William East, BA (hons). For the award of Doctor of Philosophy 1 Abstract The closure of the U.S. Military Bases in the Philippines in 2001 created a vacuum in regional defence both for the Philippines and the U.S. The U.S. lost its only South-East Asian military base, and the Philippine National Administration lost substantial foreign military aid which had been vital in helping it contain domestic insurgency, which for the most part was Muslim in nature. After the terrorist events in the U.S. in September 2001, the Philippine National Administration of President Gloria Arroyo established closer military cooperation with the George W. Bush Administration. However, to receive increased U.S. military aid President Arroyo had to be “seen” to be containing or confronting Muslim insurgency/terrorism in her country. In other words, domestic counterinsurgency had to be redefined and readdressed. This thesis examines the methods, and rationale, the Arroyo Administration has been using to confront insurgency in the Philippines, particularly in the province of Sulu in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao. It also questions whether the political and military measures taken by President Arroyo are necessary for national security or are an attempt to be seen as supporting the U.S. in their “Global War on Terror”, with the consequence receiving increased U.S. foreign military aid. The methodologies adopted for obtaining data for this study have been archival research, and primary evidence gathering in the form of survey questioning from 306 residents of Sulu Province, as well as the questioning of 30 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) paramilitary operatives. This study demonstrates that the Arroyo Administration has used the questionable existence of a small terrorist cell, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as an excuse to deploy thousands of Philippine military personnel to Sulu Province, as well introducing contentious parliamentary legislation. This, the dissertation argues has been an attempt to discourage any MNLF self-determination aspirations in Sulu Province. i Certification of Dissertation I certify that the ideas, experimental work, results, analysis, and conclusions reported in this dissertation are my own effort, except where otherwise acknowledged. I also certify that the work is original and has not previously submitted for any other award, except where otherwise acknowledged. Robert W. (Bob) East 25/12/2010 Signature of Candidate Date ENDORSEMENT (Prof.) Donald McMillen 25/12/2010 Signature of Supervisor Date Dr. Robert Mason 25/12/2010 Signature of Associate Supervisor Date ii Acknowledgements This author wishes to thank the following persons for their assistance in the research and/or presentation of this dissertation. First and foremost is my principal supervisor Professor Donald McMillen, (BSc, MA, PhD Colorado), of the Faculty of Arts, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia. I was indeed fortunate and I might add privileged to have Professor McMillen as my principal supervisor. He gave me the encouragement to continue and pursue my research. As well he was always available to discuss any issues that I may have had, even making himself available out of hours. A special thanks goes to an associate supervisor Dr. Robert Mason of the Faculty of Arts, School of Humanities, University of Southern Queensland, for his assistance. I also wish to thank the following people, who appear in alphabetical order. Professor Herbert Docena. Research associate at Focus on the Global South, a Bangkok-based policy research and advocacy centre. Professor Docena forwarded to me journals, CDs, and publications, at no cost, all of which gave me valuable research material. Nur Ainie Idjilani. Translator and facilitator. It was “Ainie” who oversaw the distribution, translation, and safe despatch to Australia of this study’s completed questionnaires. Ainie also was successful in “persuading” a cousin, a member of the MNLF paramilitary to travel to an MNLF camp to distribute and translate questionnaires to 30 paramilitary members of the MNLF: with permission from the camp commander. Madge Kho. Author and member of AFSC’s Peace and Economic Security Committee, Jolo Philippines. Madge was responsible for the “introduction” to the facilitator in Sulu who assisted in the translation and distribution of the questionnaires that made up the bulk of the primary sources of this study. Eugene Martin. Executive Director, Philippine Facilitation Project, United States Institute of Peace, (USIP) Washington. Professional personal correspondence about the role of the USIP. Professor Nur Misuari. Chairman and founder of the MNLF. A brief but valuable conversation whilst he was in detention. Professor Rudy Rodil. Mindanao State University. A member of the GRP peace negotiating panel involved in all the GRP/MILF Exploratory Talks. Valuable Moro history and contemporary issues were forthcoming from Professor Rodil. Dr. Peter Sales of Wollongong University. Excellent insight into some of the more contentious contemporary issues facing the Moros of the southern Philippines. Victor Taylor. Without doubt the most important source of primary and secondary evidence that I had. His personal correspondence is interwoven throughout this dissertation. Victor had been involved in the peace processes in the southern Philippines for over a quarter of a century. He lives in Jolo, Sulu. Professor James (Jim) Warren. School of Asian Studies, Murdoch University (W. Aust). Author of eight books including The Sulu Zone, 1768-1898 (1981). Jim gave me excellent historical information but more importantly continued encouragement to pursue my research. My thanks must also go to the staff of the Faculty of Arts at USQ for their assistance, especially Lesley Astbury and Shirley Clifford, as well as my fellow post-graduate colleagues. Finally, special thanks to my wife Kate for her tolerance, understanding and support. iii Glossary AFP. Armed Forces of the Philippines AFSC American Friends Service Committee: A Quaker peace group in the U.S. ARMM. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: The ARMM originally consisted of Lanao del Sur, Magindanao, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu. In September 2001 the province of Basilan and Marawi City were added. And in October 2006 the newly proclaimed province of Shariff Kabunsuan was added. In 2008 Shariff Kabunsuan was withdrawn from the ARMM due to constitutional irregularities ASG Abu Sayyaf Group CBCP Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines CE Common era. Used in this study, as opposed to AD: Anno Domini COIN Counterinsurgency CSL Cooperative Security Location (U.S. specific) DFAT Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (Australia) GRP. Government of the Republic of the Philippines HDI Human Development Index ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICFM Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers IMD Interisland Migration Division. During the American period (1899-1935) JI Jemaah Islamiyah JSOTF-P Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines MILF Moro Islamic Liberation Front MLSA Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (U.S. and RP) MNLF Moro National Liberation Front MNNA Major non-NATO ally. Given by the U.S. to close allies who are not members of NATO. MSIPS Mid-scale infrastructure projects (U.S. projects) NCCP National Council of Churches of the Philippines NGO Non-Government Organisation NSCB National Statistical Coordination Board. NSO National Statistics Office (Philippines) NPA New Peoples Army: the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines OBC Overseas Basing Commission (a U.S. Commission) OIC Organisation of Islamic Conference OFWs Overseas Filipino Workers OPAPP Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process. OPS Office of the Press Secretary (Philippines) PEF Peace and Equity Foundation (Philippines) PPT Permanent Peoples Tribunal PNP Philippine National Police PSY Philippine Statistical Yearbook: Updated versions are produced by the NSCB every October. RP Republic of Philippines RSM Rajah Solaiman Movement SF Special Forces SOF Special Operations Forces (U.S.) iv SPCPD Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development SRSF Special Regional Security Forces SZOPAD Special Zone of Peace and Development U.S. United States of America. U.S is used throughout this dissertation. The only exception being in the questionnaires, or direct quotes. USAID United States Agency for International Development USIP United States Institute of Peace VFA Visiting Forces Agreement UN United Nations USD United States Dollars v Table of Contents Page Abstract i Certification ii Acknowledgements iii Glossary iv Chapter 1 Introduction and Brief Overview to Research Dissertation. 1 1.1 Foreword……………………………………………… 1 1.2 Topic statement……………………………………… 2 1.3 Objectives and preliminary hypothesis………………. 5 1.4 Central questions…………………………………….. 7 1.5 Literature review and scope of study………………… 9 1.6 Relevant theories: historic & contemporary………….. 21 1.6 (i) Historic………………………………………………… 21 1.6 (ii) Contemporary………………………………………….. 22 1.7 Research methodology………………………………… 23 1.7 (i) Personal communication……………………………….. 23 1.7 (ii) Data collection and fieldwork………………………….. 24 1.8 Personal profile of questionnaire respondents………… 31 Chapter 2 Philippine Islamic History and Contemporary Events 40 2.1 Islam in the Philippines to early 20th century……………… 40 2.2