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Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses www.rsis.edu.sg ISSN 2382-6444 | Volume 10, Issue 7 | July 2018 A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM RESEARCH (ICPVTR) The Bangsamoro Identity Struggle and the Bangsamoro Basic Law as the Path to Peace Anushka D. Kapahi and Gabrielle Tañada Deconstructing Thoughts and Worldviews of Militant Ideologue Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai Farhan Zahid Intelligence Failures are Analytical Failures Shane Britten Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses Volume 9, Issue 4 | April 2017 1 Building a Global Network for Security Editorial Note Countering Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism This issue of CTTA observes three critical governance still exists due to a lack of case studies of political violence and terrorism recognition of their cultural identity. This has that highlight either countering terrorism or obstructed conflict resolution, attempts at preventing violent extremism (PVE) policies as assimilation and overall development within the key takeaways. Research has highlighted the region, necessitating a culturally-sensitive that improved and innovative counter-terrorism approach that gives due consideration to and PVE policies can mitigate the long-term locals’ identity for long-term peace. effects of terrorism and extremism, and Wpossibly prevent conflicts from occurring in the Farhan Zahid sheds light on the impact of first place. Through the case study of the influential Pakistani militant ideologue Mufti Philippines, this issue discusses identity-driven Nizam-ud-Din Shamzai’s worldview — in the conflicts and the need for ‘hearts and minds’ form of fatwas, speeches, sermons and books driven approaches by the state for conflict — on various militant groups in the Af-Pak resolution. In order to ensure long-term peace, region. Shamzai is a celebrated scholar among the state should look into culturally-sensitive Af-Pak militants and they continue to draw approaches that don’t alienate aggrieved inspiration from his writings and teachings groups and instead attempt to mainstream and even after his assassination in 2004. However, integrate them into the broader society. Shamzai’s personality and works remain under Further, the issue delves into the influence and -researched. The author recommends that ideology of radical ideologues in the case of formulating a national counter narrative against the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. The article violent extremism while understanding the highlights a national counter-narrative impact of his ideology on Af-Pak militant campaign can play a role in decreasing and discourse is essential for policymakers in countering the reverence and following of Pakistan. religious figures preaching intolerance and extremism. Lastly, the issue observes In the last article, Shane Britten reviews the intelligence failures in terrorist attacks and importance of cognitive analytical techniques recommends an improvement in related for accurate intelligence analysis in counter- counter-terrorism policies through increased terrorism. He contends that lack of training in focus on cognitive analysis. This would allow the art of cognitive analysis has been a major states and related security agencies to factor in various counter-terrorism intelligence respond better to emerging terrorist threats failures in recent years. These intelligence and prevent violent attacks from occurring. failures are not of information-collection, but reflect the inability to adequately analyse the In the first article, Anushka D. Kapahi and collected information. The author suggests that Gabrielle Tañada analyse the interplay of by improving the cognitive capabilities of history, religion and identity to explain the intelligence analysts involved in counter- Bangsamoro people’s uprising in Mindanao, terrorism through training and capacity Southern Philippines. The authors argue that building, the percentage of intelligence failures despite legal advancements, the Bangsamoro could be minimised. people’s demand for autonomy and self- ADVISORY BOARD Editor-in-Chief Sara Mahmood Dr. Rohan Gunaratna Dr. Fernando Reinares Associate Editor Abdul Basit Professor of Security Studies Director, Program on Global Terrorism, Head of International Centre for Political Elcano Royal Institute Professor of Security Editor Vijayalakshmi Menon Studies, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Violence and Terrorism Research Madrid, Spain Copyeditors Jennifer Dhanaraj Dr. Jolene Jerard Sylvene See Dr. John Harrison Research Fellow Associate Editor Journal of Transportation Design and Layout Okkie Tanupradja Deputy Head of International Centre for Security Political Violence and Terrorism Research The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses not of ICPVTR, RSIS,Volume NTU 9, or Issue the organisations4 | April 2017 to which the Dr. Stephen Sloan authors are affiliated. Articles may not be reproduced without prior Dr. Kumar Ramakrishna Professor Emeritus, University of Oklahoma permission. Please contact the editors for more information at [email protected]. The editorial team also welcomes any feedback Associate Professor Lawrence J. Chastang, 2 or comments. Head of Policy Studies & Coordinator of Distinguished Professor of Terrorism Studies, National Security Studies Programme University of Central Florida The Bangsamoro Identity Struggle and the Bangsamoro Basic Law as the Path to Peace - Anushka D. Kapahi & Gabrielle Tañada The Bangsamoro Identity Struggle and the Bangsamoro Basic Law as the Path to Peace Anushka D. Kapahi and Gabrielle Tañada Historically, the Muslim majority Mindanao in In this article, the approaches taken thus far the Philippines has possessed a distinct would be laid out and its resulting socio- history, culture, identity and religion. This has cultural, economic and political impediments led to a sense of separation from the rest of would also be examined. The historical the Philippines and has further developed development of the Moro struggle would first their ardent desire for an autonomous region be detailed, followed by an identification of the for self-governance. Despite legal differences between the Moro people and advancements, barriers that obstruct the other Filipinos and finally, concluding with passage of laws to grant self-governance to some analysis on the BBL and the status of the Bangsamoro people still exist. the Moro people in the Philippines. The complex heterogeneity of the Moro population Introduction and how it affects the realisation of peace in the Mindanao region would also be discussed, For more than half a century, the Philippines while adopting the perspective that the has faced a Muslim uprising in the underlying question of identity is the root of the southernmost region of Mindanao. The Moro issue. majority of the Muslim population in the Philippines resides in Mindanao.1 The On the Term Bangsamoro Muslims in Mindanao, called the Bangsamoro, have formed separatist movements that have The word “Moro” is a Spanish term referring to waged armed struggles against the Philippine the Muslim people of Mixed Arab and Barber Government to assert their cultural identity descent from Northwest Africa, known as the and achieve self-rule. Recently, the Philippine Moors, who invaded and occupied Spain in Government has been working towards the the eighth century.2 When the Spaniards realisation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law colonized the islands of the Philippines in the (BBL), which would provide the Bangsamoro sixteenth century, the term ‘Moro’ was first people with some degree of freedom and used for the Islamised natives in Manila in the autonomy. 1570s, due to the observed commonalities between the Islamised natives and the Moors, Addressing the lack of recognition towards the the Spaniards’ former colonial masters. Later cultural identity and religion of the in 1578, it was applied to the Muslim Bangsamoro people, the BBL is the most inhabitants of the Southern region of notable approach taken by the Philippine Mindanao and Sulu, as the majority in the government to resolve the Mindanao conflict. Philippines converted to the Christian faith.3 However, there are barriers that hinder Although a percentage of the Moro people still solutions to the conflict and overall do not accept the term to describe the people development in the region. from the Bangsamoro region, it is now a well- established term.4 1 Jack Miller, “Religion in the Philippines,” Asia 3 Cesar Adib Majul, The Contemporary Muslim Society, https://asiasociety.org/education/religion- Movement in the Philippines, (Berkeley: Mizan philippines Press, 1985). 2 Jainal D. Rasul and Al-Gazel Rasul, Still Chasing 4 Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, the Rainbow: Selected Writings of Jainal D. Rasul, Glossary of Terms, Sr. on Filipino Muslim Politics, History, and the Law http://www.muslimmindanao.ph/glossary_terms.html (Shariah), (Quezon City: FedPil Pub, 1998), 14. (accessed June, 05, 2018) Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses Volume 10, Issue 7 | July 2018 1 The Bangsamoro Identity Struggle and the Bangsamoro Basic Law as the Path to Peace - Anushka D. Kapahi & Gabrielle Tañada The term “Bangsamoro” translates to “Moro “...united by common religious faith Nation,” which includes all of the Filipino- (Islam), the Arabic alphabet and the Muslim ethno linguistic groups in Shari'ah or Islamic law... they are all Mindanao.5 There are at least sixteen Moro proud of their glorious history, zealous ethnolinguistic groups in