Posted on 12/04/2007 5:02:21 PM PST by camerakid400
DATU BLAH SINSUAT, Philippines (Reuters) - When Christians in the southern Philippines heard that the government and Islamic rebels had agreed to expand a homeland for Muslims on their island, they panicked.
"We started buying some weapons to defend our families and community," said Berting, a coconut farmer, whose farm sits in the heart of a mainly Muslim province in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.
Berting, who declined to give his last name, is a Catholic whose grandfather settled in the area nearly 80 years ago when Christian farmers moved to the lush jungles and valleys of mostly Muslim Mindanao.
A conflict between Catholics and Muslims has raged on the island for the past 40 years, resulting in the deaths of 120,000 people. But now the sides say that they are close to a final peace deal and might sign an agreement next year.
After a decade of stop-start negotiations, the government and the country's largest Islamic rebel group agreed last month on the boundaries of a proposed homeland for Muslims, who make up around 20 percent of Mindanao's population.
The thought chills Berting.
"If things don't turn out that well, we might sell what we have here and move to my wife's place in another part of Mindanao. My neighbors were thinking the same thing, we'll leave this place and re-settle elsewhere."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Diplomacy! Mr. Chamberlain would be proud!
That couple would be wise to move. Islam doesn’t recognize freedom of religion.
They have been watching the Palestinians, the PA and Hamas can work in such a manner that PA get concessions but then can blame Hamas when peace yet doesn't come. There is no intention here for peace, just a larger operating zone for the Islamists. The Catholic farmer has every reason to be fearful this will strengthen the killers, it will. The goal is submission, not peace.
The deals made around the world after our Government’s NIE report will be far more interesting.
islam is the most malignant cancer the world has ever known.
Just like my grandparents on my mom's side of the family. They settled in South Cotabato, in Tupi, near Koronadal.
Of course, we all know what happens when you give the mouse a cookie. Soon, it will want a glass of milk. And, for a time, the Muslims will be happy with their new homeland, but then they will want more.
What happened to borders, language, and culture? If the Muslims are given land for peace, I question whether that will be the end of it. The Muslims will dispute borders, eradicate Christians, and establish a foothold in the country that they would like to take over, IMO. ...Foolish action by the Phillipines, IMO.
“But now the sides say that they are close to a final peace deal and might sign an agreement next year.”
Muslim hudna.
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