Left Flank

«The renewed fighting in North Cotabato goes to show that when the government bungles the peace negotiations, it is the citizens who suffer,» said Risa Hontiveros, a lawmaker and peace advocate.

For some reason RP House members pushing a resolution for a review and renegotiation of the MOA-AD and the Arroyo administration calling for a constituent assembly are blind to the consequences of their actions.

The rebels occupied the villages last week after the Supreme Court halted the signing of a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) meant to pave the way for a political settlement to end the MILF’s 30-year struggle for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the movement's leadership had not sanctioned the occupation of farms, and accused pro-government militiamen of starting the conflict.

«It was the militia that started the fighting...not the MILF,» he said on local radio.

«Addressing the concerns of the displaced remains our top priority,» said Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome.

MILF rebels began retreating back into the hills Tuesday after a prolonged military and police offensive involving helicopter gunships and artillery.

Bartolome said the rebels had planted booby traps in farms and villages as they retreated.

He said that government forces were alert against MILF attempts to occupy the highways in North Cotabato or to enter other areas left unprotected.

Bartolome said some of the evacuees had started to check their properties, but were not staying for fear the rebels would return.

The Economist also adds another consequence of failure.

If the peace process with the MILF now collapses, its co-operation against Abu Sayyaf may end. It is also possible that many of the MILF’s 12,000 fighters could abandon their ceasefire (some exchanged mortar rounds with troops this week). That said, for the MILF and all southern Muslims even an unsigned deal is a victory, since it amounts to acknowledgment by the national authorities of their right to greater self-government.

Elections for the existing regional body look likely to go ahead on August 11th in spite of all the uncertainties. Optimists might note that a peace agreement in Northern Ireland suffered years of setbacks before at last taking hold. But Mrs Arroyo failed to seek consensus among the broader public, Congress and indeed the armed forces before striking her audacious deal. Through this, and her remarkable knack of making people suspect her motives, she risks throwing away perhaps the best chance yet for ending the conflict.

Fortunately, the only good candidate in the elections won.