INEQUALITY AND POVERTY: PHILIPPINES Conflict and Conflict resolution Maria Ilnitskaya

ARMM – the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Population (2010) – 3,256,140 – mostly Muslims. Problems: Assimilation into the Christianized national culture Marginalization from Philippine society, politics, economic development Poor governance Lack of justice High crime rates, clan-on-clan conflicts, corruption, abuse by local leaders

POVERTY Poverty is one example of structural violence. Structural violence characterizes social, economic, and political systems that limit a person’s freedom or capacity to reach his or her full potential. In the case of poverty, a person may be deprived of a decent living as well as the ability to fulfill one’s basic needs.

POVERTY IN MINDANAO Human Development Index (HDI)—essentially a measure of a people's access to basic social services (health, education) and basic infrastructure (water, sanitation, electricity, transport). ****TABLE

Poverty leads to many other problems, such as Child Soldiers.

Education in Mindanao Low scores in national standardized achievement tests Overall performance in basic Secondary and tertiary education falls below national levels The per student expenditure is less then $100 Access to health care Children born in the conflict affected ARMM face a greater risk of death and disease than elsewhere in the country 34 out of 1000 babies born in Mindanao die before reaching their first birthday

LAND DISPUTES IN MINDANAO Resettlement Muslim poor’s access to productive resources, especially land. State’s failure to deliver on its promise of land settlements The local elite’s manipulation of legal institutions to grab lands

SHIFT TO DIRECT VIOLENCE Discrimination and inequalities led to the Moro Armed rebellion in Struggle against exploitation, inequalities in the distribution of resources, and violations of human rights.

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) entered into a peace agreement with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines in Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)- is still engaged in peace talks and serious eruptions of conflict often occur Abu Sayyaf –terrorism and kidnapping Clan Conflicts over the land “Entrepreneurs in violence”

MILITIA Militia -generally refers to an army or other fighting force that is composed of non-professional fighters; citizens of a nation or subjects of a state or government that can be called upon to enter a combat situation, as opposed to a professional force of regular soldiers or, historically, members of the fighting nobility.