SoNA: Big letdown for Muslims

The State of the Nation Address (SoNA) is an annual rite observed by heads of government. It started in Europe, particularly France. The United States has its own State of the Union Address. Other countries have their own version of the event. Local government units during the celebration of their founding anniversary now program a similar report by the mayor and governor and in the case of the Muslim Autonomous Government, the Chief Minister. This is the time when the government lays down its long, medium and short-term plans. It presents the priority measures and projects it wants to undertake. It’s a road map and guide. It is not carved in stone because it can be revisited, modified and altered as influenced by developing dynamics of governance. But more or less, it is along this direction that policies will be crafted and implemented. Its importance to governance cannot be overemphasized.

One of the sectors that waited for the recent SoNA with heightened interest was the Muslims. Muslim chat rooms and other social media platforms were abuzz with anticipation and hope. What is in store for them under the new dispensation? There are substantial issues close to their hearts, which they want the new President to address. These did not merit mention in the inaugural speech of the President and the ensuing media statements. No, they do not claim any false entitlement for special attention, but they feel that given the importance of these concerns on their lives, these deserve at least reference in the formulation of future policies of the new leadership. I refer to issues like the peace initiatives driven by the past administration and full compliance with the stipulations in the normalization agreement as an adjunct of the peace covenant between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Others would want the President to say a word or two about accelerating the pace of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi City and support for funding to implement the recently-enacted Compensation Law for victims of the war. What good is public infrastructure like roads and other structures if residents cannot rebuild their homes and return to their abodes?

As it turned out, their wait resulted to nothing. There was no mention whatsoever of the issues relating to Muslims in the SoNA. Neither the peace process, which is still to be fully implemented, nor the funding for the Marawi Victims Compensation Law was addressed. To say that the Muslims were dismayed is an understatement. It was a big letdown for them. They know that these issues pale compared to the environment, agriculture and other issues, which were addressed lengthily in the SoNA. But Muslim political observers noted that this was the first in a long time that no reference whatsoever was made about the peace situation in Morolandia. One can argue, however, that this could mean the government has finally succeeded in bringing peace to the region or that the problem has considerably subsided that it is no longer a priority agendum of national government. Well and good. But the situation on the ground belies this assumption. In fact, there are continuing reports of existing terrorist sleeper cells of Islamic State-affiliated local rebels still active in some parts of the Muslim region who, like predators, are waiting for strategic time to strike and inflict horror in the scale of the Marawi siege.

The victims of the Marawi war are now entertaining doubt about the sincerity of government in passing the Victims Compensation

Law. It gave them false hope. The law means nothing if no funding source is provided by government. Government has not only the legal but also the moral obligation to compensate the victims; after all, the damage to their homes and properties was caused by the reckless bombing by government war planes. This will worsen the peace situation. The terrorist-propagandists will exploit the situation and peddle government distrust toward Muslims.

But hope springs eternal. Muslims are still hoping that even if these issues were not mentioned in the SoNA, there is nothing to prevent government from addressing them.

“Victims

of the Marawi war are now entertaining doubt about the sincerity of government in passing the Victims Compensation Law. It gave them false hope.

“As

it turned out, their wait resulted to nothing. There was no mention whatsoever of the issues relating to Muslims in the SoNA.