Start Making Waves. Dennis Mesina delivers opening remarks.
Violence is only a symptom of economic problem.
He cited the Martial Law experience - Muslim fighters were using WW2 weapons against the PAF but after 10 years of armed conflict, MILF and Islamic Command Council and Abu Sayyaf were created. Poverty - the 5 poorest provinces in the Philippines are those in which Muslims comprise the majority of the population. Only the non-muslim areas of Mindanao have been developed. Imposition of confiscatory land laws - 1903 requirement that all lands had to be registered with the government. Non-registered lands became public domain which could be sold to settlers.