Reporter Alma Mistry from Radio Australia’s “Asia Pacific” (online and radio) segment interviewed The Asia Foundation’s Steven Rood about the results of the peace talks between Philippine’ Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government. Although MILF has been granted greater autonomy, they still want to form their own sub-state in Mindanao. Rood explains how the conflict “is a persistent drag both in the expenditure of equipment and material in a conflict but also in the development that does not take place” and has claimed up to 120,000 lives over the four decades. He adds, “The Moros want to remain a separate people, and the government realises that. The question is, how to arrange governments and economies so you can make that possible?” Listen to the broadcast.
Alma Mistry also wrote a follow-up article in Radio Australia News (online) featuring the interview with Steve Rood: “Inside the Philippines’ peace talks.”
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Source: Radio Australia and The Asia Foundation, Aug. 23, 2011
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