Moro conflict

Islamic insurgency in the Philippines
Part of War on Terrorism (since 2001)
U.S and Philippine Marines landing at a beach.
Date 1969– ongoing Location Mindanao, Philippines Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Philippines, United States, Christian militias, Pro-government Muslim militias, Australia NATO (supporting) Thailand (logistic support)	Moro National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front Abu Sayyaf Hezbi Islami Jemaah Islamiyah Al Qaeda Rajah Solaiman Movement Mujadeen of the Philippines Libya (alleged support to Islamic rebel groups)[1] File:NPA.png New People's Army North Korea (allegedly supplying insurgents only)
Commanders and leaders
Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Donny Wurster,	Nur Misuari, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, File:NPA.png Jose Maria Sison,
Yassir Igassan, many
Strength
18,000 Filipinos, 2,000 Americans, 100 Australians, Unknown Militas	7,000 NPA, Unknown MILF, Unknown MNLF,
Unknown

Template:Campaignbox War on Terrorism The Islamic insurgency in the Philippines is an armed conflict in Mindanao and the Sulu Sea fought by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf against the national government. The conflict began in the late 1960s when the MNLF began fighting for a Moro Muslim homeland (Bangsamoro), which includes the southern portion of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago and Palawan.

Background

The struggle is rooted to the conflicts caused by Spanish colonization, beginning in 1521 as well as the Moro Rebellion phase during the Philippine-American War. However, religion is but one difference, albeit a large one, as Islamic Sabah, Malaysia and the Bangsamoro (Moro) themselves have considerable differences. Culture, language, and tradition are also divisive.

On a larger scale, the Philippine insurgency is an outgrowth of the division of the Malay Archipelago by European and American colonial powers, much as ethnic conflict in Africa is today. The colonies that became the nations of Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand lumped together and split indigenous peoples of hundreds of languages and cultures (see Malayo-Polynesian languages) into modern nations, trying to assimilate them into "nationalities." There is no doubt that all of these indigenous groups have suffered immeasurably to avoid destruction of their culture, language, and livelihood, and only now is there awareness of the need to protect indigenous peoples. The Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia are all signatories to International Treaties on self-determination of indigenous peoples.^[2]

See also

• OEF-P
• 2007 Basilan beheading incident
• Operation Silent Strike
• Camp Enrile Malagutay Incident
• Bangsamoro Incident