Moro conflict

Insurgency in the Philippines
U.S and Philippine Marines landing at a beach.
Date 1969– ongoing Location Mindanao, Philippines Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Government and Allies Philippines, United States, United Kingdom, Christian militias, Pro-government Muslim militias, Australia Russia[1] Allies Of The Government Japan [2] Thailand Samahang Demokratikong Kabataan	Islamists Moro National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front Abu Sayyaf Jemaah Islamiyah Al Qaeda Rajah Solaiman Movement Mujadeen of the Philippines Pirates (Transports Rebel Groups) Islamist Supporters Libya (supplying Abu-Sayyaf)[3] Iran (supplying terrorists)[4] North Korea (supplying MNLF) Syria Iraq (stoped supporting after 2003) Communists New People's Army Communist Party of the Philippines Socialist Revolution Front of Albay Partido komunista ng Pilipinas Communist Allies: China (allegedly supporting PKP) Soviet Union (stoped supporting after 1991) Cuba (allegedly supporting CCP/NPA)
Commanders and leaders
Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Donny Wurster, Jock Stirrup Dmitry Medvedev Yasuo Fukuda Samak Sundaravej	Nur Misuari, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Yassir Igassan Yassir Igassan Jose Maria Sison Joseph Valdez Francisco Nemenzo Nilo Tayag
Strength
18,000 Filipinos, 2,000 Americans, 100 Australians, Unknown Militas	Unknown MILF, Unknown MNLF, 7,000 NPA, Unknown other communists

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.^[5]

See also

• OEF-P
• 2007 Basilan beheading incident
• Operation Silent Strike
• Bangsamoro Incident
• Operation Blue Eagle
• Clearing of the Narciso Ramos Highway
• Air strikes in the Zamboanga Peninsula
• Operation Dark Night
• Battle at Pili.
• Honda Bay Kidnappings
• Operation Freedom
• Air strikes at Negros