Peter Kreuzer

Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, if not before, costing the lives of hundreds of people – mainly tourists from developed countries – it has been commonly agreed on pointing to the dangers stemming from fundamentalist or terrorist organizations in Southeast Asia. In doing so, conflicts tend to be perceived in a simplistic way. Instead, the situation within these societies is more complex and cannot be reduced to the scheme "bad terrorists vs. good states".

Using the example of Mindanao, the island furthest to the south of the Philippines, and the rebellion of its Muslim population, Peter Kreuzer shows that religion is by far not the most controversial subject of conflict. Though the Muslim population constitutes a religious minority in the otherwise mostly Christian state, the reason for conflict is rather that the Muslims are discriminated against socio-economically and that their interests are not represented in the state government. Thus religious differences are instrumentalized by the guerilla and the political elites. The death of the guerilla leader at Mindanao in the summer of 2003 now raises the question, which options can be drawn in the future to solve the conflict. The author discusses these under regard of the historic developments and earlier attempts on establishing a lasting peace in the Philippines. Peter Kreuzer sees realistic chances for the old conflicting parties to make peace, especially since all sides seem willing to compromise. Nevertheless, it will need further efforts to establish an enduring peace, since the next "losers" of the new order and the conflict lines of the future are already visible.