Aynul Islam

Privatization of Violence in Mindanao, Philippines Aynul Islam

Violence in Mindanao is not simply an outcome of conflict. A substantial portion of armed violence took place out of the larger battlefield in Mindanao. The continuity of violence is a joint process between macro and micro dynamics. At the macro level, the central state dominated political and economic governance mechanism has considerably failed to ensure a meaningful and substantive political autonomy, and development for the peripheral people in Mindanao. The micro level actors and triggers, often invisible, play a critical role in armed violence process in Mindanao. The micro level informal privatized violence has been a trigger for formal armed violence in Mindanao. Clan violence, locally known as ridos, triggered by mostly disputes over resources and violation of dignity, plays a fundamental role in shaping armed violence. Private armies held by political warlords and local strongmen, and civil militias are also playing a significant role in generating and sustaining armed violence in Mindanao. The civil militia groups often directly involve in formal armed violence.