THE PHILIPPINES GRANTED AUTONOMY TO THE MUSLIMS: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

At the beginning of last week, there was an event in the Philippines. This event is rather extraordinary in the context of the history of this country. For the first time, there was a referendum on granting autonomy to Muslim-majority regions (Catholic Christians are the majority in the country). The referendum was the final chord of the government’s consistent policy of reconciliation with the southern Muslim separatists, who had been fighting against the Central government for many years.

The referendum has become a significant event for the Philippines and the region in general. It might change the approach of many states to the problem of separatism as such and to the fight against partisan movements that exist not only in the Philippines but throughout the world.