https://www.scmp.com/rss/324783/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fears that the first stage of a landmark referendum on greater autonomy for the Philippines’ restive Muslim-majority south would be derailed by violence on Monday failed to materialise, soothing nerves within the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte as it works to end one of Asia’s longest-running separatist conflicts. There were sporadic reports of confrontations in urban areas with a mixed Christian and Muslim population such as Cotabato City, where a grenade was thrown into a voting... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2183055/bangsamoro-autonomy-vote-southern-philippines-proves-peaceful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2183055/bangsamoro-autonomy-vote-southern-philippines-proves-peaceful?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jan 2019 13:45:00 +0000 At long last, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law new autonomous powers for his country’s restive and poverty stricken Muslim-majority south, which observers hope will defuse one of Asia’s long-running conflicts, stem extremism and kick-start a vital economic revival. Thursday’s signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law is the culmination of a drawn-out process that had appeared on the verge of collapse on multiple occasions, including in the immediate aftermath of last year’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2157206/will-dutertes-sharia-gift-bring-lasting-peace-southern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2157206/will-dutertes-sharia-gift-bring-lasting-peace-southern?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jul 2018 02:18:33 +0000 “It is actually hilarious, if not tragically sad.” That is how Muslim lawyer Laisa Alamia described recent reports that a town on the island of Luzon, far from brutal fighting in the southern Philippines, is now bringing in ID cards exclusively for Muslims. Last week officials in the town of Paniqui, about 150km north of the capital Manila, said they would introduce the system, even though they had never had any problems with local Muslims. On May 23, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2102378/ids-muslims-philippine-towns-response-terror-says-lot-about?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2102378/ids-muslims-philippine-towns-response-terror-says-lot-about?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jul 2017 03:02:03 +0000