Republic of Mindanao (21st Century Crisis)

The Republic of Mindanao and Sulu (Malay: Republik Mindanao dan Sulu, Jawi: ريڤوبليک ميندانااو دان سولو) also known as the Republic of Mindanao or Mindanao and Sulu in short, was a de facto state that existed in the southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago from 1949 to 1967. It was found shortly after World War II, mostly by those who fought the Japanese invasion, and the formation of the Parti Kebangsaan Mindanao who declared independence from the Philippines.

It was dissolved under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, when Mindanao's leaders signed a limited surrender treaty with Marcos. It is currently known as one of history's more successful unrecognized states.

Party leader Ahmad Salahuddin was its first president. Though the Republic of Mindanao didn't receive enough recognition to be considered independent, its history and influence is still strong-felt in the southern Philippines and Salahuddin is still considered a national hero. Its flag is still flown all over the southern Philippines, and it has a status comparable to that of the historical Confederate States of America.

History
The origins of the Mindanao Republic lie during the course of World War II's ending, with those who fought against the Japanese invasion, independent of the Philippine cause. Ahmad Salahuddin, a Maranaoan chief organized a militia known as the Mindanao Free Army (Malay: Mindanao Tentera Percuma) that fought insurgencies against the Japanese forces.

The Japanese surrendered to the American forces in 1945, and Mindanao was declared part of the newly-independent Philippines. The Moros of Mindanao, however, did not recognize Philippine ownership of Mindanao and declared a state of sovereignty.

Salahuddin was very influenced by the Indonesian independence movement, and traveled to the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia) to gain insight and inspiration from politicians, he eventually met face-to-face with Sukarno who would one-day, become the president of Indonesia. Sukarno and Salahuddin spent a lot of time trading ideas, and both also shared a mutual interest in choosing the Malay language as the languages of their new republics.

First Cotabato City Convention - 1946
In 1946, Salahuddin returned to Mindanao, particularly Cotabato City with other Moro chiefs in an event known as the Cotabtao City Convention (Malay: Konvensyen Bandar Kota Batu) on January 4, 1946 in which they discussed the Constitution of Mindanao, as well as the would-be national language, and political bodies that would govern the state.

They eventually declared that Malay was the language of independence, and had to re-educate the people of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago to speak Malay, as 300-years of Spanish colonization as well as decades of American occupation had nearly eliminated Malay from the archipelago.

Second Cotabato City Convention
Over the next couple of years, Ahmad Salahuddin went around Mindanao and Sulu to give speeches and gain support for an independent Republic. On January 3, 1947, the Second Cotabato City Convention was held, as Salahuddin wanted a unified party - of all Mindanao natives whether they be Muslim, Christian, Hindu or Buddhist. This convention was by-far larger than the first. It was not only attended by Moro chiefs, but also by Lumads, Hindus, Buddhists and event Visayan Catholics who lived in Mindanao. Several people proposed different names. Karimal Sayid, who would come the Vice President of the new republic, proposed the "United Mindanao Army". Christopher Francis, a Protestant from Zamboanga City proposed the Mindanao Democratic Party. However, it is Musinal Islam's proposal, the "Mindanao Nationalist Party" that won most of the votes. It is here that the Mindanao Nationalist Party was finally formed.

The next discussion was the name of the new independent state. Many people considered naming the island "Malaysia" or "North Malaysia", but 57% of the datus and chiefs agreed with keeping the name "Mindanao" and the official name would become the Republic of Mindanao.

The people of the Sulu Archipelago, however, sought to reform the Sultanate of Sulu rather than become part of the Republic. Salahuddin respected Abirin's political wishes. Under Sultan Jainal Abirin, while he and a group of other Tausug chief leaders attended the convention, it was finally decided that two independent, yet allied polities would be formed: the Republic of Mindanao and the Kingdom of Sulu. The Republic of Mindanao would control the entire island of Mindanao, the Kingdom of Sulu would be given control of the Sulu Archipelago.

Republic of Mindanao 1949-1967
In 1949, Ahmad Salahuddin and Jainal Abirin declared their independence, this was the same year that Indonesia had gained independence. Salahuddin received the support of Indonesians for the independence of Mindanao. Ahmad was pronounced the President of the Republic of Mindanao, Karimal Sayid his Vice President and Christopher Francis - who was the Prime Minister.

Salahuddin sent the declaration to Manila and Jakarta. However, the Philippines did not recognize them as an independent state, and sent Filipino troops to the south to consolidate Mindanao and Sulu's status as Philippine territory. This would begin the Mindanao Independence War. Indonesia, however, recognized them but did not send troops, being that the country was new, impoverished and Sukarno wanted to maintain neutral relations with the Philippines - whom he considered a great friend and ally.

Dissolution of the Republic of Mindanao
The Moro nationalist held out through four presidencies, until Ferdinand Marcos strengthened the presence of Philippine soldiers in Mindanao. In 1967, Karim Salahuddin and Ferdinand Marcos signed the Mindanao Peace Treaty, in which the Philippine government would protect the native culture of Mindanao if they surrendered, effectively ending the Republic of Mindanao.

However, Marcos turned back on his promise and began government resettlement programs, sending waves of Ilocano, Visayan and Tagalog migrants en masse to Mindanao. Therefore, the insurgencies continued and the Filipino Armed Forces had actually given light on the idea of granting Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago their independence. However, Marcos refused. Eventually, the migrants began to outnumber the natives in many cities. By 1986, they formed the majority in General Santos City, Cagayan de Oro and Davao City.

Legacy and Continuation of Culture
Though despite the Republic being dissolved, its political influence remained nearly untouched in the southern Philippines, the Parti Kebangsaan remained intact and the most powerful political party in the southern Philippines. They helped and played a role in the passage of laws that would protect the native cultures of the southern Philippines. Corazon Aquino, the following President after Ferdinand Marcos supported the native culture of Mindanao and established ties with the Parti Kebangsaan. With help of the Lakas-CMD, a fellow right-wing political party in Mindanao, Republic Act No. 5422 was passed which set limitations and restrictions of migrations of people to Mindanao. Migration was temporarily suspended for two years. This law was known to have saved Mindanao's native culture from becoming a minority.

August 4, which is the date of Mindanao's independence is still celebrated in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. It is celebrated as Moro Heritage Day.

Moro flag controversy
In the southern Philippines, historical flags of the Republic of Mindanao, as well as the Kingdom of Sulu flags, are still flown on people's vehicles, and even businesses and private property. It is often compared to the status of the Confederate flag and its association with southern American culture. It is also flown by Moro communities living elsewhere in the Philippines, particularly in cities like Manila or Cebu City where large communities of Tausūg and Maranaoan people live. The Conservative Party, in the wake of the  2013 Zamboanga City Crisis, introduced a bill that would ban all Moro flags, and have them taken down from provincial capitol grounds in the southern Philippines. They argued that Moro flags stand for hate and terrorism. Rodrigo Duterte, the Mayor of Davao City supported such a ban. The bill failed to become law.

There were some protests to have the flags removed from the campus grounds of Mindanao State University.

Nur Misuari said, "The Moro flag, as well as the historical flag of the Sulu Sultanate represents our heritage here in the southern Philippines."

Government and politics
The founders of the Republic of Mindanao met in Cotabato CIty to discuss the constitution, in the event known as the First Cotabato City Convention. Salahuddin, having returned to Mindanao from the Dutch East Indies, modeled Constitution of Mindanao after Sukarno's Pancasila, consisting of five main points. On January 2, Salahuddin finalized the Constitution of Mindanao, known as the Perlembagaan Mindanao, and was drafted on January 3, 1946.

Here were the points: The founders of the Kingdom of Sulu also adopted this Constitution as the governing body of the Kingdom, with the exception of Point 4 which was changed to, "Loyalty to the Sultan, loyalty to the people" which pointed towards a constitutional monarchy.
 * 1) Religious freedom
 * 2) Civilized and just humanity
 * 3) Unity of Mindanao
 * 4) Democracy through inner-wisdom and representative consensus-building
 * 5) Social justice for all people of Mindanao and Sulu

As such, the President was the head of state, who formed part of the Executive Branch, consisting of the President and the Vice President. The President acted as the Commander in Chief of the Mindanao Free Army, the official fighting force of the Republic of Mindanao. The government of Mindanao also contained a bicameral legislative branch.

Agriculture
The economy of the Republic of Mindanao was based heavily on agriculture. Merchants made a monopoly selling livestock and crops such as coconuts, durian (from the Davao Regency), kiwis, bananas and other means. One of the main goals of the Parti Kebangsaan, the ruling political party in the Republic was to protect farmers' rights. Durian producers refused to acknowledge the durian industry as part of the Philippine economy, and rejected Filipino companies, leading the Battle of Davao, or the "Durian War".

Technology
The Republic of Mindanao also supported some technological advancements in the islands, in order to ensure a safe society - especially for its military. Engineers, who often studied in the United Kingdom used their knowledge to mimic and built military equipment used by the U.S. Army and the British Army. It is in Mindanao, that the Kabungsuwan 1911, or the K1911, was produced, which was Mindanao's own version of the Colt 1911. Salahuddin often relied on Arab engineers and inventors to help Mindanao.

Currency
The currency of the Republic of Mindanao was the Mindanaoan kepeng, circulated in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 10,000. The name originates from an ancient currency used in the historical Majapahit Empire. The coins were known as the bilahs, the Javanese name for the blade of a kris sword. In 1961, the Filipino government went a crackdown for what they deemed "illegal" currencies, burning approximately ten million worth of kepengs. The Republic's currency was actually backed by gold, that was found in the Surigao Regency in northeastern Mindanao. The currency was officially stopped in 1967 via the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos.

Languages
Malay and English were the official languages of the republic. As part of the First Cotabato City Convention, it was decided that Malay was the designated national language, or the Bahasa Kebangsaan. It was the language used to write the Constitution of Mindanao. It also became the official language of the neighboring Kingdom of Sulu. In order to gain sympathy from British and Americans, in 1959, English was made a state official language simply to attract sympath from British and American travelers to the revolutionary republic.

The Filipino language, or Tagalog was not considered a national or official language, and no mention of it was made in the Cotabato City Conventions, which were done in a mix of Malay and English.

Maguindanaoan, Maranaoan, Tausūg and Surigaonaonon were considered government-recognized regional languages. The Chavacano language, a Spanish Creole, was mentioned, but it was decided that Chavacano would receive no recognition.