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ASIA AND OCEANIA
PHILIPPINES (MNLF)
Intensity: 2 | Change: | Start: 1969
Conflict parties:
MNLF vs. government
Conflict items: secession, system/ideology, resources
The conflict between the Moro National Liberation Front
(MNLF) and the government over the orientation of the political
system, resources, and the secession of the islands of
Mindanao, Palawan, and Sulu de-escalated by three intensities
from a war to a non-violent crisis. No clashes were
reported for the year 2014.
The MNLF criticized the signing of the annex on normalization
between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) [→ Philippines (MILF)] in January and the signing
of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)
in March as a violation of the 1996 peace agreement between
the MNLF and the government. The MNLF wanted this agreement
to be incorporated into the CAB and demanded more
participation in the negotiations. In a meeting on June 11 and
12, three factions of the MNLF, namely the Islamic Command
Council, the Executive Committee, and Nur Misuari's group,
agreed to reunite and accepted Misuari as leader. Misuari
was responsible for the 2013 standoff in Zamboanga City,
Zamboanga Peninsula, which was condemned by the other
factions as a breaking of the 1996 peace agreement. On
August 24, Misuari reiterated his call for independence. prü
SRI LANKA (BUDDHISTS MUSLIMS,
CHRISTIANS)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1948
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
BBS, JHU, JVP, Sinhalese Buddhists vs.
Christians, Muslims, SLMC
system/ideology
The violent crisis over system and ideology between the Sinhalese
Buddhists along with the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), the
monk-led National Heritage Party (JHU), as well as People's
Liberation Front (JVP), on the one hand, and the Muslims
represented by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and
the Christians, on the other, continued.
On January 12, up to 250 people accompanied by Buddhists
monks vandalized two Christian churches in Hikkaduwa,
Western Province, demolishing windows, doors, and musical
instruments. Another church attack close to the capital
Colombo was reported the same day.
On March 9, BBS General Secretary Galagoda Atthe Gnanasara
followed by about 20 monks stormed a media conference
of a group of Muslims and Buddhist clergy, blaming the attending
Buddhists of betraying their religion. The JVP directly
distanced itself from the BBS in a press statement reiterating
the freedom of expression.
A new wave of violence erupted on June 12, when a small
group of Muslims assaulted a Buddhist monk on his way to
a temple ceremony in Dharga Town, Western Province. Subsequently,
Buddhists stormed the Aluthgama police station,
Western Province, to demand immediate action against the
suspects. Three days later, the BBS organized a protest march
in Aluthgama and Beruwela, Western Province. Clashes broke
out after a speech of Gnanasara, leaving four Muslims dead
and at least 75 injured. Up to 100 primarily Muslim-owned
shops and homes were looted. Some attackers used petrol
bombs. Police were backed up with 1,000 additional personnel
and fired tear gas and enforced a curfew in the two towns.
Victims of the riots and rights activists denounced police inaction.
On June 19, Wataraka Vijitha Thero, a Buddhist monk
known for criticizing the BBS, was found undressed, bound,
and injured in Panadura, Western District. However, the BBS
denied involvement. Two days later, a Muslim-owned apparel
store burned down in the same town. The police found an
electric short-circuit responsible but eyewitnesses said that
alleged Buddhist attackers threw petrol bombs at the building.
On July 2, the BBS threatened the government to stay from
any penalization for clashes in June and blamed Muslim organizations
for the outburst of violence. The following day,
the police stated that they had arrested 95 Sinhalese and 24
Muslims in connection with the unrest.
On July 8, the BBS called on the government to inquire the at
the beginning of 2014 established National Shoora Council,
an alliance of several national Muslim organizations. The BBS
believed it to be part of a conspiracy to turn Sri Lanka into a
Muslim country. They also urged to place all Muslim ministers
in the cabinet under intelligence surveillance on September
17.
Ashin Wirathu, a known Buddhist extremist from Myanmar,
visited Colombo on September 28 and announced the building
of an alliance with the BBS to defend Buddhism, especially
against Islamism.
Eight days later, the BBS introduced a constitutional draft
comprising the recognition of Sinhalese Buddhists as the national
race of the country, and the prohibition of all religious
propagation other than Buddhism. mwu
TAJIKISTAN (GORNO-BADAKHSHAN)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2012
Conflict parties: drug traffickers, Pamiri people vs.
government
Conflict items: autonomy, subnational predominance
The violent crisis over subnational predominance in Gorno-
Badakhshan Autonomous Province between the local Pamiri
people and drug traffickers and the central government continued.
On May 21, according to Tajik authorities, a small group of
drug traffickers arrived at the local police station in Khorugh,
capital of Gorno-Badakhshan, to free an accused drug
smuggler. A gunfight erupted, killing a police officer, two
alleged drug traffickers, and a bystander, and injuring several
others. Starting on May 23, several hundred local residents
protested the police's handling of the incident for two days,
torching several buildings, including the provincial police
headquarters. Witnesses reported that one of the protesters
threw a grenade and some protesters opened gunfire at the
building. In total, two people were killed and seven injured
during the violent demonstrations. Protesters demanded a
fair investigation into the events, calling on the authorities to
dismiss the heads of regional law enforcement agencies. The
Pamiri protesters also demanded more autonomy in electing
provincial and district governors in Gorno-Badakhshan
as well as the appointment of Gorno-Badakhshan officials
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