The Wire

A fresh wave of bloody violence has hit the troubled southern Philippines region of Mindanao. It comes after the collapse of a President Arroyo-backed proposal for greater autonomy in the region. Mindanao, which is home to the bulk of the Philippines’ minority Muslim population, has been embroiled in a long cycle of bloodshed and conflict between Islamic separatists and government forces. While the Muslims in Mindanao already enjoy some level of self-determination, the key separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are not satisfied. However it was hoped that the new proposal for greater autonomy would put an end to hostilities.