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| Southeast Asia |
| Filipino Muslims vote ‘yes’ in referendum for self-rule |
| 2019-01-28 |
| [DAWN] A predominantly Moslem area of the southern Philippines has returned a resounding "Yes" in this week’s referendum on greater autonomy, boosting hopes for peace in one of Asia’s most conflict-torn regions. The plan to create a self-administered area for the Moslem-dominated parts of Mindanao was backed by 85 per cent of voters, the election commission said late on Friday, paving the way for a three-year transition towards elections for a legislature that will choose an executive. Monday’s referendum was the culmination of a tumultuous grinding of the peace processor between separatists and successive governments that aimed to settle decades of conflict, which have hampered development and kept these parts of Mindanao among Asia’s poorest regions. The endorsement by some 1.74 million voters comes as no surprise, and the new region to be called Bangsamoro (nation of Moros) will have greater powers to generate and invest more money in infrastructure, schools, healthcare and social welfare for its estimated five million inhabitants. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 we need some comments from people who were there.............. |
| Posted by: 746 2019-01-28 11:34 |
| #2 camel. nose. tent. |
| Posted by: Fliting Throlutle3817 2019-01-28 08:44 |
| #1 Now for the civilised parts of Indonesia to do the same. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2019-01-28 00:15 |