SOUNDING BOARD is an outlet for opinions on good and crazy things going on at home (wherever I may be). All are welcome. You are not expected to bring anything except your common sense & sense of humor.
'If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.'
-Robert X. Cringely (from geek wisdom)
SOUNDING BOARD
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
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Negotiating with the mutineers: government style
Max Soliven, a newspaper publisher and a witness to the negotiations between government (represented by lead negotiator Ambassador Roy Cimatu) and the mutineers, categorically said that the government failed to honor a "gentleman's agreement" (INQ7.Net 6 August 2003). The government negotiator assured the rebel soldiers that they would face court marshall in accordance with the Articles of War. However, on 1 August 2003, the National Bureau of Investigation filed charges of coup d'etat against the 321 soldiers in a civilian court. Soliven also stated that Cimatu even stated that the assurance of a court marshall was approved by Malacanang.
While I make no judgments on the acts committed (including the technical argument of the act as rebellion or coup d'etat), if this is any indication on how government negotiates with rebels, then this is alarming because that kind of negotiation tactic only works once. In noncooperative continuous games (game theory), reneging may give you an upperhand for a single round, but it is highly unlikely that the other player will trust you in the succeeding ones. In theory and in practice, ensuring that both parties will honor agreements reached during negotiations also requires a third party (and agreements to be written down!). Nevertheless, the government should hope that this will be the last negotiation with military rebels. Otherwise, the ensuing negotiation(s) may require more than a single weekend.
posted by Allan at 12:48 PM (GMT+8)
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