TAUSUG: STILL A BRAVE PEOPLE? By Neldy Jolo None of any articles have mentioned about Tausug not being fighting men. The Tausug have even been classified as “first-class fighting men, and among them every able-bodied man might act as either soldier or sailor” in the book of Sixto Orosa or William D. Boyce. This is the perception being inscribed in the psyche of every individual, both alive and dead, or people who are either enemies or friends of the Tausug. I am personally proud to belong to this people. I am saddened to read the posting of Tuan Sharif Yazir Rajim about the fighting in Jolo. He regarded it as bad news. Yes it is indeed bad news for us Tausug, but good news to some and to the enemies. Who are these enemies, I personally do not know really. According to the news, the recent fighting is between the MNLF led by Ustaz Habir Malik and the “Abu Sayyaf Group” who held the Arab Journalist Baker Atyani, which occurred on the 3 rd of this month of February 2013, in the early morning, a day I have marked in my heart. Tuan Sharif Yazir Rajim posted: “Bad News: Nagbunu' na in group hinda Ust. Habir iban sin Mujahidin ha Patikul kaina maynaat”. (There is a fighting between the group of Ustaz Habir and Mujahidin in Patikul this morning). There are different commentaries on his posting, which I have reposted in my facebook wall. Some are favourable to the MNLF, and others are to the ASG, but the rests are sad that people of the same faith, identity and cause for homeland are now engaged in a battle with one other instead of fighting the “satru”. The posting got more than hundred commentaries. There are professors, lawyers, doctors and even farmers who have commented on the fighting. For the brave men, let the fighting go on--fight to the end until they realize what to do next. Part of the commentaries had it that the MNLF wanted the hostages in the captivity of the Abu Sayyaf to be released, but the latter declined the request. This fighting was also reported to have ensued when a kid son of a Philippine Marine officer was allegedly kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf. The MNLF wants to stop its homeland from being tagged as a kidnapping capital.