Promised Land
In layers of conflict, Jes Aznar examines a labyrinth of truths
Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter. We have quite a few new subscribers joining us recently so if that’s you, welcome to our corner of the web! You can find out more about the team here, and do check out the other stories in our archives.
Let’s cut to the chase. This month, we have a powerful story from Filipino photographer Jes Aznar to share.
In Promised Land, Aznar - who has been covering conflict in Mindanao for over fourteen years - offers his personal reflections, and shows us the reality of war for both combatants and civilians alike.
The long-running Moro Conflict in Mindanao, the Philippines’ second largest island, has roots beyond the modern era, to a time of resistance against first Spanish, then American colonial rule. Moro rebels were instrumental in the fight against Japanese occupation during World War II, continuing this legacy of opposition to outside rule.
Post World War II, successive Philippine presidents continued an American policy to settle predominantly Christian Catholics on Mindanao, seizing land from the indigenous and Muslim populations and leading to disputes and accusations of political favouritism. This background of ethnic, religious, and political tensions, evolved into open hostilities between the Marcos administration and Moro rebel groups, which eventually coalesced into the Moro National Liberation Front and later the dominant Moro Islamic Liberation Front, with various smaller groups operating, often linked to family and clan affiliations.
A deadly conflict continued for over four decades, through stuttering attempts at a peace process. In 2014, a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region was agreed by the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. However, violent clashes continue, with inter-clan warfare and the rise of Islamic State extremists undermining the peace, despite the formation of a peacekeeping force composed of Philippine Police and Army, and MILF fighters. Elements of The Moro Islamic Liberation Front have not completely disarmed, with some groups operating semi-autonomously, further adding to the continued tensions in the path toward Bangsamoro autonomy. At the time of writing, important elections that were due to take place in 2025 have been delayed, and are now set to take place on or before March 31 of 2026.
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Regional Photo News
Please share your news with us; publications, exhibitions, events, things we should know about… Send us the info! It’s been a while, so here is a brief roundup of some things that caught our eye recently.
A wave of protests swept Indonesia this summer, signalling ongoing dissatisfaction over economic pressures and corruption. Coverage with plenty of photography here: Time, Channel News Asia, NYT, AP, Nikkei.
Earthquakes and Typhoons have hit the Philippines hard. Al Jazeera ran a photo gallery on the quake in northern Cebu and the New York Times reports with some striking photography on over a million people fleeing from Typhoon Fung-wong, and dozens of deaths from Typhoon Kalmaegi.
This AFP report published on Al Jazeera tracked as Typhoon Bualoi struck both the Philippines and Vietnam. These storms are increasing in intensity and frequency due to climate change. We will be seeing this story play out again and again.
Roun Ry photographs the wives of Cambodia’s opposition politicians in a climate of political oppression in this article on HaRDStories.
Rubber Plantations infringe on subsistence farmer’s land in Cambodia, with photography by Saobora Narin in this report, also on HarRDStories.
Aziziah Aprilya documents nickel smelting’s impact on South Sulawesi families for Icarus Complex Magazine.
In another environmental story, Ulet Ifansasti photographs the logging for tropical hardwoods to meet demand from the US motorhome industry, published in the New York Times
Lauren DeCicca photographs the families of Cambodian troops detained in Thailand as a result of the Thai-Cambodia Conflict for the New York Times.
Relaxed school hair rules in Thailand spark a nationwide discussion, also by Lauren DeCicca for the New York Times.
From Pangolins to Primates - Amrita Chandradas photographs veterinarians at the Singapore Zoo for Nature.
Our very own Charlene Winfred photographed global health stories for the Telegraph and Nature
Muhammad Fadli photographs Ida Ayu Astari Prada for Tatler Asia.
Jes Aznar, whose work we are featuring at present, writes about his engagement with the medium of photography over on Writing Foto.
Women in Film & Photography - The eighth edition of Objectifs’ Women in Film and Photography presents the works of artists from Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Asia, responding to the theme of What We Carry. Look out for our upcoming conversation with Objectifs Director Emmeline Yong on 10 years of the WIFP…
Several Festivals we wish we had been at include the Kuala Lumpur Photo Festival, Jakarta International Photo Festival Photo Hanoi and Photo Kathmandu.
Deck have a new shophouse gallery in Singapore. It’s very fancy. We look forward to seeing what they programme for the space.
Keep us posted
Have work published? An upcoming exhibition? Workshops, opportunities or news? We’d love to include it in our newsletter. Let us know.