MINDANAO PEOPLES CAUCUS

MPC welcomes Norway�s coordinating role in CPC; Urge the peace panels to intensify its information and advocacy drive

GRASSROOTS communities and Mindanao’s internally displaced persons (IDP) warmly welcome the formal entry of the Royal Norwegian Government in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) particularly on its “specific coordinating role” in the Civilian Protection Component (CPC) as mentioned in the April 21, 2010 Joint Statement of the GRP-MILF peace panels. Norway’s experience in various conflict areas all over the world and its far-renowned commitment to world peace will definitely bring in a fresh impetus to the peace process in Mindanao.

Despite the limited time at hand, we appreciate the efforts of the peace panels to make do with whatever time is left in the Arroyo administration to be able to address doable measures that will help normalize the situation in the conflict-affected areas such as the safe return of the IDPs and the clearing operations of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Equally urgent is the need to finalize the Terms of Reference of the Civilian Protection Component of the IMT which need not wait for the advent of a new administration. With tens of thousands of IDPs still displaced, their day to day survival and collective suffering should not be extended any longer in order to appease political ambitions and electoral dirty tactics.

Based on the Mindanao-wide consultations conducted by the Bishop-Ulama Conference, it is crystal-clear that the Mindanaoans want the GRP-MILF peace talks to continue. Picking up from the lessons of the MOA-AD, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus makes an appeal to all groups and sectors especially politicians and church leaders to refrain from issuing statements that would undermine the laudable efforts of the peace panels of both government and MILF. We encourage our leaders to closely coordinate with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and extract correct information from them rather than issuing false statements that could just create unnecessary anxiety among the communities who bore the negative consequences of these irresponsible remarks and false assumptions about the interim agreement.

We also call on influential religious leaders to spearhead dialogue instead of obfuscating the truth about the GRP-MILF peace talks. As men and women of peace, we should learn the lessons of the August 2008 skirmishes which shattered the relationships of communities which we have painstakingly built through years of inter-religious dialogue, healing and reconciliation.

Irresponsible statements could easily fan animosity and paranoia which is the least that we need at this point when the country is facing a major political exercise in the upcoming May 2010 election. We also call upon the peace panels and the OPAPP to intensify its information drive and advocacy campaign so that the people will no longer be misled by black propaganda and divide and rule tactics. (30).

People�s agenda outlines peace, respect for ancestral domain in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY—From the peace process to human rights, grassroots leaders of Lumad and Moro communities in North Cotabato outlined their Peace Platforms during the Apu Mamalu-Apu Tambunaway Descendants Conference held recently in this city.

Around 200 delegates crafted their “Mga Plataporma sa Kalinaw” in a bid to present their collective agenda before candidates in North Cotabato which was also attended by those running for vice-governorship, congressmen, and provincial board members.

Six major platforms were identified by the participants, namely, ancestral domain, war and displacement, peace process, environment, socio-economic opportunities, and human rights.

On ancestral domain, both Lumad and Moro leaders urged the candidates to support their call to stop the buying and selling of lands within the ancestral domain and for authorities to apprehend those who have violated the provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.

The call also include the prohibition for the Department of Agrarian Reform to declare ancestral domains as resettlement areas and prioritize the recognition of ancestral domains of the Lumad in the 28 municipalities of Cotabato.

Datu Migketay Saway, a Talaandig from Bukidnon who spoke on the oral history of Apu Mamalu and Apu Tambunaway and its role in strenghening the relationship of Lumad and Moro peoples, said that it is very important for the candidates to heed the call of the peoples in their locality since it is them who grant them powers to govern.

“Candidates must also respect, recognize, and protect the right to self-determination of the Lumad and Moro peoples, their native titles, and self-delineation of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs),” Saway, a leading nominee of the KASAPI pary-list said.

Under the ancestral domain platform, the descendants of Apu Mamalu and Apu Tambunaway also stressed the need for the inclusion of the history of the Lumad and Moro peoples in the education curriculum of schools and that this history should be written from the perspective of the Lumads and Moro communities.

“Genuine recognition of the free and prior informed consent (FPIC) and IP governance is also important for the candidates to support during this election,” a provision of the platform indicated.

Under the peace process, the participants are seeking the sincerity of both local and national officials on the Mindanao peace process and for them to support the members of the negotiating panels and to evade from issuing public statements that would stoke communal violence.

This platform was in reference to the post-MOA-AD debacle which saw politicians announcing in public that the MOA-AD would result in more division and that settlers in Mindanao will be send back to their places of origin in Visayas and Luzon because the true inhabitants of Mindanao would take back their lands.

“It is necessary for the local officials to recognize and respect the agreements arrived at by both peace panels of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and they should not be the reason why peace is unachievable despite our commitments to end this historical conflict in Mindanao,” the platform said.

The platform added that those who will be elected as congresspersons must also bring the issue of the peace process in Congress and for them to lead in informing their constituents about the stages of the GRP-MILF peace negotiations and to create local mechanisms for community consultations.

Under the war and displacement platform, the participants stressed the need to address the situation of the internally displaced persons while ensuring their safe return to their communities and that the calamity fund should be used to support the immediate needs of the displaced instead of using the fund to procure arms against the people.

On the aspect of environment and climate change, the participants saw the need to support groups advocating conservation and that local officials in Cotabato should provide assistance to communities affected by illegal logging.

“The construction of dams in Pulangi V and VI must be stopped because it will destroy the historical landmarks of Apu Mamalu which serve as the basis of unity of Lumad and Moro; support the passage of local ordinances that would prohibit the dumping of wastes in Pulangi and implement the waste management program of the province,” the platform added.

The conference was organized by the Mindanao Peoples Caucus in partnership with the Moro Movement for Honest Elections and Good Governance. (RRF)

Mga Plataporma sa Kalinaw

(Kining Mga Plataporma sa Kalinaw gimugna sa usa ka konperensya sa mga Kaliwat ni Apu Mamalu ug Apu Tambunaway nga gitambungan sa mukabat nga 200 nga mga lideres sa katawhang Lumad ug Moro sa probinsya sa Cotabato. Gi-presentar kini sa mga lokal nga kandidato niadtong Abril 15-16, 2010 sa Guadalupe Convention Center sa Dakbayan sa Kidapawan)

1.       Yutang Kabilin

a.       Undangon ang pagpamaligya ug pagpamalit og mga kayutaan sulod sa ancestral domain ug sikupon sa gobyerno ang kinsa mang makalapas niini; undangon sa Department of Agrarian Reform ang pagdeklarar og resettlement areas ang mga yutang kabilin ug unahon ang pag-ila sa yutang kabilin sa mga Lumad.

b.      Respetuhon, ilhon, ug panalipdan ang mga katungod sa kaugalingnan, native titles, ug self-delineation sa Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).

c.       Suportahan ang pagmugna ug pagpanday sa Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development Protection Plan (ADSDPP).

d.      Matinud-anong pag-respeto sa Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) ug IP governance

e.      Magmugna og mga barangay ug tribal municipalities; apil ang autonomous regions.

f.        Ipatuman ang mandatory representation.

g.       Libreng scholarship sa mga angayan nga kabatan-onang Lumad ug Moro.

h.      Itudlo ang kasaysayan ug kultura sa mga Lumad ug Moro diha sa mga tulunghaan ug iapil kini nga pagtuon sa mga pormal nga kurikulum aron masabtan ug ipasabot maayo ang ancestral domain sa tibuok katawhan sa probinsya base sa mga perspektiba sa mga Lumad ug Moro.

i.        Siguraduhon nga mahatagan og igong trabaho sa mga eskwelahan, munisipyo ug uban pa aron mapakgang ang naandam nga ginahimo sa mga mayor nga ginahimong gatasan ang munisipyo alang sa iyang mga paryente ug kabanay.

j.        Suportahan ang pagpanalipod sa mga katungod sa mga kababayen-an ug mga kabatan-onan sulod sa yutang kabilin.

k.       Suportahan ang pagtukod og mga Ancestral Domain Centers sulod sa mga yutang kabilin aron mualagad sa mga mulo ug problema sa Lumad.

2.       Gyera, Militarisasyon, ug Pagpangmakwit

a.       Suportahan sa gobyerno ang peace process ug ipakaylap ang kultura sa kalinaw. Dili maghaling og mga kalihukan nga makapaulbo og kagubot sa katawhan sama sa pag armas sa mga sibilyan ug pagpamalit og bala nga mao ra ghapon ang mopatay sa mga katawhan sa probinsya.

b.      Tubagon ang ugat – hinungdan sa gyera pinaagi sa pag-ila ug pagrespeto sa yutang kabilin sa mga Lumad ug Moro ---- hunungon ang pagbaligya ug pagpamalit sa ancestral domain ---- tagaan ug mga development projects ang tribo nga sila mismo ang magpadagan ug magdumala imbis nga ang mga taga-gawas na hinuon ang magpahimulos.

c.       Hunungon ang militarisasyon ug ipabalik ang mga military sa ilang kampo ---- walaon ang paghimo ug kampo sa balay sa mga sibilyan.

d.      Atimanon ang panginahanglan sa mga bakwit sama sa pagkaun, medisina ug pag-hiuli kanila balik sa ilang komunidad ----- ang calamity fund dapat gamiton para sa panginabuhian sa mga apektadong komunidad imbis nga kini ipalit ug armas batok gihapon sa katawhan.

3.       Prosesong Pangkalinaw

a.

Sinseridad sa mga opisyales (lokal ug nasyonal) sa peace process. Dapat suportahan sa mga lokal nga mga opisyales ang mga miyembro sa negotiating panels ug likayan ang pag-issue og mga public statements nga makahaling og kagubot ug communal violence.

Angayan nga ilhon sa mga lokal nga opisyales ang mga namugna nga mga kasabutan sa GRP ug MILF; ug dili angay nga sila ang mamahimong hinugdan aron dili makab-ot ang kalinaw sa Mindanao.

Suporthan ang pagkaylap sa mga impormasyon mahitungod sa mga kasabutan pangkalinaw tali sa GRP ug MILF bago pa man nga adunay mapirmahan nga final peace agreement.

Ang mga midaog nga mga Congressmen ug Congresswomen angay nga dalhon ang isyu sa peace process sa Kongreso.

Suportahan ang pagpatuman sa mga peace agreements nga napirmahan ug manguna ang probinsya sa pagpasabot sa iyang katawhan kung unsa man ang unod niining mga kasabutan; maghimo og mga mekanismo alang sa regular nga konsultasyon sa katawhan kabahin sa dagan sa peace process.

4. Kinaiyahan/Climate Change

Illegal logging. Suportahan ang mga grupo nga nagaduso sa pagtan-aw sa epekto sa climate change ug hatagan og pinansyal nga suporta ang mga komunidad nga nakasinati og mga pagpangdaot sa mga kalasangan ug kinaiyahan.

Dili ipadayon ang construction sa dam sa Pulangi V ug VI, kay mawala ang mga marka sa kasaysayan sa mga Lumad ug Moro. Ang pagtukod sa dam sa Pulangi makapahuyang sa relasyon sa mga Moro ug Lumad. Kung mapanalipdan ang Pulangi, makatabang kini sa peace process sa Mindanao.

Suportahan ang pagpasar og mga lokal nga balaod ug ordinansa aron bawalan ang paglabay og mga basura sa Pulangi ug hugot nga ipatuman ang waste management program; undangon ang pag-dumping sa mga molasses sa Pulangi.

Undangon ang pagpanghatag ug permit aron mag-mina ug uban pa nga mga resource extraction nga mga proyekto sulod sa ancestral domain.
5. Ekonomikanhon ug Sosyal nga mga Oportunidad

a.       Suportahan ang mga tradisyonal nga mga pamaagi sa pag-uma ug pagbalik sa paggamit sa mga naandam nga mga binhi pang-uma, ang pagbalik sa lumadnong sistema sa kooperatiba aron masulbad ang problema ug kalisdanan sa pagkaon.

b.      Hatagan og patas nga mga oportunidad sa trabaho para sa mga IP ug Moro nga mga propesyonal ilabi na kadtong mga bag-ong nakahuman og kolehiyo.

c.       Hatagan og maluntarong programa sa kasegurohan sa pagkaon; siguraduhon ang maluntarong ekonomiya sa probinsya.

d.      Hatagan og igong serbisyo panglawas ilabi na sa mga katawhan nga labaw nga nanginahanglan niini; hatagan ug saktong serbisyo sa panglawas ug hatagan og igong medisina ang mga health center sa mga komunidad sa Lumad.

6.       Tawhanong Katungod

a.       Diskriminasyon. Undangon ang diskriminasyon ilabi na sa pagdawat og mga empleyado kung diin walay kasigurohan ang mga Moro ug Lumad nga madawat bisan pa man nga sila angayan kon qualified sa trabaho.
b.      Torture. Suportahan ang pagkondenar sa torture batok sa mga naalaan nga mga kriminal. Angayan nga ipatuman ang bag-ong balaod sa Pilipinas nga silutan ang kinsa mang ahensya sa gobyerno nga nagagamit niining matang sa silot. Maglunsad og mga information drive para sa pagpopularize sa Anti-Torture Law ug manguna ang probinsya sa pag-monitor sa pagpatuman niini.

c.       Indiscriminate Firing and Bombing of Civilian Communities. Suportahan ang pag-undang sa niining bawal nga ginahimo sa mga pipila nga mga miyembro sa mga kasundaluhan. Ideklara ang probinsya nga safe zone alang sa mga sibilyan.

d.      Summary Executions. Imbestigahan ang pagpangmatay sa mga pipila nga mga sibilyan ug suportahan ang pagsilot sa mga naghimo niini apil ang pagpangmatay ug panghulga sa mga miyembro sa media.

Descendants of Tabunaway, Mamalu to reaffirm Bangsamoro, Lumad unity

DAVAO CITY—Building on the rich customs and traditions of the Bangsamoro and Lumad peoples of Mindanao, some 200 leaders representing the 28 municipalities of North Cotabato will gather in Kidapawan City to reassert their unity and present their collective agenda to political candidates in the upcoming May 10 elections.

Dubbed as “Cotabato Assembly of Tabunaway and Mamalu Descendants,” the two-day event which will start on April 15 at Guadalupe Convention Center in Balindog, Kidapawan City, will tackle issues being faced by the Bangsamoro and Lumad communities in Cotabato such as war and displacement, civilian protection, environment, human rights and encroachment into our ancestral domain.

“It will be an opportunity for us—the descendants of Tabunaway and Mamalu—to collectively present our agenda before the poliitical candidates while listening to their platforms of government,” said Bapa Jose Akmad, council member of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), the assembly organizer.

“We will revisit our past and reassert our unity, being descendants of Tabunaway and Mamalu,” he added.

According to oral literature, there are two origins of indigenous inhabitants of Mindanao. Tabunaway and Mamalu are brothers. Tabunaway later converted to another religion which is Islam while Mamalu retained his original belief.

This explains why Mindanao has Lumad and Moro peoples- both indigenous and co-existing peacefully in this land. Historically while the Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao were enjoying their political governance, they remain in close relation with their ‘brothers’ on the borders of Bukidnon, Cotabato , Sarangani. Boundaries of territories are negotiated and respected.

This oral narrative gives a glimpse of identity and living in harmony. It is an important reminder on the current confusion over identity and territoriality pertaining to the aborted Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) in the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Bae Magdalena Herbilla, also a council of MPC, said leaders of the various tribes in North Cotabato are eager to know the positions of the candidates on the issues in the province and how they can address these if elected.

“One of the core issues the Lumads face is the encroachment of several corporations and personalities into our ancestral domain despite our strong opposition,” Herbilla said adding that “the electoral campaigns will provide us with a chance to exchange our views with the candidates and to know their stand on the Bangsamoro and Lumad peoples.”

The event is co-organized by the Moro Movement for Honest Elections and Good Governance. (RRF)

Women to invoke UNSC 1325 in talks between Philippine government and Moro rebel group

By JUVIE ANN GULTIANO

DAVAO CITY—Women rights advocates representing various sectors gathered here Wednesday and reaffirmed their commitment to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in finding a solution to the armed conflict in Mindanao-- a southern region besieged with two longest running rebellions in Southeast Asia.

Organized by the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) and the Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ) of the San Diego University, California the gathering dubbed as “Beyond 1325: International Update on Women’s Peacemaking Efforts,” was the first ever conference on the UN resolution on women in the Philippines. The country is a signatory to UNSC 1325 which was passed unanimously on 31 October 2000.

It is the first resolution ever passed by the Security Council that specifically addresses the impact of war on women, and women’s contributions to conflict resolution and sustainable peace.

Despite the lack of domestic adoption and awareness among many women advocates on UNSC 1325, women need to aggressively push its implementation especially after the resumption of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

A breakaway group of the Moro National Liberation Front in 1981, the MILF has entered into a formal negotiations with the Philippine government during the Ramos administration in 1997.

Aside from the MILF, Mindanao also hosts the communist insurgency in southern Philippines under the armed wing of the New People’s Army (NPA). The communists have been advocating national democratic reforms since 1968.

“Women participation in the GRP-MILF peace talks is not taking place because the male-dominated peace panels do not appreciate our role as peacemakers,” said Analisa Ugay of the Manila-based Balay Rehabilitation Center (Balay).

Ugay is one of the 60 women rights’ activists who attended the activity.

Balay is a national non-government organization that promotes civilian protection in Mindanao. It is also a member of the International Rehabilitation Councul for Victims of Torture (IRTC) and the International Society for Health and Human Rights (ISHHR).

Balay also works with MPC under the International Monitoring Team (IMT), a third party facilitator monitoring the implementation of the GRP-MILF Peace Agreement on Security which outlined the general provisions of a ceasefire in conflict affected areas. Malaysia leads the IMT contingent along with the member-countries Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, and Libya.

Dr. Dee Aker, IPJ deputy director, stressed that UNSC 1325 ensures increased representation of women at all decision making levels in national, regional, internationalinstitutions and mechanism for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflict.

“It is a binding global instrument that women in the Philippines, especially those from Mindanao, can invoke to parties concerned in the peace process,” Aker said.

During the open forum women peace advocates agreed to work for the representation and participation of women in the GRP-MILF peace talks by maximising UNSC 1325. (30)

54 families still displaced in Alamada; demand Army troops� pullout

ALAMADA, COTABATO—In response to the alarming situation of internally displaced persons in three sitios in this municipality, the Bantay Ceasefire-Sagip Sibilyan (BC-SoS) conducted field investigative mission to verify reports of civilians’ houses allegedly occupied by government troops belonging to the 68th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

In the BC-SoS report dated March 30, 2010, it was found out that there are still 54 families from sitios Manto (20 families), Panang (17 families), and Upper Teren-teren (17 families—all in Barangay Dado—who have yet to return to their places of origin. These IDPs are temporarily taking refuge in their relatives’ houses in sitio Lower Teren-teren with some families who had proceeded to Buldon, Maguindanao.

The BC-SoS response team headed by Anwar Upahm also received a complaint from its volunteer and former Kagawad Antonio Demanda of Upper Teren-Teren that his warehouse (bodega), rice andcorn mill, and solar dryer were occupied by the Philippine Army’s 68th Infantry Battalion since January 2009.

It was also found out that there were eight houses of civilians which have virtually turned into “ghost houses”as its former occupants left the place after the August 2008 armed clashes between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The owners of the houses near the Philippine Army’s detachment are Sameranao Macaoyog, Mera Abe, Sajid Abe, Abdullah Abe, Calidon Pulaos, Sala Omak, Sayson Bao-o and Mandega Maiga.

In an interview with 1Lt. Glenn Tabamo, civil military operations officer of the 68th IB, it was discovered that the government troops have a detachment in the area but he insisted that their presence in the sitio got the approval of the Dado Barangay Council.

Tabamo also claimed that when they are not in the said area, some MILF guerillas would occupy it to the disadvantage of the government soldiers and the residents.

On the request of the civilians for the soldiers to vacate the area and transfer to somewhere else that is far from the civilians’ houses, Tabamo replied: “Malabo po yan. Kasi po, yung nagku-complain ay hindi nya nakikita ang general overview. Yung report po na may bahay na inoccupy, ‘yung may-ari po mismo ng bahay na may solar dryer ‘dun..talaga pong pinahiram nya ang bahay na ‘yun para matulugan ng mga sundalo dahil nung wala pang sundalo diyan hina-harvest ng MI ang maisan nya..ngayon nandun ang sundalo nakakapag-farming na sya…nakakaharvest sya na walang gumugulo sa kanya.”

Tabamo denied the claim that there were still unreturned IDPs in the area. But when asked whether or not the residents of the houses near their post had already returned, he answered negatively.

Asked why the IDPs were not returning to their houses, he said: “Hindi ko po alam, matagal ng ok dyan. Kasi bago mag-resume ang peace talks, yun ang kaba nila dahil baka daw magkagulo, ngayong may peace talks ayaw parin nila...’
Tabamo further disclosed that the military camp in Dado, Alamada is a training camp for new soldiers but that it is no longer used for that purpose due to its being located in an interior area. But because of its strategic location in the area, the Philippine Army are determined to stay despite the strong clamor of the civilians for them to vacate the place. The 68th IB is administratively under the 2nd Infantry Division but operationally under the command of the 6th ID in Awang, DOS, Maguindanao.

Meanwhile, Pastor Joel Dinsay, BC-SoS volunteer in Alamada, revealed that the unreturned IDPs urgently need food, trapal and medicine, among others.

Bantay Ceasefire-Sagip Sibilyan (BC-SoS) volunteers, together with an international humanitarian organization based in Bangkok, initiated the field investigative mission. (30)

UN humanitarian aid mission has yet to develop concrete plan for the return to their communities of ARMM evacuees

DATU PIANG, Maguindanao, March 25 (PNA) -– The head of delegation of the United Nations–Office of the Commission on Humanitarian Aid (UN-OCHA) believes that “so much has yet to be done” in bringing back to normal the lives of thousands of evacuees currently housed in evacuation centers in this province and other troubled spots of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“We are yet to develop a good plan of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region,” said Australian Counsellor Neil McFarlane, head of delegation of the visiting 12-member UN-OCHA donor support group.

The UN-OCHA delegation primarily tasked to conduct actual inspection in evacuation centers and recommend interventions that would hasten the return of evacuees to their communities under better economic status.

Accompanying McFarlane were Geert Vansistjan of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Michael Curtis - Head of Sector DG ECHO 01; French Permanent Mission Jean Paul Seytre; Suzanne Loughlin - New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Oystein Lyngroth – Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Emma Leonard – Ireland Irish Aid; Nance Kyloh – USAID; Gi Domingo – AusAID and Nick Horne, Carmen Van Heese and Akiko Yoshida, all of OCHA.

While here, the group visited three evacuation centers in this town where partner agency World Food Program distributed its last batch of rice loaded in 11 delivery trucks for distribution to 11,752 evacuees who have recently returned home after their respective areas were cleared by state forces of Muslim rebels.

“Each evacuee-family of five would be receiving five kilos of rice and a kilo of mongo seeds for cooking as meal upon their return home today,” noted WFP National Program Officer Michael Argonza.

Over 33,000 individuals were displaced in at least 11 towns of Maguindanao, including this municipality, following the outbreak of conflict between military and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces in August 2008.

The conflict stemmed from a Supreme Court decision junking the memorandum of agreement drafted by government and MILF peace negotiators to pave the way for the inclusion of some 700 villages in Mindanao to the proposed MILF – Bangsamoro Judicial Entity under an expanded ARMM region, citing it as “unconstitutional” sans the conduct of massive consultations to the concerned areas.

To date, records provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development – ARMM indicated that as of March 23, a total of 16, 131 individuals are remain crammed in various evacuation shelters in Maguindanao.

Same report added that 5,414 displaced individuals are set to go home next month to their respective communities with the assistance of UN partner relief agencies and security cordon provided by military and police units in the area. In this town alone, some 9,000 individuals are still staying in three major evacuation sites.

During a ARMM-OCHA dialogue held Wednesday at Shariff Kabunsuan Complex, the provisional seat of the ARMM situated in this city, Regional Port Management Authority Asst. General Manager Dr. Endatun Talusan suggested before the visitors that needs a holistic approach to the perennial problem of poverty, as brought about by displacements, in the region rather than stick to the “piece-meal” scheme on addressing the situation of evacuees.

“After more than 30 years of uncertain future amidst chronic wars and displacements, our people need more than just palliatives but permanent support to cope with the rest of the country,” Talusan said. The foreign delegation vowed to tackle Talusan’s recommendation with their UN superiors and respective heads of state. (PNA) DCT/NYP

GRP-MILF talks: comprehensive pact ruled out; only interim agreement possible

By CAROLY O. ARGUILLAS/MindaNews

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/06 March) – A “significant interim agreement” can still be reached by the Philippine government (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) before the Arroyo administration which promised an “all out peace” in January 2001, ends at noon on June 30, 2010.

A press statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on March 5 quoted government peace panel chair Rafael Seguis as saying that a “significant interim agreement can still be realistically pursued” before then.

MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal told MindaNews that they have ruled out forging a comprehensive compact. “Only interim agreement is possible.”

MILF senior peace panel member Datu Michael Mastura, said the two panels “can forge an interim agreement to write a new framework on declaration of principles and interim arrangements for governance. This mechanism for transition process would tie over the peace negotiations to the next administration with timeframe, sequence, periods, during which joint task mechanism from each side could work out implementation arrangements.”

“The GRP Panel’s sincerity is never diminished by the limited time we are given… We remain committed to understanding whatever you have to say, inasmuch as we hope the MILF Panel would be committed to understand our ideas as well,” said Seguis.

Seguis said his panel is exploring every conceivable means, and exerting every possible effort, to arrive at an agreement that is “just, equitable, honorable, and acceptable to all parties.”

The two panels met on January 27 in Kuala Lumpur to exchange their respective draft comprehensive peace agreement based on previously agreed upon guidelines. No discussion was made on January 28 as the MILF refused to meet with the government panel, claiming its draft offered “enhanced autonomy” again.

The two panels agreed to meet on February 18 but this was reset to March upon the request of the MILF and because the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) advance party arrived in Mindanao.

The IMT was redeployed in Mindanao by February 28, after their mandate lapsed on November 30, 2008, following the collapse of the talks as an aftermath of the aborted signing of the already initialled Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) on August 5 that year.

The March 4 Q and A session in Kuala Lumpur “concluded on an optimistic note as the GRP is now well-clarified on the concepts and provisions in the MILF’s latest draft document,” said Seguis.

“There were no negotiations but only a question-and-answer session which was cordial and frank. The questions were direct and we got clarification on matters we wanted to know more about,” Seguis said.
Seguis said in the DFA press statement that the MILF presented its draft Declaration of Principles on Interim Governance Arrangements, an 11-page extract of its proposed Comprehensive Compact.

MILF peace panel chair Iqbal referred to it as a seven-page extract from its 38-page draft comprehensive compact. Mastura said there was a four-page annex to the seven-pager. The DFA press statement said the MILF is “proposing a transition arrangement that will convert the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) into a ‘self-governance set up.’ The present ARMM is composed of five provinces -- Sulut, Tawi-tawti, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan and two cities –Marawi in Lanao del Sur and Lamitan in Basilan. The incumbent regional officials were elected in August 2008 for a three-year term that ends September 30, 2011.

Iqbal said the ARMM has never been a product of a negotiated political settlement.

The ARMM areas, however, as both panels had earlier agreed, are the core areas for Bangsamoro self-governance -- in whatever final form it will become.

But the joint primer released in 2006 by the government and MILF peace panels assured that the elected officials of the ARMM would serve their full term as the panels also remain committed to the full implementation of the GRP-MNLF agreement of 1996.

Seguis said the government panel e GRP Panel has agreed to submit its counterproposal to the MILF draft. At the opening of the Q and A session on March 4, the Malaysian facilitator, Datuk Othman bin Abd Razak, said “we are now here to seek clarification from you as to the aspects of your drafts… Clarification only would be the purpose of this meeting and the next.”

“The positions of both sides having been clarified, we hope that in the end we will come up with an agreement that is clear, beneficial, and – this is a special concern of the GRP Panel – able to withstand any and all legal or constitutional hurdles, or hostilities, that may be thrown against it,” he added.

Seguis said the government panel’s negotiating stance proceeds from a “deserved respect and deference to the Constitution.” Seguis said the MILF acknowledged that constitutional processes should be followed with respect to proposed provisions which would require Constitutional amendments.

“Whatever differences we may have, we are of one mind that we need to preserve our gains, and to agree on a clear roadmap on how to move ahead. We are committed to finding creative ways and alternatives towards forging a peace agreement, whether in the present administration or in the next,” he said. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

Peace panels meet for Q and A session; 2 more NGOs in CPC

By Carolyn O. Arguillas

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/05 March) – The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels met Thursday at the Sheraton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur for a “Q and A” session on the seven-page extract of the 38-page draft comprehensive compact of the MILF. The panels agreed that the government peace panel will produce a draft in response to the MILF presentation, sources from both panels told MindaNews.

At the same time, the two panels approved the application of two groups -- the Cotabato City-based Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC) and the Marawi City-based Muslim Organizaon Government Officials and Professionals (MOGOP) -- for inclusion in the Civilian Protection Component (CPC).

Government peace panel chair Rafael Sequis told MindaNews by phone that “everything went very well.” “The Q and A session ended this afternoon at Sheraton Hotel with optimistic note. The MILF panel replied to the questions raised by the GRP with clarity and candidness,” Seguis said Thursday night.

But he did not elaborate on what questions the government raised and what issues the MILF answered with “clarity and candidness.” MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal described the session as “blunt,frank, and tiring.”

“Perspectives differ: GRP constitutional, MILF negotiated formula. No document signed except the admission of two NGO members of CPC,” Iqbal told MindaNews in a text message.

The Mindanao Peoples Caucus and Non-Violent Peace Force had earlier been named members of the CPC. “It was extended to afternoon. We presented and explained our draft in Power Point. Then GRP grilled us. Then separate sessions for GRP and ICG then another for MI-ICG,” Iqbal said. ICG is the International Contact Group (ICG) that was set up on December 3 and is initially composed of the United Kingdom, Japan and Turkey as member-countries and The Asia Foundation, the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, the London-based Conciliation Resources and the Indonesia-based Muhammadiyah as INGO members.

Iqbal said the ICG members were allowed to raise questions in the session after lunch. Iqbal, in his speech at the Q and A session, posted in the MILF website, said the last time they were in Kuala Lumpur was for the supposed two-day 17th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks on January 27 to 28.

“We exchanged drafts on the comprehensive compact on the first day, on January 27, but on the second day the Parties (did not meet) directly for reason all of us know. The lesson learned here is that the peace negotiation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), like all similar negotiations, has rules of engagement to follow and agreed agenda to discuss and pursue through to the end.,” he said.

Iqbal explained that since 1997, the agenda of the talks had been on how to solve the “Bangsamoro Problem.” The problem, he said, “involves a variety of social, cultural, economic and political issues and concerns,” so the task of the negotiators is “to find a political and lasting solution to this problem … with the end in view of establishing a system of life and governance suitable and acceptable to the Bangsamoro people.” “The Tripoli Agreement on Peace on June 22, 2001 entrenched this further by providing that the negotiation and peaceful resolution of the conflict must involve consultations with the Bangsamoro, free of any imposition in order to provide chances of success and open new formulas that permanently respond to the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for freedom,” Iqbal dded. He noted that there was an “almost impasse” on January 28 because government offered as its draft comprehensive compact ‘old formula’ contained in the Republic Act 6734, as amended by 9054, that established Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

But the ARMM, he said, “has never been the product of negotiation but a unilateral action of government through legislations or acts of the Philippine Congress.” He said the so-called ‘enhanced autonomy’ offered by government is nothing new as it been offered to the MILF at least three times “and each time the offer was made the MILF rejected it outright.” MindaNews recalls the first offer was made in May 2000 when peace talks resumed as government and rebel forces battled in Camp Bushra, Lanao del Sur.

The second was in February 2003, on the eve of the aerial strike on Buliok and the third, according to Iqbal, on January 27 this year. “The government also offered federal state to the MILF in April 2005 with the central government having exclusive powers over national defense, foreign relations, coinage and currency, and postal services, but the MILF rejected it simply because the government was not in a position to give it to us,” he said. The shift to a federal form of government requires constitutional amendment.

Iqbal added that the essence of the GRP draft presented in January is “contained in existing laws and policies or programs of government like strengthening of the Islamic banking, the Shariah justice system, madaris system, etc.” “Why do we have to negotiate for something which is already given; and stated more seriously, why do we have to accept something that had already caused the marginalization of the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) and the irrelevance of its leaders --- who up to now are waiting for the GRP to comply with the spirit and letter of the GRP-MNLF Final Agreement on September 2, 1996?”

The MNLF had since divided into several factions with peace pact signatory Nur Misuari now running again for Sulu governor. Misuari ran but lost the gubernatorial race in 2007. “If the peace talks is passing through a turbulent zone today --- and on the verge of signing nothing until President Arroyo’s exit on June 30, this year -- it is because the GRP is not very truthful to what is agreed by the Parties at the start of their engagement; i.e., for the MILF not to raise the issue of independence and the GRP the issue of constitution and territorial integrity.

Up to now, the MILF has not breached this commitment, and we have declared time and again that the MILF will no longer pursue independence as solution to the Bangsamoro problem in favor of an asymmetrical arrangement of a ‘state-and-substate’ arrangement. An offer of bogus autonomy is no solution at all --- and the MILF will never accept, knowing fully well that our people and the generations yet to come will suffer forever,” Iqbal said.

Iqbal said the Philipine government “has not changed its ‘inside the box’ approach as far as its reference to its Constitution is concerned, when other states, which also have constitutions, like Sudan, Ireland, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and even Canada, have already succeeded to resolve conflicts in their borders to the satisfaction of the parties. They used their constitutions as vehicles --- and not as obstacles --- to solve their conflicts. As far as the MILF is concerned, the Philippine Constitution is a contested issue. We view this constitution as an instrument of perpetuation of the ruler-and-ruled relationship between the majority Filipinos and minoritized Moros. We have never been part of the decision-making since we were annexed as part of the Republic of the Philippines in 1946. Our part of Mindanao has continued to shrink and shrink, while our natural wealth is being carted away by outsiders without a share of the profit for our people,” Iqbal added.

Seguis was sought for comment but had not responded as of press time. Iqbal recalled that in their joint statement on July 29, 2009, the first time the parties met again after the aborted August 5, 2008 signing of the then already initialed Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), they agreed to “acknowledge the MOA-AD as an unsigned and yet initialed document and they also committed to reframe the consensus points with the end in view of moving towards the comprehensive compact to bring about a negotiated political settlement.”

“The MILF indeed reframed the consensus points in both its 38-page draft on comprehensive compact and the seven-page paper on the Interim Governance Arrangement, while the GRP is so scared even to mention the word MOA-AD in its draft. Why is this so, after agreeing to that MOA-AD reframing?” Iqbal asked.

In closing, Iqbal said that “if some of my statements are blunt and direct, it is not my intention to hurt the feelings of people especially my honorable counterparts from the government headed by Ambassador Rafael Seguis. It is my way of bringing my message clearly as possible.”

The two panels were supposed to have met February 18 to 19 but this was reset to March. MindaNews asked Seguis in late January on his panel’s alleged offer of the ARMM to the MILF but Seguis told MindaNews in a text message, “no substantive talks yet. Not in that context!”

In his January 28 press statement, Seguis clarified “there is no agreement yet” with the MILF. “Both sides are still in the early stages of discussing each other’s position papers,” he said. Though not explaining what kind of political package it was offering the MILF, Seguis in his press statement said the government’s draft peace agreement is “compliant with the Constitution and pertinent laws” and is “also guided by the Supreme Court decision on the aborted MOA-AD” Seguis said the government’s 2010 draft peace agreement “mostly identifies executive ‘doables’, proposed legislative actions to strengthen regional autonomy, and openness to hear MILF proposals for constitutional change.”

“The GRP draft is clear that discussions that will concern legislative and other policy actions will still be proposals which would be submitted to Congress,” he said. “There is no mention of any ‘Bangsa Moro’ sub-state in our draft,” Seguis added. Iqbal told MindaNews the MILF has proposed a “State – Sub-state relationship” that would require amending the 1987 Constitution’s Article 10, Section 15-21. Sections 15 to 21 of Article 10 on Local Government, focus on the autonomous regions. In the 1987 Constitution, these sections provided for the creation of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras but only the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao has been created. The Cordillera region has remained an administrative region.

The arrangement, Iqbal said, would be “similar to Sarawak” in Malaysia. Malaysia has a federal form of government. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

'Bakwits' demand security and life support package

February 25, 2010 - Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maguindanao and Central Mindanao identified security and life support package as their major concerns during a forum initiated by Oxfam, a Great Britain-based international NGO with their local partner non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Kadtuntanya Foundation Inc. (KFI), Mindanao Tulong Bakwet (MTB) and A Single Drop of SafeWater(ASDSW) held in Cotabato City yesterday.

The forum was organized for the IDPs to push for their concerns, demands and recommendations to government and non-government entities while still taking shelter at evacuation centers and makeshifts.

IDPs cited uncertainty on security at their places of origin considering that there is no agreement yet between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Apart from this, they expressed hesitation to go home due to ‘rido’ or clan wars which were goaded after the Ampatuan massacre on November 23, 2009 being aggravated by the series of joint AFP-PNP raids and operations against the alleged perpetrators of the massacre that brought fear to the IDPs.

IDPs voiced apprehension and fear on the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and UXO explosions in Maguindanao. The latest incident UXO explosion was last February 17 that resulted to the deaths of three civilians in barangay Tawan-Tawan, Kabingi, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguidanao. On December 05, 2009, one 7-year old girl was wounded when the UXO she found at the river vicinity of Reina Regente in Datu Piang exploded.

Major Carlos Sol, Jr. of the government ceasefire committee, who was a resource person, assured IDPs that the government is committed to the ceasefire and ongoing peace negotiation between the GRP and the MILF. On the issue of UXO he cited a pending Joint Mines Clearance Action with the Foundation Suisse De Dominage (FSD) and Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmies (PCBL). On this note,Sol also stressed that the joint mines clearance campaign is part of the larger peace process between the government and MILF.

Major Sol pointed out AFP’s actions on the UXOs, even as he said IDPs will not be allowed to return home if there are still UXOs in the conflict affected areas especially in farmlands. For some IDPs in the forum, they have mentioned about the absence of consultation on programs for their rehabilitation. They said they were not consulted on the issue of return yet rather their access cards were stamped ‘returned’. This had pushed them to go back to their places of origins for economic reason as they did not received food rations since then.

The issue was acknowledged by the humanitarian NGOs and told IDPs that they were discussing it in the protection working group (PWG), an inter-NGO cluster on humanitarian protection. However, there was no response from the local government units or provincial social welfare office on this concern.

Moreover, IDPs asked livelihood assistance from concerned institutions intended as they go back to their places of origin or if they decide to stay at the relocation centers while waiting for the agreement between the GRP and MILF.

Start-up capital, farm and fishing equipments were identified by the IDPs to help them build their lives. Further, IDPs reminded the government social welfare department and local governments to provide return package or ‘pabaon’ for those who have gone home and are planning to return home.

Indemnification or reconstruction of houses that have been burnt and damaged during the height of armed conflict in 2008 was also stated by the IDPs in the forum. Accordingly, more than 2000 houses owned by civilians were burned down by government forces.

The humanitarian NGOs expressed their determination to continue their assistance and find ways to help facilitate the needs and demands of the IDPs mentioned under the two major concerns especially on the life support.

The said forum was participated by IDP leaders in IDP camps, house-based, and IDPs sheltering at the relocations sites in Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Talayan, Datu Piang, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Ampatuan, Guindolongan and Datu Odin Sinsuat.

Local government officials to include Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers and international organizations such as World Food Programme, IOM, ACF, CFSI, and Nonviolent Peaceforce were also present in the forum. (www.luwaran.com)