ADBULBASIT R. BENITOExecutive DirectorBangsamoro Center For Just Peace

“CIVIL SOCIETY BRIEFING” Perspective on Peace, Conflict and the ASEAN Hotel Akmani, Jakarta,

IndonesiaMay 26, 2010

MINDANAO

THE CASE

OF

MINDANAO

PERSPECTIVE

ON CONFILC

T IN

MINDANAO

COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES(CPP/NPA)(ideology based)

ABU SAYYAF/JEMAAH ISLAMIYA (JI)(terrorist)

CRIMINAL ELEMENTS(criminality)

POLITICAL WARLORDS(election related conflicts)

GOVERMENTFORCES

MORO NATIONAL/ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT(MNLF)(sovereignty based)

SCOPE OF PRESENTATION

GRP – MILF CONFLICT

GRP MILF

PERSPECTIVES ON PEACE

PEACE THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION OF THE

MORO PEOPLE

PEACEFUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

OF THE MORO TO DETERMINE THEIR

POLITICAL STATUS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO

RESOLVE THE CONFLICT

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT OF ANCESTRAL DOMAIN

(MOA-AD)

• The initialed but unsigned documents of the Government Peace Panel and the MILF Panels on

July 27, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

• Restores self-determination and sovereignty of the Bangsamoro People in their own homeland.

AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO

(ARMM)

• was created through legislation via Republic Act No. 9054.

• Was imposed on the MNLF that has absolutely no participation in its creation in the case of the

Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE)

• It was even agreed that the GRP will work out for MOA – AD legitimacy .

UNPLEASESANT EXPERIENCES OF THE BANGSAMORO PEOPLE

STRONG BIAS & PREJUDICE OF THE

CHRISTIAN MAJORITY TOWARDS THE MUSLIMS

Filipinas Foundation Study (1973)

• Muslim-Filipinos were the “least likeable” ethnic group.

• 54% of respondents had unfavorable comments towards Muslims

Minoritization of the Bangsamoro in their own homeland

• In 1918, the Muslims were dominant in Mindanao but government settlement and development programs reduced them, together with the Indigenous peoples, minority in their homeland.

Philippine Human Development Report (2005)• 33% to 39% of Filipinos are biased against Muslims

• 46% of Christian population would choose Christian male worker and 40% Christian female domestic helper. Only 4% will choose a Muslim male worker and 7% Muslim female domestic helper.

• In Metro Manila 57 percent opt for residence with higher rent but far from a Muslim community.

TRIGGERS THE ARMED CONFLICT

DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW.

THE BANGSAMORO STRUGGLE

TRIGGERS THE ARMED CONFLICT

Ilonggo Land Grabbers Association (ILAGA),

government backed Anti - Muslim Militia

THE BANGSAMORO STRUGGLE

FAILURE OF GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER BASIC SERVICES &

NEEDED DEVELOPMENT

Muslim areas continue to suffer the highest poverty incidence.

CONFLICT RESULTED TO:

• 50,000 deaths of civilian and uniformed men.

• 2 million refugees wallowing in evacuation camps.

• 35 cities and towns destroyed.

• 535 mosques destroyed.

• 200 schools.

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT SPEND

• 76 Billion from 1970-1996

• 6 million in 2000 all-out war against MILF

• $2 Billion to $3 Billion from 1970-2001.

ECONOMIC OUTPUT LOST

• Economist peg the war cost was about 5 Billion to 7.5 Billion annually

THE EFFECT

There has been an incentive for many to join vigilante groups because the private provision of security is without effective public oversight.

There is inadequate security because of weak rule of law and more blatantly ignored the numerous human rights violation

SECURITY

THE EFFECT

It hampers transparency in running the affairs of the government.

It hinders eradication of corruption and toughens political patronage

GOVERNANCE

CONFLICT

Is being used as an excuse for the inefficient delivery of social services

DEVELOPMENT

It slows down economic development in conflict affected areas Continuous destruction of infrastructures and disincentive to

investments that are needed for the job.

AUGUST 2008

there were about 600 thousand displaced civilians that were extremely affected by the conflict. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center says “it was the biggest displacement transpired in Mindanao since

the fighting”.

IN ORDER TO STOP THE CONFLICT

CSO’s advocated a peaceful solution

The Bangsamoro People possess the right of self-

determination .

CSO’s ADVOCATING

The BANGSAMORO CIVIL SOCIETY was calling for referendum:

To be free and independent To maintain the status quo of political relationship

To have a federal arrangement

To have a free association relationship,

or any other power sharing arrangement.

CSO’s ADVOCATING

The forefront of this advocacy are:

The Bangsamoro People’s Consultative Assembly (BPCA)

The Sultanate of Maguindanao

The Mindanao People’s Peace Movement (MPPM)

Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain

Ancestral Domain of the Bangsamoro people flowing from such agreed facts on the territory, resources, and governance, and its

concept principles, including the history of the Bangsamoro people.

Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain

• Some Bangsamoro CSOs wanted the GRP-MILF to have an INTERIM

AGREEMENT summarizing the “The Gains of the Peace Process”

for last 13 years of talks

CSOs continue to Advocate & Put Forward Peaceful Resolution of Conflict

• Support to the GRP-MILF Peace Process• Deployment of the Malaysian led

International Monitoring Team• Internationalization of the Peace

Process – Formation of the International Contact Group (ICG)

• Formation of the Civilian Protection Component

• Constitutional Change to Fit the Peace Agreement

The UN Supervise Referendum Advocacy

Advocates

• The Bangsamoro People Consultative Assembly

• The Sultanate of Maguindanao• The Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement

• Bangsamoro Women Assembly

CSOs on the Forefront of the MOA – AD of the GRP-MILF

Peacetalks

• Mindanao Alliance for Peace (MAP)• Mindanao People Caucus (MPC)

• Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society

- is a solidarity network of Bangsamoro non-government organizations, people's organizations (NGOs/POs) and other civil society organizations (CSOs).

- To respond to the need of enhancing & capacitating the leaders & members .towards advocacy on human rights & justice, peace & conflict transformation, good governance & responsible leadership, development thru social empowerment & on Bangsamoro right to self-determination

Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society

- the largest CSO of Moro NGOs & Pos .

- Conferential body engenders cooperation, collaboration and coordination among Moro CSOs in facing challenges of creating a peaceful, pluralists and just society

Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society

The major program is the Peace, Governance and Human Rights (PGHR) Program. Center on the campaign & Advocacy namely:

a. Human Rights & Justice (HRJ).b. Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation (PCT).c. Good Governance & Responsible Leadership (GG-RL).d. Research, Documentation, Publication & Information

(RDPI).e. The Human Resource & Development (HRD).f. Disaster Management & Rehabilitation (DMR).g. Care for Peace.

In October 2007, CBCS questioned the Presidential Republic Act 9372 (Human

Security Act of 2007

In February 2008, CBCS questioned the Balikatan US – RP

Joint Military Exercises

CBCS Mindanao Peace

Process

In August 2008, when the Philippine Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order against the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Philippine government and the MILF in Malaysia, the CBCS was one of the civil society groups which separately filed motions for reconsideration.

In May 2008, the CBCS was among the civil society groups which expressed concerns over the withdrawal of the Malaysian contingent from the international monitoring team which oversees the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In October 2008, about 500 members of the CBCS staged a peaceful rally in Marawi City, calling on the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Conference to intervene and mediate to end the war in Mindanao and intercede for the just resolution of the Bangsamoro struggle for the right to self-determination.

CBCS ONARMM & 2010

National & Local Elections

CBCS is advocating for the Electoral Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The CBCS was one of the civil society groups which closely monitored the 2010 National & Elections in May 21010

Main Calls/Messages

Peaceful Resolution of Conflict in Mindanao, they are supporting the GRP MILF Peace process.

For the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to honor its commitment to peace; honor and respect the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain

Presumed President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to avoid going back to square one on the GRP-MILF peacetalks but will do well be re-starting the talks from the July 29, 2009 four-point GRP-MILF Joint Statement

WHAT CIVIL SOCIETY IS OPPOSING?

Violent resolution of Conflict (Political Solution, Not Militarization Solution).

Constitutional framework of the peace process. (Government must

creative enough in finding new formula, Think Out of the Box)

THANK YOU!!!

“Peace”Wassalam!!!