Communique on the Tripartite Meeting between the GRP, the MNLF and the OIC

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Communique on the Tripartite Meeting between the GRP, the MNLF and the OIC
Date: 12 Nov 2007
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Philippine Insurgencies (1968 - )
The Maoist Insurgencies (1968 - )

Philippines-NDF

The Philippines have been defined by a series of center-periphery and often ideologically Maoist, separatist insurgencies. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), began its war against the central Philippine government in 1968 through their armed wing – the New People’s Army (NPA). Further legitimacy was gained through the establishment of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in 1973. Grievances were predominantly opposed to the corruption and repression under the authoritarian Marcos regime.

Philippines-Cordillera

With the overthrow of Marcos’ regime in 1986, the CPP factionalized further to take on more localized characteristics. The Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) broke away from the NDF in 1986 to focus on the protection of the Cordilleran people and land in northern Luzon. Hostilities were formally ended in July 2011, with an agreement signed between the central government, the CPLA and the Cordillera Bodong Administration (CBA) that allowed for the absorption of CPLA fighters into the Philippine Army and the re-working of the CBA-CPLA into a socio-development organisation.

Philippines-RPM-P

Meanwhile, purge among the CPP in the early 1990s, encouraged the formation of a parallel party, the Revolutionary Workers Party (RPM-P). Their armed wing, the Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) which had carried out a number of assassinations during the 1980s at the bequest of the CPP, followed suit and allied themselves with the RPM-P in 1997 forming the (RPM-P-RPA-ABB). Severely weakened by the split with the CPP and with the arrest of several key figures, the RPM-P-RPA-ABB signed a peace agreement in December 2000, which encouraged the RPM-P’s branch in Mindanao to break away in 2001.

The CPP-NPA has only participated in intermittent talks with the government. Talks halted in 2004 when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration sought closer ties with the U.S. in the war on terror and added the CPP-NPA to the list of terrorist organisations, renewing violence. Following the launch of a counter-insurgency by the Philippine government, negotiations have been further delayed due to suspected internal differences between the CPP ‘old guard’ and younger members.

The Moro Insurgency (1968 - )

Philippines-Mindanao

The Moro Insurgency began in 1968, in Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago after the killing of Moro Commandos, the so-called Jabidah Massacre, by the Philippine Army following a plot to invade Sabah province in Malaysia. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) captured a swath of territory in the mid-1970s. In an attempt to stem the violence, the constitution was reformed and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was created 1990 granting a devolution of power to the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Following the establishment of the ARMM, the MNLF splintered into a range of smaller groups including Islamic factions such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayef Goup (ASG). The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed in 2014.
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Philippines - Mindanao process
Parties: Parties include: the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Third parties: Meeting chaired by Representative of Indonesia, Rezlan I. Jenie, acting as a facilitator.
Description: Communique on the meeting between the Parties to review the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the GRP and MNLF, and assess the progress made as well as the obstacles to its implementation. Agreed topics to discuss were the Shari'ah and Judiciary, Special Regional Security Force and the Unified Command for the Autonomous Region in Mindanao, Natural Resources and Development Issues, Political System and Representation, and Education.

Agreement document: PH_071112_Communique on GRP-MNLF-OIC.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 2, After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics:
4. Political System and Representations;

[...]

The Working Groups shall have the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation of the Peace Agreement forward.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: Power sharing→Military power sharing→Joint command structures
Page 2, After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics:
2. Special Regional Security Force and the Unified Command for the Autonomous Region in Mindanao;

[...] The Working Groups shall have the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation of the Peace Agreement forward.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: Page 2, After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics:
1. Shari'ah and Judiciary;
[...]

The Working Groups shall have the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation of the Peace Agreement forward.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: Page 2, After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics:
1. Shari'ah and Judiciary;
[...] The Working Groups shall have the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation of the Peace Agreement forward.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 2, After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics:
3. Natural Resources and Economic Development Issues;
5. Education
[...] The Working Groups shall have the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation of the Peace Agreement forward.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: Page 2, After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics:
3. Natural Resources and Economic Development Issues;
[...] The Working Groups shall have the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation of the Peace Agreement forward.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 2, After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics:
[...]
2. Special Regional Security Force and the Unified Command for the Autonomous Region in Mindanao;
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 2, After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics:
2. Special Regional Security Force and the Unified Command for the Autonomous Region in Mindanao;

[...] The Working Groups shall have the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation of the Peace Agreement forward.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 2, After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics:
2. Special Regional Security Force and the Unified Command for the Autonomous Region in Mindanao;

[...] The Working Groups shall have the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation of the Peace Agreement forward.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
https://www.scribd.com/document/167577799/1st-Communique-Tripartite-Meeting-Jeddah-Nov-11-12-2007

COMMUNIQUE Tripartite Meeting between the GRP, MNLF and OIC Jeddah, 10 -12 November 2007

In implementation of the OIC Resolution No.

2/33-MM of the 33rd ICFM held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, in June 2006, the Tripartite Meeting between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) was convened on 10-12 November 2007 in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The OIC has called for the convening of this meeting in order to preserve the gains achieved through the 1996 Peace Agreement.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary General of the OIC noted that the Peace Agreement ended long years of bloodshed and turmoil and opened a road that was full of hopes and great expectations.

However, obstacles impeded its full implementation.

The meeting was chaired by H.E. Ambassador Re/Ian I. Jenie, Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, in his capacity as the Chairman of the OIC Peace Committee for the Southern Philippines (PCSP), and attended by its Members namely, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, Republic of Indonesia, the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, the Republic of Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Senegal and the OIC Peace Envoy for Southern Philippines.

The Delegation of the GRP was headed by Under Secretary Nabil A. Tan, Deputy Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Delegation of the MNLF was headed by MNLF Legal Adviser, Attorney Randolph Parcasio.

The meeting adopted its agenda composed of one substantial item, namely to review the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the GRP and MNLF, assessment of progress made and obstacles to its implementation.

After three days of intensive discussions, the Meeting agreed to establish 5 (five) Joint Working Groups on the following topics.

1 Shari'ah and Judiciary;

2 Special Regional Security Force and the Unified Command for the Autonomous Region in Mindanao;

3 Natural Resources and Economic Development Issues;

4 Political System and Representation;

5 Education.

The Working Groups shall have the mandate to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation of the Peace Agreement forward.

Each Working Group will be composed of 3 (three) experts from both the GRP and the MNLF.

The Meetings of the Working Group will be attended by representatives from the Members of the OIC PCSP as facilitators.

Each Joint Working Group is expected to submit its first progress reports to the Tripartite Meeting through the OIC by 10 January 2008.

The report will be considered at the next Tripartite Meeting to be convened on 14 January 2008 in a place to be decided later.

At the end of the Meeting the delegates of GRP and MNLF expressed their thanks to the OIC for convening this Tripartite Meeting and the good arrangements.

They reconfirmed their full commitment for the success of the peace process in Southern Philippines.