Agreement on the General Framework for the Resumption of Peace Talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Agreement on the General Framework for the Resumption of Peace Talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Date: 24 Mar 2001
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: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Philippines - Mindanao process
Parties: For the GRP: Eduardo R. Ermita, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines; For the MILF: Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, MILF Panel Chairman
Third parties: -
Description: Parties reaffirm earlier ceasefire agreements and commit to resume stalled peace negotiations immediately after signing the agreement until reaching a resolution of the Bangsamoro problem. MILF to organize its own Peace Panel to meet with GRP counterpart, and will reciprocate the GRP's suspension of military operations.

Agreement document: PH_010324_Agreement for Resumption of Peace Talks.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: Groups→Indigenous people→Rhetorical
Page 1, Preamble
Recognizing the need to resume their stalled peace talks in order to end the armed hostilities between then and achieve a negotiated political settlement of the conflict in Mindanao and of the Bangsamoro problem, thereby promoting peace and stability in this part of the world;

Page 1, Preamble
Determined to pursue a solution to the Bangsamoro problem with honor, justice and dignity for all concern;

Page 1, Article I
The Parties agree to resume the stalled peace negotiations immediately after the signing of this Agreement, and continue the same from where it had stopped before April 27, 2000 until they shall have reached a negotiated political settlement of the Bangsamoro problem.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 2, Article VI
To pave the way for the immediate normalization of the situation in Mindanao, the Parties agree to undertake relief and rehabilitation measure for evacuees, and joint development projects in the conflict affected areas.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: Gender→Men and boys→Other
Page 1, Preamble
Holding a common belief that the resumption of the peace negotiation should go hand in hand with relief, rehabilitation and development efforts in the men affected by the armed conflict;
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): No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 2, Article VII
The Parties commit themselves to negotiate with sincerity and mutual trust, justice and freedom, and respect for their identity, culture and aspirations of all peoples of Mindanao.
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: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, Preamble
Aware of the need to create an atmosphere conducive to the resumption of the peace negotiation through the normalization of the situation of the communities affected by armed conflict in Mindanao;

Page 1, Preamble
Acknowledging the ascendancy of moral and spiritual development as the primary foundation of socio-economic and political development of all the people in Mindanao;

Page 1, Preamble
Holding a common belief that the resumption of the peace negotiation should go hand in hand with relief, rehabilitation, and development efforts in the men affected by the armed conflict;

Page 2, Article VI
To pave the way for the immediate normalization of the situation in Mindanao, the Parties agree to undertake relief and rehabilitation measure for evacuees, and joint development projects in the conflict affected areas.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1, Preamble
Recognizing the need to resume their stalled peace talks in order to end the armed hostilities between then and achieve a negotiated political settlement of the conflict in Mindanao and of the Bangsamoro problem, thereby promoting peace and stability in this part of the world;

Page 1, Preamble
Aware of the need to create an atmosphere conducive to the resumption of the peace negotiation through the normalization of the situation of the communities affected by armed conflict in Mindanao;

Page 1, Preamble
Noting the Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities entered into by the Parties on July 18, 1997 and the General Framework of Agreement of Intent between the Parties dated August 27, 1998;

Page 1, Preamble
Holding a common belief that the resumption of the peace negotiation should go hand in hand with relief, rehabilitation, and development efforts in the men affected by the armed conflict;

Page 1, Article I
The Parties agree to resume the stalled peace negotiations immediately after the signing of this Agreement, and continue the same from where it had stopped before April 27, 2000 until they shall have reached a negotiated political settlement of the Bangsamoro problem.

Page 2, Article III
In conjunction with its formation of its Peace Panel, the MILF shall reciprocate the GRP's Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) with the declaration of its own SOMO.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 2, Article III
In conjunction with its formation of its Peace Panel, the MILF shall reciprocate the GRP's Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) with the declaration of its own SOMO.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 2, Article II
The MILF shall organize its own Peace Panel forthwith to meet with its GRP counterpart, and this shall be announced to the public at the soonest time possible.

Page 2, Article III
In conjunction with its formation of its Peace Panel, the MILF shall reciprocate the GRP's Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) with the declaration of its own SOMO.
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: UN Peacemaker http://peacemaker.un.org/philippines-resumptiontalks2001

IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST BENEFICENT, MOST MERCIFUL AGREEMENT ON THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE RESUMPTION OF PEACE TALKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), herein after referred to as the Parties:

Recognizing the need to resume their stalled peace talks in order to end the armed hostilities between then and achieve a negotiated political settlement of the conflict in Mindanao and of the Bangsamoro problem, thereby promoting peace and stability in this part of the world;

Aware of the need to create an atmosphere conducive to the resumption of the peace negotiation through the normalization of the situation of the communities affected by armed conflict in Mindanao;

Noting the Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities entered into by the Parties on July 18, 1997 and the General Framework of

Agreement of Intent between the Parties dated August 27, 1998;

Determined to pursue a solution to the Bangsamoro problem with honor, justice and dignity for all concern;

Acknowledging the ascendancy of moral and spiritual development as the primary foundation of socio-economic and political development of all the people in Mindanao;

Holding a common belief that the resumption of the peace negotiation should go hand in hand with relief, rehabilitation and development efforts in the men affected by the armed conflict;

Hereby agree as follows:

Article I

The Parties agree to resume the stalled peace negotiations immediately after the signing of this Agreement, and continue the same from where it had stopped before April 27, 2000 until they shall have reached a negotiated political settlement of the Bangsamoro problem.

Article II

The MILF shall organize its own Peace Panel forthwith to meet with its GRP counterpart, and this shall be announced to the public at the soonest time possible.

Article III

In conjunction with its formation of its Peace Panel, the MILF shall reciprocate the GRP’s Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) with the declaration of its own SOMO.

Article IV

The Parties commit to honor, respect and implement all past agreements and other supplementary agreements signed by them.

Details of implementation shall be discussed by the Panels.

Article V

The Parties shall agree to hold the first formal meeting of their panels at a mutually agreed venue within three months from the signing of

this agreement.

Article VI

To pave the way for the immediate normalization of the situation in Mindanao, the Parties agree to undertake relief and rehabilitation measures for evacuees, and joint development projects in the conflict affected areas.

Article VII

The Parties commit themselves to negotiate with sincerity and mutual trust, justice and freedom, and respect for their identity, culture and

aspirations of all peoples of Mindanao.

Article VIII

The Parties express their gratitude for the gracious hospitality of the Government of Malaysia in hosting and facilitating the dialogue that

has resulted in this Agreement.

Done in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this 24th Day of March 2001.