GRP-MILF Joint Communique

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: GRP-MILF Joint Communique
Date: 7 Aug 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: Atty. Jesus G. Dureza, GRP Peace Panel Chairman;
Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim, MILF Peace Panel Chairman
Third parties: -
Description: Joint communication that parties have agreed guidelines for cessation of hostilities, to normalize the situation in conflict areas and initiate humanitarian relief. They also prohibit all public pronouncements that will tend to undermine the sincerity or credibility of both parties in waging peace, and invite the religious sector, NGOs, Local Government Unit Representatives, and the OIC, specifically Libya, Malaysia, and Indonesia, to monitor the ceasefire and the implementation of all agreements.

Agreement document: PH_010807_GRP-MILF Joint Communique.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, Paragraph 5 -- Towards this end, the war of bullets and words shall cease, and the parties shall follow the road to peace through earnest and principled negotiations. This will accord the Bangsamoro people permanent spaces for peace, self-reliance and development.
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): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 1, Paragraph 6 -- To prove the sincerity of both sides, the implementation of the ceasefire is open for all the people and the world to witness. Local monitoring teams shall include representative of Local Government Units, Non-Governmental Organization and the religious sector. Representative of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), especially Malaysia, Libya and Indonesia, have been invited to observe and monitor the ceasefire as well as the implementation of all agreements.
Traditional/religious leaders: Page 1, Paragraph 6 -- To prove the sincerity of both sides the implementation of the ceasefire is open for all the people and the world to witness. Local monitoring teams shall include representatives of Local Government Units, Non-Governmental Organizations and the religious sector. Representative of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), especially Malaysia, Libya and Indonesia, have been invited to observe and monitor the ceasefire as well as the implementation of all agreements.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Other
Page 1, Paragraph 9 -- The Panels agreed to hold their next round of talks within September 2001 to discuss the remaining agenda items on rehabilitation, development and ancestral domain.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

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: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
Page 1, Paragraph 4 -- The guidelines not only silence the guns for the peace of mind of the people. They also prohibit all public pronouncements that will tend to undermine the sincerity or credibility of both parties in waging peace.

Page 1, Paragraph 5 -- Towards this end, the war of bullets and words shall cease, and the parties shall follow the road to peace through earnest and principled negotiations. This will accord the Bangsamoro people permanent spaces for peace, self-reliance and development.
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, Paragraph 2 -- Under the guidelines, the parties have agreed to normalize the situation in the conflict areas in Mindanao and pave the way for the successful conduct of relief, rehabilitation and development programs.

Page 1, Paragraph 5 -- Towards this end, the war of bullets and words shall cease, and the parties shall follow the road to peace through earnest and principled negotiations. This will accord the Bangsamoro people permanent spaces for peace, self-reliance and development.

Page 1, Paragraph 7 -- In this spirit, the Panels express their appreciation and recognition of the noble efforts of H.E. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, H.E. Prime Minister Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohammad and the Great Leader Col. Muammar Khaddafy of the Arab Socialist Libyan Jamahiryah for advancing the case of lasting peace, development and stability of the region.

Page 1, Paragraph 9 -- The Panels agreed to hold their next round of talks within September 2001 to discuss the remaining agenda items on rehabilitation, development and ancestral domain.
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→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, Paragraph 1 -- The Peace Panels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) today signed a set of guidelines for the cessation of hostilities during the state visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Kuala Lumpur.

Page 1, Paragraph 3 -- The guidelines implement an Agreement for Peace entered into by the parties in Tripoli, Libya on June 22, 2001. These prohibit hostile and provocative acts, harbouring of criminals and lawless elements and all other acts than endanger the safety and security of the people in Mindanao.

Page 1,Paragraph 4 -- The guidelines not only silence the guns for the peace of mind of the people. They also prohibit all public pronouncements that will tend to undermine the sincerity or credibility of both parties in waging peace.

Page 1, Paragraph 5 -- Towards this end, the war of bullets and words shall cease, and the parties shall follow the road to peace through earnest and principled negotiations. This will accord the Bangsamoro people permanent spaces for peace, self-reliance and development.

Page 1, Paragraph 6 -- To prove the sincerity of both sides, the implementation of the ceasefire is open for all the people and the world to witness. Local monitoring teams shall include representative of Local Government Units, Non-Governmental Organization and the religious sector. Representative of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), especially Malaysia, Libya and Indonesia, have been invited to observe and monitor the ceasefire as well as the implementation of all agreements.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: Page 1, Paragraph 3 -- The guidelines implement an Agreement for Peace entered into by the parties in Tripoli, Libya on June 22, 2001. These prohibit hostile and provocative acts, harbouring of criminals and lawless elements and all other acts than endanger the safety and security of the people in Mindanao.
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: Page 1, Paragraph 6 -- To prove the sincerity of both sides, the implementation of the ceasefire is open for all the people and the world to witness. Local monitoring teams shall include representative of Local Government Units, Non-Governmental Organization and the religious sector. Representative of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), especially Malaysia, Libya and Indonesia, have been invited to observe and monitor the ceasefire as well as the implementation of all agreements.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: http://www.c-r.org/sites/default/files/06s_0Mindanao%20supplement_2003_ENG_F.pdf

GRP-MILF

Joint Communique

The Peace Panels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) today signed a set of guidelines for the cessation of hostilities during the state visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Kuala Lumpur.

Under the guidelines, the parties have agreed to normalize the situation in the conflict areas in Mindanao and pave the way for the successful conduct of relief, rehabilitation and development programs.

The guidelines implement an Agreement for Peace entered into by the parties in Tripoli, Libya on June 22, 2001.

These prohibit hostile and provocative acts, harbouring of criminals and lawless elements and all other acts that endanger the safety and security of the people in Mindanao.

The guidelines not only silence the guns for the peace of mind of the people.

These also prohibit all public pronouncements that will tend to undermine the sincerity or credibility of both parties in waging peace.

Toward this end, the war of bullets and of words shall cease, and the parties shall follow the road to peace through earnest and principled negotiations.

This will accord the Bangsamoro people permanent spaces for peace, selfreliance and development.

To prove the sincerity of both sides the implementation of the ceasefire is open for all the people and the world to witness.

Local monitoring teams shall include representatives of Local Government Units, Non-Governmental Organizations and the religious sector.

Representative of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), especially Malaysia, Libya and Indonesia, have been invited to observe and monitor the ceasefire as well as the implementation of all agreements.

In this spirit, the Panels express their appreciation and recognition of the noble efforts of H.E. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, H.E. Prime Minister Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohammad and the Great Leader Col.

Muammar Khaddafy of the Arab Socialist Libyan Jamahiryah for advancing the case of lasting peace, development and stability of the region.

The Panels agreed to hold their next round of talks within September 2001 to discuss the remaining agenda items on rehabilitation, development and ancestral domain.

August 7, 2001

Atty.

Jesus G. Dureza, GRP Peace Panel Chairman

Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim, MILF Peace Panel Chairman