Joint Statement - 6th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks (December 21 2004)

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Joint Statement - 6th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks (December 21 2004)
Date: 21 Dec 2004
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: Silvestre C. Afable, Jr., GRP Panel Chair;
Mogagher Iqbal, MILF Panel Chair
Third parties: -
Description: Agreement by the GRP and MILF Panels informing on the 6th Round of GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks, in which both Parties reaffirmed their commitment to the peace process with the facilitation of the Malaysian Government, acknowledged the significant contribution of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), and adopted a set up interim guidelines to immediately operationalize the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG). Additionally, the Parties agreed to prepare for upcoming discussion on Ancestral Domain, with the next round of informal talks scheduled for the beginning of February, 2005.

Agreement document: PH_041221_Joint Statement.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): 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: Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Other
Page 1, [...] In preparation for the discussion on the Ancestral Domain aspect of the GRP-MILF peace process in the formal peace talks, both Parties agree to activate their respective technical committees into four technical working groups (TWG) to meet and draw up a working paper to be presented to both Panels.
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: 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: No specific mention.
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, [...] Both sides acknowledge the significant contribution of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in strengthening further the ongoing ceasefire on the ground. The Parties express their appreciation for participation of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Libya in the IMT.
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: 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: GRP-MILF Peace Process: Compilation of Signed Agreements & other related Documents (1997-2010); (MILF Peace Panel/Asia Foundation, 2010), p. 146.

JOlNT STATEMENT

The 6th Round of GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks successfully concluded today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with both sides reaffirming their commitnent to the peace process being hosted and facilitated by the Malaysian Government.

Both sides acknowledge the significant contnoution of the International Monitoring Team (lMT) in strengthening further the ongoing ceasefire on the ground.

The Parties express their appreciation for participation of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Libya in the lMT.

To implement the Joint Communique signed by the GRP and MILF Peace Panels on 06 May 2002, both Parties adopted a set of interim guidelines to immediately operationalize the Ad Hoc Joint Action ground (AHJAG).

The interim guidelines wilt be inunediately enforced although these will be formally adopted in the next round of the formal talks.

Likewise, the Parties jointly signed the guidelines to govern the accreditation, participation and conduct of observers to the GRP-MILF Formal Talks.

In preparation for the discussion on the Ancestral Domain aspect of the GRP-MlLF peace process in the formal peace talks, both Parties agree to activate their respective technical committees into four technical working groups (TWG) to meet and draw up a working paper to be presented to both Panels.

The Panels agreed that the next round of informal talks be scheduled tentatively on the 1st week of February 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Both sides extend their deep gratitude for the Malaysian Government's continuing key role as third party facilitator tn the achievement of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Mindanao.

The GRP delegation was composed of Panel Chair Sec.

Silvestre C. Afable.

Jr., Usec.

Rodolfo Garcia.,

Gov. Pax Mangudndatu, Prof. Rudy Rodil, Ms Sylvta Paraguya, BGen.

Alexander Yano, Atty.

Leah Armamento, Mr. Ryan Mark Sullivan and Ms Jeannie Claire Laruan.

The MILF

delegation was composed of Panel Chair Mr. Mohagher M. Iqbal, Attorney Lanang S. Ah, Attorney Michael O. Mastura, Mr. Robert Maulana M Alonto, Mr. Jun Mantawil, Mr. Mohamad Nasif, Mr Mike Pasigan and Mohajirin T. Ali.

Done on 21 December 2004 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.