Joint Statement -7th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks (April 20 2005)

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Joint Statement -7th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks (April 20 2005)
Date: 20 Apr 2005
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; Mohagher Iqbal, MILF Panel Chair
Third parties: -
Description: Agreement by the GRP and MILF Panels informing on the 7th Round of the GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks, in which the Parties discussed the concept, territory, resources and governance aspects of ancestral domain, and agreed on points of concept, resources and territory, but would further the discussion on governance in the next round of talks. Additionally, the Parties agreed to strengthen the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and affirmed that recent hostilities would not affect the peace talks. Concluding, they recognized the critical role and progress of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), and expressed gratitude to the Malaysian Government for the facilitation of the talks.

Agreement document: PH_050420_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): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 1, The GRP-MILF Panels led more than 40 technical resource persons from both sides in multi-level meetings to examine the details in the agenda, which included the concept, territory, resources, and governance aspects of the ancestral domain issue.

After a three-day session on the Ancetral Domain Aspect of the Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001, the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) agree don several substantial points vis-a-vis the strands on concept, territory and resources, and further agreed to tackle the strand on governance in the next round of talks.
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→Autonomous regions
Page 1, The 7th Round of the GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks concluded on a high note today in Port Dickson, Malaysia with both Parties expressing deep satisfaction over the result of the joint discussion on ancestral domain.

The GRP-MILF Panels led more than 40 technical resource persons from both sides in multi-level meetings to examine the details in the agenda, which included the concept, territory, resources, and governance aspects of the ancestral domain issue.

After a three-day session on the Ancetral Domain Aspect of the Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001, the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) agree don several substantial points vis-a-vis the strands on concept, territory and resources, and further agreed to tackle the strand on governance in the next round of talks.
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: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, The GRP-MILF Panels led more than 40 technical resource persons from both sides in multi-level meetings to examine the details in the agenda, which included the concept, territory, resources, and governance aspects of the ancestral domain issue.

After a three-day session on the Ancetral Domain Aspect of the Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001, the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) agree don several substantial points vis-a-vis the strands on concept, territory and resources, and further agreed to tackle the strand on governance in the next round of talks.

Both Parties reiterated the substantive role of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in monitoring the implementation of the security, rehabilitation and development aspects of the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001. Both Parties hope for the continued presence of the IMT in Mindanao.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: The GRP-MILF Panels led more than 40 technical resource persons from both sides in multi-level meetings to examine the details in the agenda, which included the concept, territory, resources, and governance aspects of the ancestral domain issue.

After a three-day session on the Ancetral Domain Aspect of the Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001, the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) agree don several substantial points vis-a-vis the strands on concept, territory and resources, and further agreed to tackle the strand on governance in the next round of talks.
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 1,
[...]
Both Parties reiterated the substantive role of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in monitoring the implementation of the security, rehabilitation and development aspects of the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001. Both Parties hope for the continued presence of the IMT in Mindanao.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, Since the inception of the GRP-MILF peace process in January 1997, the Port Dickson talks marked the first time that both sides entered into substantive discussions of the cessation of hostilities. they hailed the outcome of the meeting as a breakthrough towards a just and durable solution to the Mindanao conflict.

They also affirmed that the recent hostilities in Mindanao would not affect the impetus of the peace talks and that both sides would strive to resolve all outstanding ceasefire issues at a subsidiary level.
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, The Parties likewise agreed to strengthen the operations of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) in order to bolster the joint campaign against lawlessness and criminality.
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. 150.

JOINT STATEMENT

The 7th Round of GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks concluded on a high note today in Port Dickson, Malaysia with both Parties expressing deep satisfaction over the result of the joint discussions on ancestral domain.

The GRP-MILF Panels led more than 40 technical resource persons from both sides in multi-level meetings to examine the details in the agenda, which included the concept, territory, resources and governance of the ancestral domain issue.

After a three-day session on the Ancestral Domain Aspect on the Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001, the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) agreed on several substantial points vis-a-vis the strands on concept, territory and resources, and further agreed to tackle the strand on governance in the next round of talks.

Since the inception of the GRP-MILF peace proecss in January 1997, the Port Dickson talks marked the first time that both sides entered into substantive discussions outside of the cessation of hostilities.

They hailed the outcome of the meeting as a breakthrough towards a just and durable solution to the Mindanao conflict.

The Panels decided to forge on with technical level talks in Malaysia to exhaust all possible consensus points before the start of formal negotiations expected to be held by mid-year.

They also affirmed that recent hostilities in Mindanao would not affect the impetus of the peace talks and that both sides would strive to resolve all outstanding ceasefire issues at a subsidiary level.

The Parties likewise agreed to strengthen the operations of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) in order to bolster the joint campaign against lawlessness and criminality.

Both Parties reiterated the substantive role of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in monitoring the implementation of the security, rehabilitation and development aspects of the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001.

Both Parties hope for the continued presence of the IMT in Mindanao.

The Panels expressed their gratitude to the Malaysian Government headed by H.E. Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi for its continued facilitating role in the peace process, and the unwavering commitment of H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the achievement of a durable, comprehensive and lasting peace in Mindanao.

They lauded the excellent facilities and assistance extended by the Malaysian Secretariat under the Office of the Prime Minister.

They likewise expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the technical experts of both sides who worked hard to ensure the successful outcome of the talks.

Done on the 20th April 2005 at Port Dickson, Malaysia

FOR THE GRP:

(signed)

SILVESTRE C. AFABLE, JR

GRP Panel Chair

FOR THE MILF:

(signed)

MOHAGHER IQBAL

MILF Panel Chair