Joint Statement - 10th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Joint Statement - 10th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks
Date: 7 Feb 2006
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 Panels, informing on the 10th round of GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks, in which the Parties successfully concluded consensus points on the ancestral domain issue, including determination of the scope of the Bangsamoro homeland, measures to address the Bangsamoro people's grievances, the Bangsamoro people's right to utilize and develop their ancestral domain, and economic cooperation arrangements. The Parties agreed to setup an overall framework for forthcoming formal talks on crucial issues and a timeline for the signing of a comprehensive agreement. Concluding, the Parties agreed on the need for capacity-building programs and the participation of civil society, as well as recognizing the Malaysian Government for the facilitation of the peace process.

Agreement document: PH_060207_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: Groups→Indigenous people→Substantive
Page 1,
...Among the consensus points reached were:
-Measures to address the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people arising from their unjust dispossession and/or marginalization;
-Bangsamoro's people's right to utilize and develop their ancestral domain and ancestral lands;
-Economic cooperation arrangements for the benefit of the entire Bangsamoro people...
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: Among the consensus points reached were:
-Joint determination of the scope of the Bangsmoro homeland based on the technical maps and date submitted by both sides;
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: The panels agreed to conduct joint advocacy drives on the ancestral domain issue to broaden public understanding and support for the GRP-MILF peace process. To achieve this objective, a joint committee was formed to draw up the guidelines, plan the advocacy campaign, and seek the participation of non-government organizations, people's organizations and civil society groups in advocacy activities.

Both parties reaffirmed the need to intensify capacity-building programs with the assistance and support of international community and donor institutions, and they agreed in principle to the establish of a Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute in Cotabato City as a capacity building center for emerging leaders and professionals.
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, Among the consensus points reached were:
-Joint determination of the scope of the Bangsmoro homeland based on the technical maps and date submitted by both sides;
Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Other
Page 1, The 10th round of GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks ended today in Port dickson, Malaysia with both Parities successfully wrapping up the consensus points of the ancestral domain issue, and placing the peace process on track for concluding the Ancestral Domain Aspect of the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on Peace of June 22, 2001. The Ancestral Domain Agreement may be signed by late March 2006. Simultaneously with the inception of the formal talks.
Among the consensus points reached were:
-Joint determination of the scope of the Bangsmoro homeland based on the technical maps and date submitted by both sides;
Economic power sharing: Power sharing→Economic power sharing→Sharing of resources
Among the consensus points reached were:
-Bangsamoro's people's right to utilize and develop their ancestral domain and ancestral lands;
-Economic cooperation arrangements for the benefit of the entire Bangsamoro people.
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: Human rights and equality→Socio-economic rights→Property
Among the consensus points reached were:
-Measures to address the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people arising from their unjust dispossession and/or marginalization;
-Bangsamoro's people's right to utilize and develop their ancestral domain and ancestral lands;
Human rights and equality→Socio-economic rights→Cultural life
Among the consensus points reached were:
-Measures to address the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people arising from their unjust dispossession and/or marginalization;
-Bangsamoro's people's right to utilize and develop their ancestral domain and ancestral lands;

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
The panels agreed to conduct joint advocacy drives on the ancestral domain issue to broaden public understanding and support for the GRP-MILF peace process. To achieve this objective, a joint committee was formed to draw up the guidelines, plan the advocacy campaign, and seek the participation of non-government organizations, people's organizations and civil society groups in advocacy activities.
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: Page 1, Among the consensus points reached were:
... -Bangsamoro's people's right to utilize and develop their ancestral domain and ancestral lands;

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Both parties reaffirmed the need to intensify capacity-building programs with the assistance and support of international community and donor institutions, and they agreed in principle to the establish of a Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute in Cotabato City as a capacity building center for emerging leaders and professionals.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Both parties reaffirmed the need to intensify capacity-building programs with the assistance and support of international community and donor institutions, and they agreed in principle to the establish of a Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute in Cotabato City as a capacity building center for emerging leaders and professionals.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: Land, property and environment→Land reform/rights→Other land rights
Page 1, Among the consensus points reached were:
... -Bangsamoro's people's right to utilize and develop their ancestral domain and ancestral lands;
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: No specific mention.
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: Among the consensus points reached were:
-Measures to address the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people arising from their unjust dispossession and/or marginalization;
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), pp. 172-173.

Joint Statement

The 10th round of GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks ended today in Port Dickson, Malaysia with both Parties successfully wrapping up the consensus points of the ancestral domain issue, and placing the peace process on track for concluding the Ancestral Domain Aspect of the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on Peace of June 22, 2001.

The Ancestral Domain Agreement may be signed by late March 2006, simultaneously with the inception of the formal talks.

Among the consensus points reached were:

Joint determination of the scope of the Bangsamoro homeland based on the technical maps and data submitted by both sides;

Measures to address the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people arising from their unjust dispossession and/ or marginalization;

Bangsamoro people’s right to utilize and develop their ancestral domain and ancestral lands;

Economic cooperation arrangements for the benefit of the entire Bangsamoro people.

During the two-day meeting, the Panels agreed to forge as soon as possible an overall framework for the forthcoming formal talks, together with an inventory of crucial issues to be tackled, the general procedures and parameters and the indicative timeline for the signing of a comprehensive agreement between the Government and the MILF before the end of the year.

The panels agreed to conduct joint advocacy drives on the ancestral domain issue to broaden public understanding and support for the GRP-MILF peace process,.

To achieve this objective, a joint committee was formed to draw up the guidelines, plan the advocacy campaign, and seek the participation of non-government organizations, people’s organizations and civil society groups in advocacy activities.

Both parties reaffirmed the need to intensify capacity-building programs with the assistance and support of the international community and donor institutions, and they agreed in principle to the establishment of a Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute in Cotabato City as a capacity building centre for emerging leaders and professionals.

The Panels expressed their appreciation to H.E. Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi for the Malaysian Government’s continued role in facilitating the peace process and the leadership of H.E President Gloria Macapagal0Arroyo in the achievement of a durable, comprehensive and lasting peace in Mindanao.

The parties also conveyed their deep gratitude to Datuk Othman bin Abdul Razak who was recently appointed as Advisor to the Prime Minister and whose responsibilities include the ongoing peace talks.

They likewise acknowledged the sustained efforts demonstrated by the GRP and MILF technical working groups whose hard work made possible the successful outcome of the talks.

Done on the 7th of February 2006at Port Dickson, Malaysia.

For the GRP:

SILVESTRE C. AFABLE, JR. (

GRP PANEL CHAIR)

FOR THE MILF:

MOHGHER IQBAL (MILF PANEL CHAIR)