by Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC)

Government Peace Panel Head Marvic Leonen welcomes the MILF Peace Panel Dialogues with Non-Moro Civil Society (CSO) and considers these consultation processes as complementary to the efforts of government in also conducting consultations. “We hope that through these open dialogues, the people will have the time to reflect on the issues and form their own informed opinion and their own position that is supportive of the whole peace process”, Leonen said during an informal gathering of peace advocates in General Santos City last April 14, 2011.  He also hopes that the dialogues on the draft MILF comprehensive compact would reach Manila and develop into a national discourse.  That process will eventually help in gauging the support of politicians, big business, and other groups representing “Manila’s interests” on the substantial issues of the talks such as resource sharing, governance and territory, and the relationship of the proposed Bangsamoro sub-state with the national government.

During the said meeting, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus also submitted to Leonen the results of the IP-Moro consultations that it has spearheaded over the last six months in order to address the concerns of the indigenous peoples on the ancestral domain aspect of the negotiation.  Among the proposals of the Teduray, Talaandig-Higaonon, Arumanen, Matigsalog, Subanen, T’boli, and the Dulangan Manobo tribes include their demand to institutionalize dialogue among Moro and indigenous peoples leaders at the grassroots concerning the GPH-MILF peace talks, reaffirmation of the traditional agreements, and recognition of their native title rights and self-governance and such other rights under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).

According to Leonen the GPH Panel will bring attention on the IP’s concerns as stated in their position paper and that “we will propose to our counterpart in the MILF panel that this becomes one of the working papers that we will refer to in the course of the negotiations”.   Leonen also said that the panels “will take these into consideration as we proceed in negotiating a political settlement with the MILF”.

The government peace panel also announced that they are looking at a one-year period within which to accomplish their task of coming up with a peace agreement.  For the Mindanao Peoples Caucus and its allied peace networks, the next coming months will be critical and it is imperative that CSOs will be able to align their efforts to prepare and inform the communities, develop consensus among various stakeholders and generate a massive public support for the outcome of the negotiations.  Civil society organizations need to work doubly hard in the next 12 months given this optimistic timetable from the government peace panel.

MPC Press Release on CSO Meeting with Marvic Leonen
by Abdul Malik Cleofe

Related Articles

• [In the news] GPH panel to consult LGUs on peace talks with MILF-opapp.gov.ph (hronlineph.wordpress.com)
• Philippines on alert amid infighting among rebels (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Philippines on alert amid infighting among rebels (sfgate.com)
• Rebel infighting worries Philippines ahead of peace talks (ctv.ca)
• Rebel infighting worries Philippines before talks (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Challenges Ahead in the Philippine Government’s Conflict Management of Moro and Communist Insurgents (jedayang.wordpress.com)
• Aquino Names Negotiator for Filipino Separatist Talks (nytimes.com)
• Filipino rebels: Radical commander faces expulsion (sfgate.com)
• Filipino rebels: Radical commander faces expulsion (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• You: Filipino Muslim rebels say radical commander has a month to return or he’ll face expulsion (washingtonpost.com)