Human Rights Online Philippines

Davao Citizens’ Signing of the GPH-MILF Framework Agreement

Davao City – In time for the signing of the Framework Agreement by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at the Malacañan Palace, Davao-based Peace networks and various groups conduct their own Citizens’ Signing of the Framework Agreement to welcome and support the historic Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

The Citizens’ Signing of the Framework Agreement is the highlight of the “Davao, Duyog sa Kalinaw!”

activity to be held at the Freedom Park, Roxas Avenue, Davao City on 15 October 2012.

The convenors celebrate this milestone in the 15-year-old GPH-MILF peace negotiations not as the end of the process but rather, the beginning of more challenges ahead. The Framework Agreement sets out the mutually agreed upon principles to guide both Peace Panels and put things in perspective as both thresh out the details in the substantive agenda of the talks.

The symbolic Citizens’ signing of the framework agreement is a clear message on Citizen Participation in the peace process. The convenors believe that a sustained engagement on matters of peace and right to self-determination will generate a groundswell of informed public support to the peace talks– even for those outside the zones of conflict.

At the same time, the group commits to remaining active and vigilant especially in monitoring the succeeding interim agreements and actual implementation of what comes next. Such mechanisms guaranteeing transparency and participation of all sectors especially covered in the core Bangsamoro territory should be soon installed. Monitoring the peace process and continuing education at the community level are among the tasks civil society organizations commit themselves to doing, in building the constituency supporting the peace process.

Activity organizers: Mindanao Peace Weavers (MPW), Mindanao Coalition of Development NGOs (MINCODE), United Youth for Peace and Development- Davao Region Chapter (UNYPAD), Agong Peace Network, Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM), Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Generation Peace Youth Network- Davao chapter (GENPEACE) and Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka- Mindanao (PAKISAMA).
IID is the Secretariat of Mindanao Peace Weavers

IID is an advocacy and solidarity institution promoting peace, conflict prevention, democratization and right to self-determination in Southeast Asia. Our focus areas include Mindanao, Burma, Timor-Leste, South Thailand, Aceh and West Papua.

Press Release
15 October 2012

Contact persons:
Lyndee Prieto, Email: lyndeeprieto@yahoo.com; Mobile: 0917-724-7579
Rich de los Santos, Email: rich.delossantos84@gmail.com; Mobile: 0927.644.6524

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