Joint Statement between the GRP and MILF Peace Panels

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Country/entity
Philippines
Mindanao
Region
Asia and Pacific
Asia and Pacific
Agreement name
Joint Statement between the GRP and MILF Peace Panels
Date
29 Jul 2009
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Philippine Insurgencies (1968 - ) )
Stage
Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature
Government/territory
Peace process
Philippines - Mindanao process
Parties
Rafael E. Seguis, Panel Chairman for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines;
Mohagher Iqbal, Panel Chairman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Third parties
Datuk Othman Bin Abdul Razak, Facilitator, Representative of Malaysia
Description
This Joint Statement provides for renewed commitment from the Parties to the resumption of the peace process, with both Parties agreeing on future work on framework agreements for the formation of an International Contact Group and the establishment of a mechanism to protect non-combatants in the armed conflict, in addition to the acknowledgement of the Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) as an unsigned, yet initialed, document to which the Parties will reframe to bring about a political settlement.

Agreement document
PH_090729_Joint Statement by GRP-MILF Panels.pdf | 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
Page 1,
In their meeting, they agreed on the following:
4. Work for a framework agreement on the establishment of International Contact Group (ICG) of groups of states and non-state organizations to accompany and mobilize international support for the peace process.
Traditional/religious leaders
No specific mention.
Public administration
No specific mention.
Constitution
No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing
Page 1,
In their meeting, they agreed on the following:
2. Acknowledgement of MOA-AD as an unsigned and yet initialed document, and commitment by both parties to reframe the consensus points with the end in view of moving towards the comprehensive compact to bring about a negotiated political settlement;
Territorial power sharing
Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Autonomous regions
Summary: the short reference to the MOA-AD is a reference to the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain which established a form of autonomy

Page 1,
In their meeting, they agreed on the following:
2. Acknowledgement of MOA-AD as an unsigned and yet initialed document, and commitment by both parties to reframe the consensus points with the end in view of moving towards the comprehensive compact to bring about a negotiated political settlement;
Economic power sharing
No specific mention.
Military power sharing
No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general
Page 1,
In their meeting, they agreed on the following:
2. Work for a framework agreement on the establishment of a mechanism on the protection of non-combatants in armed conflict;
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
Rights related issues→Protection measures→Protection of groups
Page 1,
In their meeting, they agreed on the following:
2. Work for a framework agreement on the establishment of a mechanism on the protection of non-combatants in armed conflict;
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
Page 1,
In their meeting, they agreed on the following:
1. Mutual effort to sustain both the Government's Suspension of Military Offensives (SOMO) and the MILF's Suspension of Military Actions (SOMA);
2. Acknowledgement of MOA-AD as an unsigned and yet initialed document, and commitment by both parties to reframe the consensus points with the end in view of moving towards the comprehensive compact to bring about a negotiated political settlement;
3. Work for a framework agreement on the establishment of a mechanism on the protection of non-combatants in armed conflict;
Ceasefire
Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1,
In their meeting, they agreed on the following:
1. Mutual effort to sustain both the Government's Suspension of Military Offensives (SOMO) and the MILF's Suspension of Military Actions (SOMA);
Police
No specific mention.
Armed forces
Page 1,
In their meeting, they agreed on the following:
1. Mutual effort to sustain both the Government's Suspension of Military Offensives (SOMO) and the MILF's Suspension of Military Actions (SOMA);

[...] The GRP Panel Chairman took serious note of the concern of the MILF on the implication of the exclusion from the SOMO of some MILF commanders tagged as 'rogues' by the Government.
DDR
No specific mention.
Intelligence services
No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
Page 1,
In their meeting, they agreed on the following:
1. Mutual effort to sustain both the Government's Suspension of Military Offensives (SOMO) and the MILF's Suspension of Military Actions (SOMA);

[...] The GRP Panel Chairman took serious note of the concern of the MILF on the implication of the exclusion from the SOMO of some MILF commanders tagged as 'rogues' by the Government.
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
UN Peacemaker; GRP-MILF Peace Process: Compilation of Signed Agreements & other related Documents (1997-2010); (MILF Peace Panel/Asia Foundation, 2010), p. 258.

JOINT STATEMENT

The Chairmen of the GRP and the MILF Peace Panels re-established official contact today under the auspices of the Malaysian Third Party Facilitator, to end nearly a year of impasse in the peace negotiations, and to complete the preparation for the resumption of the Talks.

The two-day Special Meeting ended on a high note with both sides expressing a common desire to restore trust and confidence in addressing major issues in order to pave way for the early resumption of the stalled peace negotiations.

In their meeting, they agreed on the following:

Mutual effort to sustain both the Government’s Suspension of Military Offensives (SOMO) and the MILF’s Suspension of Military Actions (SOMA);

Acknowledgement of MOA-AD as an unsigned and yet initialled document, and commitment by both parties to reframe the consensus points with the end in view of moving towards the comprehensive compact to bring about a negotiated political settlement.

Work for a framework agreement on the establishment of a mechanism on the protection of non-combatants in armed conflict;

Work for a framework agreement on the establishment of International Contact Group (ICG) of groups of states and non-state organizations to accompany and mobilize international support for the peace process.

The GRP Panel Chairman took serious note of the concern of the MILF on the implication of the exclusion from the SOMO of some MILF commanders tagged as “rogues” by the Government.

The Parties expressed their gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her desire and commitment to durable peace and sustainable development in Mindanao, and to Malaysian Prime Minister Data’ Sri Mohd.

Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak for his generous and steadfast support and assistance to the pursuit of these goals.

Their joint efforts largely contributed to this significant advancement in the GRP-MILF peace process.

Done this 29th day of July 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.