• Country/entity

  Philippines
  Mindanao
  

• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Asia and Pacific
  

• Agreement name

  Joint Statement -9th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks (September 16 2005)

• Date

  16 Sep 2005

• 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

  Sec. Silvestre C. Afable Jr., GRP Peace Panel Chairman;
  Mohagher M. Iqbal, MILF Peace Panel Chairman

• Third parties

  -

• Description

  Agreement by the Peace Panels, informing on the 9th Round of Exploratory Talks between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in which the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) adopted consensus points on the strand of governance for ancestral domain. The Parties acknowledged the efforts of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) on coordinating the Parties in the apprehension of criminal elements in Mindanao, and the Parties agreed to work towards strengthening the socio-economic monitoring functions of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and decided to invite other countries to partake in the monitoring process.

• Agreement document

  PH_050916_Joint Statement.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

JOINT STATEMENT

The 9th Exploratory Talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippine (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ended today with the Parties successfully concluding the most difficult hurdle in the ancestral domain agenda.

The Technical working Groups (TWGs) on Governance together with the GRP and MILF Peace Panels met in Kuala Lumpur from 15 - 16 September 2005 to continue negotiations under the ancestral domain agenda.

The meeting was conducted in a cordial atmosphere despite the complexity of the subject.

The TWGs in consultation with their respective Peace Panels succeeded in resolving the unfinished contentious issues from the last meeting in Port Dickson.

Both sides adopted the consensus points on the strand on governance.

with this breakthrough, the peace process is on track to complete the ancestral domain agenda before the end of the year.

The addition of the ancestral domain accord to the two previous agreements already signed on Security (2001) and Rehabilitation and Development (2002) completes the requirement of the Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001.

The Malaysian Secretariat acknowledge the high level of trust and confidence between the Panels and their respective TWGs for their vital role in ensuring the successful conduct of discussions on the ancestral domain aspect.

Simultaneously the Peace Panels also met to discuss and address several issues of concern to both Parties,

The Panics recognize thc efforts of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) relative to the ongoing operations against criminal groups in Maguindanao to wind up before the end of the month, and stress on the need for closer coordination to avoid the undue and prolonged displacement of local communities in affected areas.

in this light, joint efforts to extend appropriate relics and livelihood assistance to affected communities will be undertaken.

The Parties will work towards strengthening the socio-economic monitoring function of the international Monitoring Team (IMT).

Towards this end, other countries will be invited to participate in the monitoring process.

Both parties thank Malaysia, Libya and Brunei for extending the IMT tour of duty in Mindanao.

The Parties express their gratitude to H. E. Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi for the Malaysian Government's continued support to the GRP-MILF peace process.

The Parties likewise acknowledge H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's firm commitment to lasting and durable peace.

Done this 16" of September 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

For the GRP:

For the MLF:

C. AFABLE, JR.

W OAG -

Chairman, GRP Peace Panel Chairman, . ----