Western, Asian, African Envoys Express Support for the Bangsamoro Peace Process

The Government of the Philippines Negotiating Panel for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) acknowledged the renewed support of the international community for the Bangsamoro peace process and its members’ call to pass a meaningful Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) without delay.

“Domestic support is vital in sustaining the Bangsamoro peace process. International support for the passage of the basic law is also valuable because they provide a global perspective that broadens our parochial and partisan appreciation of our quest,” said government chief peace negotiator Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.

“As outsiders looking in, the international community can offer a more objective point of view. We are heartened that they continue to see that we are fighting the good fight and thank them for the trust and goodwill they have shown from the beginning,” she added.

Western and Asian nations supporting the Bangsamoro peace process have issued yesterday a new call for the continuation of the Bangsamoro peace process and the establishment of safeguards to prevent a resumption of armed conflict in Mindanao.

Signed statement of support

Diplomats representing the Western and Asian nations stressed the need to ensure that the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed by the Philippine government and the MILF in March 27, 2014 would be implemented to sustain the peace and stability in the Philippines’ main southern island of Mindanao.

“We, the undersigned, share a common aim with the people of the Philippines to work towards a just and lasting peace in Mindanao that brings prosperity, security, and social benefits to all Filipinos and maintains the unity of the Republic of the Philippines,” the ambassadors stated. “We express our solid support and commitment to the continuity of the peace process…”

Among the signatories are Ambassador Bill Tweddell of Australia; H.E. Marion Derckx of the Netherlands; Ambassador Philip Goldberg of the United States of America; Ambassador Erik Forner of Norway; Ambassador Luis Calvo of Spain; Charge d’ Affaires a.i. Raoul Imbach of Switzerland; Ambassador Asif Ahmad of the British Embassy; Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa of Japan; Ambassador Rolando A. Guevara Alvarado of Panama; Ambassador Jon Top Christensen of Denmark; Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa, Jr. of the Czech Republic; Ambassador Massimo Roscigno of Italy; Charge d’ Affaires a.i. Ngerikl Baules of Palau; Charges d’ Affaires a.i. Stella De Araneta of Colombia; Ambassador-Designate Franz Jessen of the European Union; Ambassador Thomas Ossowski of Germany; Charge d’ Affaires Mihai Sion of Romania; Ambassador Marthinus Slabber of South Africa; Ambassador Jae-Shin Kim of Korea; Ambassador Neil Reeder of Canada; and Deputy Head of Mission Laurent Legodec of France.

Ambassador Johny Lumintang of Indonesia, Ambasaador David Strachan of New Zeland, and DHM Charlotta Schlyter of Sweden also expressed their intention to sign the statement.

The group explained that there was a pressing need to give life to the 2014 negotiated peace accord between the government and the MILF that served as basis for the drafting of a Bangsamoro Basic Law now pending in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and “to the long term political, economic, and social pillars that will bring the peace dividend to the country as a whole”.

“We ask for continued commitment to from all stakeholders to seize this opportunity to enable the Bangsamoro people to form an effective and inclusive, devolved administration as called for in the [2014 CAB]. To do this will require flexibility on all sides to work within current Constitution of the Republic and recognition of the aspirations of the people of the Bangsamoro,” the ambassadors continued.

When passed, the BBL will abolish the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and set up a parliamentary regional government that will provide the Bangsamoro with more fiscal and political autonomy.

Continuity and common interest

According to the diplomats, their stake in achieving peace and development in the Philippines is “not just as committed friends and development partners” but “as investors and members of the community through our citizens.”

“The long and difficult history of this troubled region can and should move to a more positive future agenda. Much work has been done to bring the parties, activists, politicians, business, and civil society to the brink of a settlement. For the country as a whole, it is essential that setbacks are overcome and people of vision and faith come together to ensure that the momentum for peace continues.”

The CAB is a product of almost eighteen years of negotiations. It builds on the gains of the government’s 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the 1976 Tripoli Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The contemporary Moro uprising crystallized due to the atrocities committed by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to the Moro people.

“In sustaining the peace effort, it is vital that there is no return to violence and that long-established institutional safeguard measures remain in place to monitor and resolve disputes.”

“In a world of conflict and instability which has marred the lives of so many, we want to support the Philippines to emerge as a nation that is at peace within itself,” the statement concluded.

Source: www.opapp.gov.ph