Calling for Immediate Ceasefire between the MILF and GRP and Return to Peace Negotiations

Stories

March 25, 2009

CODE-NGO

Calling for Immediate Ceasefire Between the MILF and GRP and Return to Peace Negotiations

We appeal to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to immediately declare a ceasefire and allow the mechanisms on the ceasefire agreement with the MILF to address culpability and bring to justice those found guilty of violations from the MILF side;

We further appeal to the leadership of the MILF to cooperate in finding a just resolution of alleged violations by the so-called “rogue” MILF elements;

Whereas, justice and peace in Mindanao has been elusive for decades and this has led to great suffering, has hampered development and has resulted to marked poverty in the conflict affected areas;
 
Whereas, the peace talks and the ceasefire between the GRP and the MILF in the past years had been promising, but the situation greatly deteriorated following the controversy on the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), its aborted signing on August 5, 2008, the attacks in Lanao and North Cotabato allegedly by elements of the MILF and the government’s military operations against these elements;

Whereas, these have led to more than half a million evacuees or internally displaced persons who suffer daily because of the armed conflict;

Whereas, we welcome the appointment last December 1, 2008 of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis as the new chairman of the government panel that will resume peace negotiations with the MILF; but we believe that more decisive steps are need from both the GRP and the MILF for Mindanao and our country to return to the path to peace;

Whereas, CODE-NGO, in our Covenant on Philippine Development, has committed to the recognition and enhancement of religious and cultural diversity in Philippine society (Development Principle No. 6), to the recognition, respect and protection of the right of all indigenous peoples to self-determination and to the peaceful and democratic resolution of all armed conflicts (Development Goals) ;

NOW THEREFORE, WE RESOLVE to appeal to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to immediately declare a ceasefire and allow the mechanisms on the ceasefire agreement with the MILF to address culpability and bring to justice those found guilty of violations from the MILF side;

WE FURTHER RESOLVE to appeal to the leadership of the MILF to cooperate in finding a just resolution of alleged violations by the so-called “rogue” MILF elements;

WE ASK both the GRP and the MILF to show your firm commitment to peace and your sincerity in negotiating for a peaceful settlement of the Mindanao conflict by reining in all your forces and constituents and by returning resolutely to the peace negotiations;

WE ALSO ASK the GRP, MILF, donor agencies and other institutions to earnestly work for the rehabilitation of the internally displaced communities due to the conflict;

WE APPEAL to our national and local political and religious leaders, to the media and to our fellow citizens to set aside partisan and selfish interests and agendas and listen to the thousands of victims of this conflict and seek to better understand the historical roots and the present complexities of the issues in Mindanao;

WE COMMIT to the challenge of promoting peace in Mindanao in our work as development NGOs, especially given the heightening of biases and prejudices among and between peoples of Mindanao and the rest of the citizenry.

Approved by the National Board of CODE-NGO this 10thday of December 2008 in Quezon City, Philippines.

Share This