Role of third parties in Mindanao peace process
text ABHOUD SYED LINGGA

For the past three decades, every time the government (GRP) and the Bangsamoro liberation fronts talk peace, a third party is always involved. In the negotiations between the GRP and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) had been actively involved. In the on-going talks between the GRP and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Malaysia is the facilitator. Lately, the United States (US) expressed interest to be actively involved in finding a peaceful solution to the Mindanao conflict.

Third parties have been helpful in bringing the GRP and the Bangsamoro liberation fronts to the negotiating table and keeping them in the course of negotiations even if talks at times reached stalemate and bordered on resumption of hostilities. OIC’s interest in the peaceful settlement of the Mindanao conflict that involves the Muslim minority and predominantly Christian national government, according to Prof. Julkipli Wadi of U.P. Institute of Islamic Studies, was because part of its mandate as a pan-Islamic organization was to promote Islamic solidarity and peaceful settlement of disputes, “which will be to the best interest of the Muslims in South Philippines.”

The OIC experience taught a lesson that third parties should concern themselves not just with reaching agreements but also in the faithful compliance with the terms of the agreement.

Malaysia’s involvement in the Mindanao peace process started at the time when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sought the assistance of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad and Indonesian President Abdulrahman Wahid to convince the MILF to resume the stalled negotiations after the all-out war against the Moro liberation movement in the year 2000. The formal negotiations between the GRP and the MILF started in January 1997 after the conclusion of the peace talks between the GRP and the MNLF.

“Malaysia’s facilitation, aside from being host, usually involved the following functions: go-between conveying positions of the parties; providing a conducive atmosphere and facilities; presence in the talks as ‘referee’ and to witness commitments and understandings; help bridge differences by shuttling between the parties; administration of the talks; and record and keep minutes, to detail what had actually been agreed upon”, cites Atty. Soliman Santos.

Another important role of Malaysia is leading and providing the biggest contingents in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) which is tasked to monitor the ceasefire between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the MILF forces. The smaller contingents come from Brunei and Libya.

Upon the invitation of the Philippine Government and the MILF, the United States Government is getting involved in the peace process through the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim wrote President Bush on January 20, 2003 looking forward to a U.S. initiative that will bring in a new formula to resolve the problem. The expectation from President Bush’ statement that the United States will provide diplomatic and financial support to the renewed peace process was more on official involvement rather than Track II initiatives.

In the meantime, Malaysia should continue its role of facilitating the GRP-MILF peace talks, as Secretary Albert noted, “Malaysia remains crucial to the search for peace in Southern Philippines,” and should continue its engagement up to the post-conflict phase. It is imperative that Malaysia should remind the GRP and MILF on the importance of a road map and benchmarks of implementation, as well as the need for monitoring mechanism.

The U.S. should keep up its policy not to supplant Malaysia in its role in the GRP- MILF peace talks. Better still the United States Government shall raise to the level of the State Department its involvement in the peace process. This will make Malaysia more comfortable in partnering with the U.S. given that peace initiatives will be on a state-state level.

Many European countries have rich experience in assisting states that suffered from internal conflicts rebuild their societies. Their involvement, either unilaterally or through the European Union, in the peace process will certainly add to chances of success in peace building efforts, particularly in the post-conflict reconstruction phase. And Japan, which has been invited to join the IMT’s civilian component, should give favorable consideration to the request because it can contribute so much to the success of the peace process.

Lingga is Executive Director of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies.

The essay form excerpts of a paper presented during the International Conference on Peace Building in Asia Pacific: The Role of Third Parties, on July 1-3, 2006 in Khon Kaen, Thailand, organized by the Institute for Dispute Resolution, Khon Kaen University, and Southeast Asia Conflict Studies Network, with the support of The Japan Foundation.