On 27-28 May 2010, the HD Centre, in collaboration with the Philippine Government's Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process (OPAPP), convened an International Negotiators' Forum in Manila.

Shortly before the last round of talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the current government of President Macapagal Arroyo, the Negotiators' Forum was attended by all the key figures of the peace process: the President herself, the chief negotiators from the GRP, the MILF, the Malaysian facilitator and the International Contact Group (ICG), as well as several international mediators. Bringing together current administration officials and advisors from the next administration, the event helped ensure a smooth handover of the process.

On 3 June, in a Declaration signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in presence of the ICG and other actors, the GRP and the MILF committed to work on previous gains as foundation for future negotiations under the new administration.

On 30 March, 2010, former United Nations Envoy Alvaro de Soto, former South African Presidential Advisor Mojanku Gumbi, and the HD Centre's Director Martin Griffiths shared their mediation experiences with representatives involved in the peace processes in the Philippines. These included representatives from the Philippine government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the International Contact Group on the MILF Government peace process, and representatives from the Malaysian, Norwegian, and Indonesian Governments.

 

This was the first time international envoys as well as representatives from the Government and the MILF exchanged mediation experiences. The group discussed techniques mediators may use to resolve conflicts, how they have overcome impasses in peace processes, and what experiences they have had in resolving identity-based conflicts. They discussed their experiences in El Salvador, South Africa, Aceh, Spain, Cyprus, and Palestine/Israel and shared with the group what did or did not work and what their strengths and limitations were as mediators.  

 

The HD Centre and the Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process co-hosted the event and are now preparing another forum for international negotiators.

On 27 October 2009, representatives from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed an historic agreement aimed at protecting civilians. Known as the 'Agreement on the Civilian Protection Component of the International Monitoring Team', it commits both parties to 'take all necessary precautions to avoid incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and danger to civilian objects and to take all necessary actions to facilitate the provision of relief supplies'. The parties also agreed to expand the mandate of the International Monitoring Team to include civilian protection. The IMT shall now monitor, verify, and report on non compliance by the parties.

This agreement is the second the two parties have signed since talks broke down in August 2008, the first being an agreement on establishing an International Contact Group composed of states and International Non-Governmental Organisations, signed on 15 September 2009. 

On 15 September 2009, representatives from the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to the establishment of an International Contact Group. Composed of states and international NGOs, the group will assist the Malaysian facilitator and help reinforce the new peace process.

The HD Centre organised and led a visit of Ambassador Francesc Vendrell, senior international UN and EU Envoy, to the Philippines, from 28-30 May 2009. Ambassador Vendrell met with representatives from the Governement of the Philippines and the MILF, including Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, and senior MILF leaders based in Darapanan, Maguindanao. On this occasion, Ambassador Vendrell shared his experiences of keeping peace processes moving and of the importance and practical role of eminent persons in providing advice to the parties and the facilitators/mediators with the aim of resolving conflicts. The visit highlighted some common concerns shared by both parties.

The HD Centre organised a visit of former Sudanese negotiators to the Philippines from 8 to 13 February 2009. Advisers to the Government of Sudan, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army and the UN, met with representatives from the Government of the Philippines, the MILF, and civil society, to relate their experience of the Sudan conflict and the peace process and provide recommendations.  They travelled through Mindanao and visited the MILF headquarters in Camp Darapanan.

The team from Sudan included Nyasha Masiwa, a former rebel from Zimbabwe and adviser to the SPLM/A, Dr. Ahmed Ali Sabiel, an adviser to the Government of Sudan, and Kelvin Ong, an adviser to the United Nations mediation team. They each played significant roles in the successful North-South Agreement in Sudan.

The visit was arranged in the hope that the sharing of peacemaking experience will contribute to efforts to help the parties restart the stalled talks.

Representatives from the Governement and the MILF welcomed the Sudanese team's recommendations and conveyed a strong desire to restart the talks soon.

The HD Centre organised and led a visit of Jonathan Powell and Gerry Kelly, former negotiators in the Northern Ireland peace process, to the Philippines last week. They met with key Phlippine Government Cabinet officials in Manila as well as with representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)'s Central Committee in Mindanao. The visit was organised as part of an effort to help restart the peace talks in the region. Representatives from both parties welcomed the suggestions from Powell and Kelly and conveyed their willingness to restart talks soon.

On 1 October 2008, the Armed Violence Reduction Initiative (AVRI), in collaboration with the municipality of Jolo, launched the six month anniversary celebration of the Jolo, Sulu Peace Zone. At least 5,000 attended the celebration to see a variety of presentations showcasing local talents and advocating for the peace zone. The AVRI Band, founded when the Peace zone was in preparation, played local Tausug songs using both modern and traditional musical instruments. Several dances were also performed such as the locally known traditional Tausug dances.

Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin and AVRI Project Director addressed the crowd. Mayor Amin called on Jolo constituents to support and respect the Jolo Zone of Peace to make Jolo a peaceful place.

One of the main highlights of the celebration was the handing out of HD Centre-funded T-shirts printed ‘Peace is healthy for children and other living things'

The HD Centre is providing advice to the Government, the MILF and the Malaysians to help them overcome the current impediments to the peace process and ensure a lasting solution. Over the coming weeks, the HD Centre will bring in international experts on constitutional law, power sharing, federalism and security to share their experiences and discuss ideas with the parties. Expert participants from abroad will include those with experience on Northern Ireland, Southern Sudan, Haiti, Kosovo and Central and South America. In country participants will include representatives from the MILF, the MNLF, the GRP (AFP and PNP and the IMT) and the Malaysian Government. The HD Centre will be assisted by the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies based out of Cotabatu City. The meeting is planned to take place in Camp Darapan and Manila and will be held in the fall of 2008.

On 4 August, the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) blocking the planned signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA) between the Government and the MILF. Fierce fighting has since resumed. MILF commanders occupied a number of Christian communities along the border areas of the proposed Ancestral Domain. The military launched a counter offensive. As result, more 160,000 people were displaced and more than 50 civilians killed. A dialogue processes at a local level will now be increasingly difficult as the security situation deteriorates. Nonetheless, both parties have conveyed their willingness to resume talks and reign in the violence. The HD Centre and other members of the international community will assist both parties in returning to the negotiating table to overcome the current violence and seek new creative ways forward in the peace process.

In August, the HD Centre and the Municipality of Jolo welcomed Fr. Bert Layson from Cotabatu Province. An expert in initiating peace zones and former inhabitant of Sulu, Fr. Bert Layon visited Jolo to advise the HD Centre, the Armed Violence Reduction Resource Group and the Municipality, on the implementation of the Zone of Peace.

He shared his experiences and exchanged ideas on how to make the Jolo Zone of Peace successful.

Sir Michael Aaronson, Chairman of the HD Centre Board, visited the organisation's operations in the Philippines between 21 - 26 April. He traveled to Manila, Zamboanga and Sulu, and met with the Swedish Ambassador, the Secretary General of the MNLF, the Governor and military commander of Sulu, the Mayor of Jolo, members of the Peace Working Group (PWG), civil society, the GRP Chief Negotiator for the MILF talks, the Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs for the MNLF talks and the Undersecretary of the Office Executive Secretary appointed to the PWG. He also presided over the launch of the Jolo Zone of Peace, on 24 April, co-sponsored by the HD Centre and Municipality of Jolo, and signed by local leaders.

 

The visit was constructive. Sir Michael was able to observe how the HD Centre operates in carrying out both peacemaking and peacebuilding work in the complex environment of Sulu. He heard from staff and members of the PWG, the efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts between the armed forces and MNLF as well as new initiatives to help local officials implement programmes to ban the carrying of weapons and disband private armed groups. He witnessed progress made to date but also the challenges ahead in the peace process with the MNLF and MILF, and how the HD Centre attempts to help all parties reach a comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable peace settlement. 

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue hosted a representative from the Geneva based Small Arms Survey (SAS). From 21 to 28 February Dr. Jennifer Hazen came to the Philippines and was hosted by the HD Centre's office in Sulu to conduct a preliminary assessment on the feasibility of carrying out a survey on the causes and effects of violence on communities. With representatives from the Peace Working Group and the HD Centre, she met with local leaders including representatives from the Provincial Government, the AFP, the PNP, the Mayor of Jolo and travelled to the villages of Luuk and Patikul. In Manila she also met with representatives from the Institute for Security and Development Studies, the PNP and the Office of the Executive Secretary. As a result of the visit, the SAS and HD Centre plan to conduct the survey in May and June 2008.

The HD Centre attended the Second Tripartite meeting between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul in mid-February 2008. The meeting was chaired by Indonesian Director General for Multilateral Affairs, His Excelleny Rezlan Jenie and the chief negotiators for the two parties included Randolph 'Bong' Parcasio for the MNLF and Undersecretary Nabil Tan for the GRP.  Both parties reviewed the reports of the Joint Working Groups (JWG) in front of the OIC and OIC member states. Dureing the discussions there was widespread agreement that the JWG's role should be enhanced to find consensus and discuss possibilities for amendments to the existing autonomy law (RA 9054). Discussions were intense at times but by and large the atmosphere was constructive and cordial. This meeting was a successor to one in Jeddah in November last year. 

On 3 February, 2008, the HD Centre and the GRP-MNLF Peace Working Group facilitated the visit of the Ambassador of Finland, H.E. Riitta Resch, and the Ambassador of Italy, H.E. Rubens Fedele, to Sulu.  The Ambassadors had a lengthy meeting with Governor Abdusakur Tan during which they discussed security, the dismantlement of CVO's and the gun ban, economic development and the peace process.

Following this meeting, they had lunch with the Peace Working Group at its office in Jolo and were given briefs by the two parties on the situation and their efforts to date.  The Ambassadors ended their visit with a trip outside Jolo to witness a cow distribution programme conducted by the Marines.   

Throughout 2007, the HD Centre was involved in activities to prevent fighting between the two sides. In the first half of 2007, the HD Centre worked on securing a safe passage for the AFP through MNLF camps, and on minimizing the likelihood of misencounters between the two sides. It developed short and long term arrangements to that effect.  

In the second half of the year, the HD Centre was again involved in negotiations with the two sides to avoid fighting and misencounters between the two sides.

From 10 - 12 November 2007, representatives from the MNLF, the GRP, the OIC Secretariat and member states as well as a representative from the HD Centre, met together in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to review the implementation of the 1996 Agreement. This was the first time all the parties have met together in a meeting of such importance since the agreement was first signed. The HD Centre actively prepared this first meeting and facilitated the latter with the OIC.

Over one hundred persons attended including representatives from throughout Mindanao, Government line agencies, and twelve OIC countries. The Indonesian Government chaired the talks along with the Secretary General of the OIC and the OIC Special Envoy.

The talks were successful. Both parties agreed to the creation of five Joint Working Groups to discuss and review the implementation of the 1996 agreement in the following areas: Shariah and Judiciary, Defense and Security, Natural Resources and Economic Development, as well as Political Representation and Education. The Working Groups' mandate is to review the implementation of the 1996 Agreement in their assigned topics and provide recommendations to move the implementation forward. They were tasked with providing reports before the next tripartite meeting tentatively scheduled for 14 January 2008. The HD Centre will help facilitate the work of these five GRP-MNLF working groups.

In September and October 2007, the HD Centre initiated a programme with the Governor of Sulu to institute a provincial gun ban and to disband private armed groups, otherwise known as Civilian Volunteer Organizations. Over the course of the two months, the HD Centre developed a policy framework and plan of action with the Governor, the AFP, the PNP and civil society for addressing those issues. In late October, the HD Centre co-sponsored a conference with the Provincial Governor which detailed the framework and action plan in front of international delegates and senior government and MNLF representatives.