Other than maintaining back channel negotiations, there is no credible advancement or breakthrough between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and MILF to announce an official date of the recommencement of the adjourned formal peace talks or executive level talks between the Peace Panel representatives of the both sides. The political circles in Mindanao are floating with rumours that if both the GRP and MILF are unable to sign the Peace Agreement before the ARMM Regional Governor election (supposed to be held in August 2008) then there would be high probabilities for both the parties to wait for another three years to sign the Peace Agreement. In case of the above mentioned scenario, there could be higher chances of further divide within the Moro Community and the different armed groups, and in addition to it, it would increase the chances of derailment of the peace talks which could intensify the armed struggle.

In another significant move, the International Monitoring Team (IMT) head of the mission made its first ever visit to Sulu along with MILF to visit a MILF camp in one of the municipalities of Sulu. The Sulu province is a strong base of mainstream MNLF led by Prof. Nur Misuari.

The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) continued with their proactive endeavours in mobilizing all the key parties in the Mindanao Peace Process to move forward with the “Gains of the Peace Process”. The Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC) launched its 2008 advocacy campaign “Let us Resolve the Mindanao conflict, Sign and Implement Peace Agreements Now” with the first ever Mindanao Youth Peace Caravan from Mindanao to Corregidor (outside Manila). MPC set a new precedent of raising awareness among the people of Visayas and Luzon about Mindanao conflict and conveyed a strong message of civilians being equal and key stakeholders in the ongoing Peace Process.

NP’s Work

Sulu Team
The Sulu team met several times with the members of two CBOs in Sulu, and on their requests further strategized follow ups to deal with the Ipil massacre incident and to support the protection related needs of the affected families. The team gave regular updates to the Commission on Human Rights based in Zamboanga.

In collaboration with the local partners, NP made follow ups on the cases of harassments and illegal detention. The team also defined areas of collaboration with a Church base Peace and Human Rights groups in the province of Sulu.

Partner organizations also approached NP to support their initiatives of IDPs return to their homes in three Barangays of Indanan Municipalities. The Sulu team in consultation with the Main Office and its local partners devised the plan to first consult with all the stakeholders like the IDPs, LGUs, Military, MNLF etc.

On the request of local authorities and communities, the NP Sulu team attended a Rido (feud) settlement event to show international presence and support for the settlement process. The rido settlement took place at the Governors office at the Capitol. Another Rido Settlement was attended on the request of another local partner in another. This partner has requested NP for continuous support and international presence during Rido settlements as it extends more safety, security and confidence to the local people. Some political ridos have been the source of mini wars in Mindanao.

The NP Team on the request of a local partner attended the Forum on “Commemoration of Bud Dahu Massacre in Relation to Balikatan”. The forum was organized by the Bangsamoro Youth Assembly and Suara Bangsamoro in order to fully analyze the reasons for the presence of the American troops and their humanitarian assistance programs in Sulu and the Philippines in General.

The team paid a courtesy call to the new Provincial Police Chief of Sulu and maintained regular communication with the other key offices in the province of Sulu.

On the request of NP Main Office, an ICP from NP Sulu team joined the NP Main office team to provide protective accompaniment to the Peace Caravan organized by NP partner organization – MPC from Mindanao to Corregidor.

NP Central Mindanao Team (CMT)
NP CMT remained occupied in monitoring the civilian protection issues and visited remote MILF areas on the request of local residents. NP CMT simultaneously received couple of visitors, Mr. Yukio Aki from NP Japan and Ms Ann Frisch – A NP donor and short-term volunteer in Guatemala from the USA - and gave them field site orientation. The CMT in coordination with the main office provided in country training through field experience to the newly arrived International Civilian Peacekeeper (ICP).

NP CMT maintained observer status at the Balanaken Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Post (JCMP) through regular presence at the post and maintained constant communication with members of the post and civilians living in that critical area. NP CMT along with JCMP made a rapid response to pacify the situation as tensions built up between some of the MILF commanders in two Barangays of Datu Piang Municipality. The tension resulted into heavy fire fight between MILF commanders which caused displacement of several families. The whole situation further alerted the Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP) and paramilitary forces as one of the MILF commander brought his combatants close to the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Post. GRP CCCH instructed the MILF commander of immediate withdrawal from the JCMP post otherwise JCMP post would be closed. The closure of the post would have meant to invite AFP to move into the area. The NP presence in the Post gave immense confidence to the local JCMP monitors which helped them to hold their positions. In close coordination with the Main Office, the NP CMT along with local peace monitors maintained over night international conscious presence at the post during the critical moment. The NP Main Office informed all the concerned parties about the presence of NP at the JCMP post and stayed in touch with the team throughout the night. The main office kept on updating the GRP MILF CCCH and some of the key partners. The situation was pacified within 72 hours and the continuous presence forced the MILF commander to withdraw its combatants from the JCMP post. The families who left the area immediately came back and thanked NP teams.

In coordination with NP’s main office, CMT regularly visited the other Joint Monitoring and Assistance Team posts (JMAT) in Rangeban of Midsayap Municipality and Kuloy in Shariff Aguak Municipality and stayed connected with the local partners in those areas. The CMT introduced NP visitors to the above mentioned locations.

The CMT continued to verify rumours in close coordination with the communication officer based in the Main Office. Normally, the rumours are reports of increased movements of AFP, Paramilitaries and BIAF or un-confirmed violence related reports which cause panic and anxiety among community residents and some times force the local people to evacuate.

The CMT in close coordination with the communication officer coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross/Crescent for relief to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who were camping at the Dabpil Elementary School of Midsayap Municipality in fear of retaliation by supporters of a local commander who was ambushed and shot dead by unknown persons in the area. The CMT and NP main office constantly informed the local partners of the ongoing activities and incidences happening on the ground. The CMT conducted follow-ups on some of the previous month’s activities, cases and incidences such as the alleged child abduction cases.

In an effort to maintain close relationship and collaboration with local partners, CMT attended meetings and training sessions organized by CBCS/KFI for its TIYAKAP members. These training sessions were designed by CBCS and NP for TIYAKAP representatives of the different Barangays of Datu Piang Municipality. The sessions focused both on Human Rights and Early Warning - Early Response (EWER) as a system of conflict prevention.

NP Cotabato Main Office (CMO)
NP CMO remained well occupied in providing programmatic guidance and support to the field teams as mentioned in the above mentioned sections. NP CMO further improved its links and working relationships with GRP, MILF, MNLF, IMT, PNP, LGUs, IOs, INGOs and partner civil society organizations.

NP CMO gave project orientation to the visitors connected with the Nonviolent Peaceforce and arranged their visit to the Central Mindanao Field Office. The NP Cotabato office welcomed the new ICP and provided initial training to the new ICP. The CMO along with CMT and new ICP conducted joint sessions and set the procedures for the new ICPs orientation in the field. The CMO wrote reports and documented project updates to make activity profiles.

On the special request of MPC, the NP team comprised of Project Director, Communication Officer, an ICP from the NP Sulu team and a part time driver provided protective accompaniment to the Peace Caravan from Mindanao to Corregidor (Manila). More than 60 delegates representing different youth groups from Mindanao participated in the Peace Caravan. The Peace Caravan was the first activity of the MPC to launch its 2008 advocacy campaign of “Resolving the Mindanao Conflict, Sign and Implement the Peace Agreements Now”. The NP protective accompaniment team under its clearly defined role accompanied the Peace Caravan from the City of Cotabato. Before providing accompaniment, NP team informed the higher officials of GRP, MILF and MNLF about specified NP role during the Peace Caravan. The Caravan passed through the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Bacolod, Ilo Ilo, Mindoro, Batangas, Manila and the island of Corregidor. The Peace Caravan organized multiple ranges of activities throughout like, holding Press Conferences, Seminars, Media interviews, Meeting Local CSOs.

The Peace Caravan was organized to mark the 40th anniversary of the Jabida Massacre in Corregidor Island where in 1968 many of the Tausug trainees from Sulu who joined AFP were trained for an invasion of Sabah (Malaysia). The massacre took place when the trainees were told about the mission. The Tausug trainees refused to obey the orders and except one trainee who managed to escape from the island, all the rest were killed by their commanding officers. The Jabida massacre became the reason of the launching of the contemporary Moro struggle for independence led by Moro National Liberation Front in 1970s. The MPC launched the Peace Caravan from Mindanao to Corregidor to give new life to the Moro Struggle but a struggle to achieve peace through peaceful and nonviolent ways and means. The critical moment of the Peace Caravan came when on the way to Corregidor from Manila; the lone survivor of the Jabiddah masscare joined the Peace Caravan on the request of the organizers and decided to go back to the same Corregidor Island from where he narrowly escaped under gun shots exactly forty years ago. The lone survivor made a call for peace and supported the Advocacy Campaign of MPC. As the Peace Caravan achieved its goal, the organizers of the Peace Caravan extended words of thanks to NP team “we are immensely grateful and honoured to get protective accompaniment from Nonviolent Peaceforce in this difficult but very important journey to achieve lasting peace with justice in Mindanao”.

In addition to these programmatic tasks, the Project Director also had meetings with Embassies and others on fundraising-related issues.

(Written by Atif Hameed)