‘This is it’
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"THIS IS IT," Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita "Ging" Quintos-Deles said of the peace agreement with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), on the eve of the signing.
Yesterday, a thousand guests witnessed the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) at the Kalayaan Gardens of Malacañang. Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who took time off from the crisis over missing Malaysian flight MH370, joined president Benigno Simeon Aquino III. Malaysia has facilitated the negotiations between the Philippine Government (GPH) and the MILF since 2001.
The 400-strong MILF delegation, led by MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, must have breathed a sigh of relief that the 17-year negotiations led by Mohagher Iqbal (for the MILF) and Prof. Miriam Coronel Ferrer (for GPH) had reached their successful conclusion. Senior MILF members such as Ghadzali Jaafar (vice-chair for Political Affairs), provincial committees and ground commanders mingled with leaders of government, the international community, private sector and civil society at the Kalayaan Gardens.
In Mindanao, hundreds of thousands of Bangsamoro -- those lucky enough to have electricity and television sets -- eagerly watched the coverage of the event. Celebrations took place in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-tawi, Basilan -- even in troubled Sulu. Across Mindanao, the excitement about the long awaited signing was infectious as millions of Mindanaoans hoped that Peace Adviser Ging would be prophetic when she said, "This is it." Mindanaoans hope and pray that peace and stability are within reach.
In Manila, festivities were organized. A caravan for peace was organized by Muslim groups supporters from Baguio City, Pampanga, Tarlac and other areas where the Muslim diaspora reside, to join Bangsamoro from Mindanao in celebration. On Wednesday, they held a "Harana [Serenade] for Peace." Bangsamoro musicians played brass instruments such as gongs, kulintang and dudakan to entertain the Muslim community gathered around the Golden Mosque.
A network of peace advocates, the Mindanao Peace Weavers, has circulated a "Peoples’ Peace Covenant on the Bangsamoro," getting organizations and individuals to commit support for the CAB. The covenant: to continue to guard the gains we have achieved and to remain resolutely vigilant that the implementation of the CAB realizes the aspirations and rights of the poorest of the Bangsamoro citizenry and other diverse peoples of the region -- the indigenous peoples, migrant Christians, and other social groupings. Elsewhere in Mindanao, a peace caravan spread the happy news.
Two women political leaders of Mindanao issued statements of support for the agreement. North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza hoped that the agreement would usher in more progress and development in Mindanao. Compostela Valley Representative Ma. Carmen Zamora took time to commend Peace Adviser Deles and GPH peace panel chair Ferrer as women leaders who "have achieved a remarkable effort for peace in our country at the close of Women’s Month."
Labor champion Toots Ople, daughter of the late Foreign Secretary Blas Ople, texted: "We are so blessed to be the generation that would witness the historic signing of the Bangsamoro peace pact."
However, Doubting Thomases remain unconvinced. For them, "this is it" is a scary phrase. Several political pundits, even on the eve of the signing, posited their many fears. Let me cite a few of their fears: that the agreement with the MILF will encourage other groups to take up arms; that the MNLF will link up with disgruntled MILF leaders and start anew; that the agreement will lead to the fragmentation of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago; that the CAB was the prize for the abandonment of the Philippine claim to the territory of Sabah; that the agreement violates the constitution; that the rights of the indigenous peoples in the Bangsamoro territory may be violated.
While wise leaders would recognize all of these worries as possible complications, they would also weigh the probabilities of these factors becoming real obstacles. Logic dictates that our leaders will have to anticipate how to deal with these complications.
The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), expecting bumps ahead, included in their statement of support a call: "Right after the signing of the CAB, the pact will be discussed and debated not only in the court of law but also in the bar of public opinion. IAG calls on the courts, opinion makers and public and private leaders to weigh the issues with due consideration to the higher interests of justice, peace and development in the Bangsamoro, Mindanao and the country. We have one good shot at Mindanao peace in the CAB. Let us all together give our share to realize the full potential of this agreement."
We at the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) concur with our colleagues at the IAG. We are optimistic but we are also aware of the many obstacles on the road to a just and lasting peace. Below is the statement issued by PCID:
"The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy welcomes the historic signing of the Comprehensive Agreement for the Bangsamoro between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The agreement sets the parameters for the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the drafting of which is anticipated to be completed before Congress opens. After over 17 years of the peace process between the government and MILF, sustainable peace seems to be within reach and with it, the transformation of Bangsamoro and Mindanao dreams to reality.
"Through the years, we have seen the initiatives and efforts to establish a peaceful and democratic relationship between national government and the Muslim liberation movements, from the MNLF to the MILF. We have been witnesses to the Bangsamoro’s struggle for their identity, for fair and good governance, and for inclusive growth and development. We hope that with this agreement in place, the government can now work on the convergence of the two peace agreements forged with the MNLF and the MILF, and proceed to focus much needed attention on the socio-economic and political development of the region to attain genuine autonomy.
"We at PCID believe that this agreement, if realized, will provide a strong foundation for prosperity and inclusive growth, not just for the Bangsamoro but for all peoples of Mindanao and the entire country as well. We pray that the spirit of the Agreement will permeate the Bangsamoro Basic Law. We congratulate and thank our government, the MILF, the Bangsamoro and peace advocates, Malaysia for facilitating the negotiations, the International Contact Group as well as all of those who supported the GPH-MILF peace process to its the successful conclusion.
"We give special thanks to the men and women of the negotiating panels for their unwavering commitment to peace, patience and perseverance as well as the men and women in the Office of the Presidential Adviser of the Peace Process."
Mabrouk!
In Mindanao, hundreds of thousands of Bangsamoro -- those lucky enough to have electricity and television sets -- eagerly watched the coverage of the event. Celebrations took place in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-tawi, Basilan -- even in troubled Sulu. Across Mindanao, the excitement about the long awaited signing was infectious as millions of Mindanaoans hoped that Peace Adviser Ging would be prophetic when she said, "This is it." Mindanaoans hope and pray that peace and stability are within reach.
In Manila, festivities were organized. A caravan for peace was organized by Muslim groups supporters from Baguio City, Pampanga, Tarlac and other areas where the Muslim diaspora reside, to join Bangsamoro from Mindanao in celebration. On Wednesday, they held a "Harana [Serenade] for Peace." Bangsamoro musicians played brass instruments such as gongs, kulintang and dudakan to entertain the Muslim community gathered around the Golden Mosque.
A network of peace advocates, the Mindanao Peace Weavers, has circulated a "Peoples’ Peace Covenant on the Bangsamoro," getting organizations and individuals to commit support for the CAB. The covenant: to continue to guard the gains we have achieved and to remain resolutely vigilant that the implementation of the CAB realizes the aspirations and rights of the poorest of the Bangsamoro citizenry and other diverse peoples of the region -- the indigenous peoples, migrant Christians, and other social groupings. Elsewhere in Mindanao, a peace caravan spread the happy news.
Two women political leaders of Mindanao issued statements of support for the agreement. North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza hoped that the agreement would usher in more progress and development in Mindanao. Compostela Valley Representative Ma. Carmen Zamora took time to commend Peace Adviser Deles and GPH peace panel chair Ferrer as women leaders who "have achieved a remarkable effort for peace in our country at the close of Women’s Month."
Labor champion Toots Ople, daughter of the late Foreign Secretary Blas Ople, texted: "We are so blessed to be the generation that would witness the historic signing of the Bangsamoro peace pact."
However, Doubting Thomases remain unconvinced. For them, "this is it" is a scary phrase. Several political pundits, even on the eve of the signing, posited their many fears. Let me cite a few of their fears: that the agreement with the MILF will encourage other groups to take up arms; that the MNLF will link up with disgruntled MILF leaders and start anew; that the agreement will lead to the fragmentation of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago; that the CAB was the prize for the abandonment of the Philippine claim to the territory of Sabah; that the agreement violates the constitution; that the rights of the indigenous peoples in the Bangsamoro territory may be violated.
While wise leaders would recognize all of these worries as possible complications, they would also weigh the probabilities of these factors becoming real obstacles. Logic dictates that our leaders will have to anticipate how to deal with these complications.
The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), expecting bumps ahead, included in their statement of support a call: "Right after the signing of the CAB, the pact will be discussed and debated not only in the court of law but also in the bar of public opinion. IAG calls on the courts, opinion makers and public and private leaders to weigh the issues with due consideration to the higher interests of justice, peace and development in the Bangsamoro, Mindanao and the country. We have one good shot at Mindanao peace in the CAB. Let us all together give our share to realize the full potential of this agreement."
We at the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) concur with our colleagues at the IAG. We are optimistic but we are also aware of the many obstacles on the road to a just and lasting peace. Below is the statement issued by PCID:
"The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy welcomes the historic signing of the Comprehensive Agreement for the Bangsamoro between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The agreement sets the parameters for the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the drafting of which is anticipated to be completed before Congress opens. After over 17 years of the peace process between the government and MILF, sustainable peace seems to be within reach and with it, the transformation of Bangsamoro and Mindanao dreams to reality.
"Through the years, we have seen the initiatives and efforts to establish a peaceful and democratic relationship between national government and the Muslim liberation movements, from the MNLF to the MILF. We have been witnesses to the Bangsamoro’s struggle for their identity, for fair and good governance, and for inclusive growth and development. We hope that with this agreement in place, the government can now work on the convergence of the two peace agreements forged with the MNLF and the MILF, and proceed to focus much needed attention on the socio-economic and political development of the region to attain genuine autonomy.
"We at PCID believe that this agreement, if realized, will provide a strong foundation for prosperity and inclusive growth, not just for the Bangsamoro but for all peoples of Mindanao and the entire country as well. We pray that the spirit of the Agreement will permeate the Bangsamoro Basic Law. We congratulate and thank our government, the MILF, the Bangsamoro and peace advocates, Malaysia for facilitating the negotiations, the International Contact Group as well as all of those who supported the GPH-MILF peace process to its the successful conclusion.
"We give special thanks to the men and women of the negotiating panels for their unwavering commitment to peace, patience and perseverance as well as the men and women in the Office of the Presidential Adviser of the Peace Process."
Mabrouk!
Amina Rasul is the president of Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy. Surveil is her column in BusinessWorld. Follow her on Twitter @aminarasul.