MILF: Sixteen student-scholars from John Hopkins University, USA visit Bangsamoro Transition Commission Office

From the MILF Website (Jan 21): Sixteen student-scholars from John Hopkins University, USA visit Bangsamoro Transition Commission Office



Sixteen student-scholars on Conflict Management Program from John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), USA made a courtesy call to the office of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), in Cotabato City on January 16.
   

The Conflict Management Program focuses on mechanism on handling international conflicts, both between and within states that includes  the prevention of escalation of violence, managing crisis escalation, negotiating an end to violence, resolving underlying causes of conflict, developing cooperation, building peace and promoting reconciliation after violent conflict.

The trip of the scholars to the Philippines was purposely to acquire first-hand information, analyze the background and causes of the conflict in Mindanao and apply the principles of conflict management, resolution and post –conflict peace building that they have learned while inside their classrooms to a real conflict setting.

Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace panel and the BTC and with the commissioners briefed the scholars on the updates of the GPH-MILF peace talks and answered their queries.

In 2011, a group of scholars from the same university visited Mindanao at the aftermath of the collapsed of the 2008 MOA-AD which resulted to a renewed war in Mindanao particularly in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.

That visit was an attempt to prevent a recurrence of violence in Mindanao so that the diplomatic peace process can proceed and identify a new formula for future agreement. 

This year’s visit of the student-scholars was to study and look into the conditions on how the peace process evolved through the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, last October 15, 2012 and determine new prospects and identify obstacles for completing the details of the agreement and implement it thereby attaining just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

The scholars also attended lectures and made extensive studies on conflict-affected areas prior to their trip and once they return to their school they will produce and edit set of essays to be presented in a public forum at SAIS in Washington DC and distribute them to all parties whom they met as well as other interested officials from relevant government and international institutions.

The group was led by two Senior Professors from SAIS, P. Terence Hopmann (US), a Professor of International Relations and Director of Conflict Management Program at SAIS and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Brown University and William Zartman (US), Professor Emeritus of International Relations at SAIS and the founding Director of Conflict Management Program.

The members of the delegation, the countries where they came from and their proposed research studies were:

1.    Yasmin Anis (Egypt)- “Moro Identity-The Relationship  to the Christian majority in the Philippines and to neighboring Muslim States”;

2.    Leonie Evers (Netherlands & Germany) –“MILF views on the role of Muslim identity in the peace process and governance”;

3.    Joe Geni (USA)-“Future relations between the Bangsamoro and Government of the Philippines: Can autonomy work better in the new relationship than in previous attempts?”;

4.    Helga Kalm (Estonia)- “The Role of the International Contact Group in negotiations of the Framework Agreement and its Follow-up”;

5.    Benjamin Merill (USA) – “The Transformation of the MILF from a rebel group to a political actor within the Bangsamoro”;

6.    Felix Neugebauer (Germany)- “Protection and assistance to IDPs in Mindanao”;

7.    Panagiotis Olympious (Greece)- “Risks from Potentials Spoilers in the Mindanao Peace Process”;

8.    Mun Kyung Park (Korea)- “Mediator Identity and the negotiation process”;

9.    Akhila Raman (India)- “Women’s roles in peace-making and peace building in Mindanao”;

10.    Oliver Russel (UK) – “Role of Armed Forces and IMT Peacekeepers in the implementation of the Framework Peace Agreement”;

11.    Cormac Sullivan (UK) – “Problems of Economic Development and the implementation of the Framework Peace Agreement”;

12.    Michelle Thompson (USA)- “Relationship between the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and Civil Society Organizations”;

13.    Ryan Whalen (USA) – “Potential problems in implementation of foreign development assistance to Mindanao”;

14.    Constance Wilhelm (France/USA) –“Autonomy, self-determination, and inclusive politics-why has violence reoccurred after signing the Framework Peace Agreements?”;

15.      Ayda Wondemu (Ethiopia/USA) – “DDR in Mindanao: Disarming rebels and transition from war  fighting to policing in Mindanao”;

16.    Renee Wynveen (USA)- “Meeting the humanitarian  needs of populations in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao”.

The student-scholars will also visit and interact with officials of government-MILF created agencies/ institutions such as Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI), Sajahatra Bangsamoro (SB) and identified agencies of government.

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