International community appeals Philippine Congress to honor peace agreement with MILF

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 19): International community appeals Philippine Congress to honor peace agreement with MILF

Around 78 international organizations appealed to members of the Philippine Congress for the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

"We, the undersigned organizations condemn this recent violence in Mamapasano town, Maguindanao province, Philippines. We call for a timely, transparent and thorough investigation and prosecution. At the same time, while the investigation and quest for justice is ongoing, we urge the Philippine Congress to complete their deliberation and adopt the Bangsamoro Basic Law," they said.

The group also expressed their solidarity and support to the Women Engaged in Action on the UN Securty Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and other Filipino organizations as they call for "observance of the confidence-building measures that the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to undertake including the turning in of the first of MILF weapons to signal the start of the decommissioning process under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro’s (CAB) Annex on Normalization; and the holding of a joint security assessment for enhanced cooperation between the government and the MILF."

According to the group, the Philippines serves as "a shining example in women’s participation in peace processes."

"The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on the Bangsamoro by the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and its Annex on revenue generation and wealth-sharing, which provides for the use of public funds for gender-specific development programmes and activities is attributed to women’s leadership in the peace negotiations and strong advocacy of women’s groups and other civil society actors," they noted.

Following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Philippine Congress has undergone deliberation on the Bangsamoro Basic Law which would turn the Comprehensive Peace Agreement into a law. The said law is expected to be adopted in the coming months.

However, the killing of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Forces (PNP-SAF) and 19 civilians in an encounter on Jan. 25 with the MILF and its splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamapasano town, Maguindanao, Southern Philippines has put the peace process in jeopardy.

Some actors are taking advantage of the Mamapasano tragedy to undermine the trust between the government and the MILF. There are even some groups already calling for a halt to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Despite that, the international community continues to look up to the Philippines as a leader in the pursuit of peace and justice and in women’s participation in political and peace processes at all levels.

It also stands ready to provide support in order to translate the words of the peace agreement into realistic actions.

"The Filipino people deserve nothing less than the fulfillment of the promise of long lasting peace," they said.

Among the organizations who signed the appeal include the 1325 Action Group – Nepal, 1325 Policy Group (1325 PG) – Sweden, Acheh Women's League (LINA) - Indonesia, African Women’s Active Nonviolence Initiatives for Social Change/COFERD – Democratic Republic of Congo, Alola Foundation - Timor Leste, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) - Thailand, Association Dea Dia – Serbia, Association of War Affected Women – Sri Lanka, Cadre Permanent de Concertation de la Femme Congolaise (CAFCO) – Democratic Republic of Congo,

Centre d’études sur la Justice et la Résolution 1325 (CJR 1325) – Democratic Republic of Congo, Centro de Education e Investigación para la Paz (CEIPAZ) – Spain, Cerue Konah Garlo (of Civil Society Media Leadership Program) – Liberia, Coalition for Action on 1325 – Uganda, Colectivo de Pensamiento y Acción Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad – Colombia, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) – South Sudan, Cordaid – Nehterlands/International, Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE) – Colombia, End Impunity Organization (EIO) - South Sudan, Equatoria Women United in Kenya (EWUK) - Kenya.

EVE Organisation for Women Development – South Sudan, Eye Radio - South Sudan, FemLinkPACIFIC - Fiji, Forum for Women and Development (FOKUS) - Norway, Fountaine - ISOKO for Good Governance and the Integrated Development – Burundi, Gender Equity and Women’s Leadership Program - South Sudan, Global Justice Office (United Methodist Women) - USA/International, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders – USA/International, Human Rights Development Organisation (HURIDO) - Sudan, Initiative Feminine pour la Defense des Droits Humains et le Developpment (IFDH-NGABO) - Democratic Republic of Congo,

ISIS International - Philippines, Islamic Studies and Muslim Community Development for Peaceful Social Integration, Walailak University - Thailand, Justice for Women- United Kingdom, Lisa International Limited – Kenya, Media Advocacy Group – Nepal, Naga Women Union – India, National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO) - United Kingdom, National Network for Beijing-Review Nepal (NNBN) - Nepal, National Organization of Women – Sierra Leone, Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding – Fiji,

PA SHAZET - Kyrgyzstan, Rural Women’s Development and Unity Centre (RUWDUC) - Nepal, Rural women's association (Alga) - Kyrgyzstan, Rwanda Women’s Network, Saathi – Nepal, Samanata Institute for Social and Gender Equality - Nepal, Sancharika Samuha – Nepal, Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN)/Alternative Legal Assistance Center, Society for Appraisal and Women Empowerment in Rural Areas (SAWERA) - Pakistan, South Asia Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR) - India/South Asia,

South Sudan Friends International - South Sudan, South Sudan Law Society (SSLS) - South Sudan, South Sudanese Women Leaders for Peace, South Sudanese Women Cry for Peace and Development (SSWCFPD), South Sudanese Women Empowerment for Peace (SSuWEP), Strey Khmer Organization - Cambodia, Supporting People and Rebuilding Communities of Chittagong, Hill Tracts - Bangladesh, Synergie des Associations Feminines du Congo (SAFECO) – Democratic Republic of Congo, Synergie des Femmes pour les Victimes de Violences Sexuelles (SFVS) – Democratic Republic of Congo, Teso Women Peace Activists (TEWPA) – Uganda,

United Youth of the Philippines - Women, Inc. (UnYPhil-Women, Inc.) - Philippines, Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights - USA/International, Voice for Change - South Sudan, Wi’am Palestinian Conflict Resolution and Transformation Center – Palestine, Windows for South Sudan, Women’s Action Network of Sri Lanka, Women's Active Museum on War and Peace(WAM) - Japan, Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) - Philippines/International, Women for Human Rights - Nepal, Women and Media Collective- Sri Lanka,

Women’s Peace Initiatives - Cameroon, Women Peace Network Arakan - Burma, Women Peacemakers Program – Netherlands/International, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) – Democratic Republic of Congo, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) – Spain, Women's Leadership Program - South Sudan, Women’s Solidarity Fund – Armenia and UK, and Young Women’s Christian Association – International.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=745968