Sunday, April 5, 2015

MILF: Normalization process vital to success of any conflict resolution: international expert

Posted to the MILF Website (Apr 5): Normalization process vital to success of any conflict resolution: international expert

 “Normalization process is vital to the success of any conflict resolution program such as the ongoing peace process in Mindanao”, Stravros “Aki” Stavrou, an expert on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) said in a forum on Bangsamoro peace process on Saturday (April 4).

"The normalization phase is the time to plant the seeds of development. However, this can only happen when we treat our partners from across the negotiating table with the same respect we'd afford ourselves”, Stravou also said.

An Annex on Normalization is one of the signed agreements between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) in the 17-year peace process. The annex contains decommissioning of forces and weapons, and the conversion of former MILF camps, including Camp Abubakkar As Siddique into a zone of economic development.

“Providing stability and sustainability to former combatants will help ensure that they will no longer be enticed to return to armed radicalism, Stravou further said.

He said "the real question is whether ex-combatants have indeed become ex-combatants -- that you have taken those people out of the culture and context of conflict."

"If you are able to attract the most number of combatants possible in the process, then you are in a good position to prevent ISIS-like elements from emerging. But if you don't deliver, you will definitely see resistance," he added.

Aside from the political and socio-economic aspects of normalization, psycho-social interventions are equally important, Stavrou stressed.

He said the communities must also be involved in the process. They should be sensitive to acting immediately or preventing a situation that would make ex-combatants return to their old ways.

The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) incorporates the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) signed in 2012 and separate annexes on revenue generation and wealth sharing, normalization, power sharing, and transitional arrangements.

The CAB becomes the basis for the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) crafted by the Bangsamoro transition Commission (BTC), which will pave the way for the creation of new political entity called Bangsamoro to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/831-normalization-process-vital-to-success-of-any-conflict-resolution-international-expert

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