ASEAN Institute for Peace, Reconciliation Launches Publication on Peace Process Between PH Gov’t, MNLF
Philippine Permanent Representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ambassador Noel Servigon receives a copy of the publication from the 2018 Chair of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) Governing Council Dr. Darmp Sukontasap. (Jakarta PM photo)
JAKARTA 12 October 2019 – The ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) launched the publication entitled, “Lessons Learned from a Process of Conflict Resolution between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as Mediated by Indonesia (1993-1996)” on 23 September 2019 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Daerah Khusus Ibukota.
The project, led by ASEAN-IPR Indonesia and funded by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), is the first research project launched under the auspices of the Jakarta-based Institute. The ceremonial book launch was immediately followed by a seminar on the outcomes of the research project.
The research looks into the lessons learned during the four rounds of Peace Talks mediated by the Government of Indonesia, which led to the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in 1996. It has benefitted greatly from interviews with key players from both the Philippines and Indonesia, historical archives, and scholarly papers.
Addressing approximately 100 guests, Indonesian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir noted that “as one of the prominent success stories of peaceful conflict resolution, the peace process between the GRP and MNLF provided lessons from the region on how countries can settle a conflict through peaceful settlements of dispute in ASEAN.”
In his welcome remarks, Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN Ambassador Noel Servigon underscored the value of the publication, especially in showing the “importance of mediators as champions of peace and how diplomacy became instrumental in forging peace between the GRP and the MNLF.” He also expressed the fervent hope that “more of this kind of project will be launched to contribute to the ever-growing body of knowledge that is crucial to promoting peace in Southeast Asia.”
The seminar on the outcomes of the research project consisted of two substantive sessions—one on the reflections of the role of Indonesia in facilitating the 1993-1996 peace talks, and another on looking ahead at the significance of facilitation in the resolution of conflicts in ASEAN.
GRP Negotiating Panel member Atty. Nabil Tan and former MNLF chairman Muslimin Sema also gave their own viewpoints on the historical peace process during the panel discussions. The event was also attended by Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process director Jana Gallardo, Philippine civil society organizations, and media outlets. END
Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN Ambassador Noel Servigon delivering his welcome remarks. (Jakarta PM photo)
Members of the ASEAN-IPR Governing Council and Advisory Board, Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States to ASEAN, Philippine and Indonesian key players in the peace talks, and the project team pose for the official photo with Indonesian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir (eighth from the right). (Jakarta PM photo)
For more information, visit http://www.jakartapm.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionJakarta.