Give Peace a Chance: the Story of the GRP-MNLF Peace Talks / Abraham Iribani — 1St Ed
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GiveGive peacepeaceaa chancechance The Story of the GRP-MNLF Peace Talks GiveGive GiveGivepeacepeace aa chancechance The Story of the GRP-MNLF Peace Talks Abraham Iribani Copyright © 2006 by Jihan A. Iribani All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or broadcast. Published in the Philippines by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, 3/f ALPAP 1 Bldg., 140 Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, Philippines. http://www.kaf.ph and The Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy, Unit 2D, 2nd Floor, Tower 1, Governor’s Place Condominium, 562 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. email:[email protected] National Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data Iribani, Abraham, 1959-2006 Give peace a chance: The Story of the GRP-MNLF Peace Talks / Abraham Iribani — 1st ed. ISBN: 13579108642 First Edition Grateful acknowledgment is made to Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. for permission to use the painting of Abdul Mari Imao, Jr. for the book cover. All rights reserved. Used by permission. ‘The painting depicts a twofold history of the Sulu region. The leftmost composition is an image of a Tausug warrior fused to the handle of a traditional Moro kris. This is symbolical of a life that has embraced the struggle for self-determination. The composition pays tribute to centuries of struggle of the Moro people, depicting the late 60s well into the 70s: the burning of Jolo, Sulu as fiery backdrop to a lone silhouetted rooster—the sarimanok—head bowed in reverence and in mourning. The right portion is a composition of hope, symbolized by the convergence of the Islamic crescent, the star, Bertrand Russell’s symbol and the dove as universal symbol of peace. The lower portion is a mother and child, which again portends renewed hope amidst a backdrop of relative tranquility. It is a message of continuity, the passing of yet one more generation, and the continuance of a legacy.’ —Abdulmari Asia Imao for Langka and Jihan... Table of Contents Foreword Soliman M. Santos, Jr. ....................................................................... i Messages Fidel V. Ramos................................................................................. vii Eduardo R. Ermita ......................................................................... viii Amina Rasul....................................................................................... x Introduction ......................................................................... 1 Historical Background........................................................ 13 The Peace Times .............................................................................. 15 The Wars Began ............................................................................... 17 The Wars Continued ...................................................................... 25 The Philippine Commonwealth ................................................... 29 The Mindanao War .........................................................................30 Peace Betrayed ................................................................................39 Exploratory Talks: Inclinations Towards Peace .................. 55 The Exploratory Period: September 1992 to September 1993 .. 57 The First Exploratory Talks............................................................. 61 1993: Confidence Building and Preparations for the Second Exploratory Talks .......................................................................... 64 The Kidnapping of Two Spanish Nuns in Sulu .......................... 68 The MNLF and the Philippine Marines in Basilan ...................... 75 The Second Exploratory Talks – Defining the Modalities........... 81 The Negotiations for the Release of Fr. Blanco ............................84 Escape to Freedom .........................................................................86 What is the Abu Sayyaf?.................................................................87 The OIC Meeting in Pakistan ........................................................88 Exchange of Letters. ........................................................................89 Other Distractions to the Peace Process....................................... 93 MNLF Letter of Readiness............................................................ 102 The First Round of Formal Talks, Jakarta .......................... 119 Jakarta, Indonesia: October 25 –November 7, 1993................. 121 October 25: Opening Ceremonies ..............................................123 October 26: First Session .............................................................126 October 26: Second Session ........................................................129 October 27: Third Session ...........................................................132 October 27: Fourth Session.........................................................134 October 28: Fifth Session ............................................................136 October 28: Sixth Session ............................................................139 November 1: Seventh Session..................................................... 141 November 1: Eighth Session .......................................................143 November 2: Ninth Session ........................................................143 November 4: Twelfth Session .....................................................146 November 4: Thirteenth Session ................................................147 November 5: Fourteenth Session ...............................................148 November 5: Fifteenth Session ...................................................149 November 6: Sixteenth Session ..................................................152 November 6 to 7: Seventeenth Session .....................................153 November 7: Closing Session .....................................................155 Post-Jakarta Analysis ....................................................................157 1994: Taking the High Road ............................................. 163 Organizing the MNLF Secretariat ................................................165 The Kidnapping of Mr. Charles Walton ......................................165 Arrival of the MNLF Chairman ....................................................167 Visit of OIC Secretary-General Hamid Algabid ..........................168 The Mixed Committee Meeting ................................................... 170 The First Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group .....................172 Delegation from the MILF ...........................................................173 Second Ad Hoc Working Group Committee .............................174 Meeting of the MNLF Chairman with some Political Leaders of Sulu ............................................................175 The Visit of Senator Santanina Rasul to Timbangan .................175 MNLF Leadership Meeting ..........................................................176 Start of MNLF Consultations in Mindanao ...............................176 Start of Support Committee Meetings .......................................177 Second Mixed Committee Meeting ............................................178 Military Operations against the Abu Sayyaf (June to September 1994): A Test of GRP-MNLF Confidence Building Measures .......................................................................182 Back to Jakarta, Indonesia: The Second Round of Formal Talks, September 1-5, 1994 .......................................................194 Presence of OIC Ceasefire Observers—Constitutional or Not? ........................................................................................198 GRP-MNLF Ad-Hoc Working Group Meeting in Zamboanga City .........................................................................200 OIC Summit Meeting in Morocco...............................................202 Fourth Mixed Committee Meeting ............................................. 215 The Raid on Ipil ............................................................................220 Military Operations in Pilas Island, Basilan. ..............................227 Military Operations in Tuburan, Basilan ....................................228 he 5th Mixed Committee Meeting ..............................................230 The Consultations in Palawan ....................................................239 The Meeting with House Speaker Jose De Venecia ................... 241 The 6th Mixed Committee Meeting ............................................244 MNLF Leadership Meeting, Jolo, Sulu .......................................246 The Special OIC Meeting in New York, USA ..............................252 International Support for the Peace Talks. ................................259 1996: Moment of Truth .................................................... 277 Popular Consultations.................................................................282 The Arrival of the MNLF Chairman ............................................285 The Popular Consultation, February 29, Zamboanga City ......287 The 7th Mixed Committee Meeting ............................................288