BANTAY CEASEFIRE Mindanao Grassroots Ceasefire Review and Assessment January 6-12 & 18-19, 2003 Cotabato, Maguindanao, Lanao & Sultan Kudarat CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4 COTABATO 10 LANAO 17 MAGUINDANAO 25 SULTAN KUDARAT 31 LOBBY MISSION IN MANILA 34 C O N V E N O R S : Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Mindanao Peace Advocates Conference Initiatives for International Dialogue Mindanao Coalition of Development NGOs Sumpay-Mindanao Balay Balik-Kalipay Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement LAFFCOD, Inc. Muslim Multi-sectoral Movement for Peace and Development Maranao Peoples Development Center United Youth of the Philippines Pikit Parish Freedom from Debt Coalition FOR MORE INFORMATION: Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC) Secretariat Telefax: (63) (82) 2992052 Tel: (63) (82) 2992574 to 75 E-mail:
[email protected] INTRODUCTION From January 6-12 & 18-19, 2003 the “Bantay Ceasefire” led an investigative mission into Maguindanao, Lanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato. The mission was prompted by, first, the reported violations of the ceasefire in these areas; and second, the apparent failure of the GRP-MILF peace talks to develop an effective monitoring mechanism for the ceasefire. The success of future peace talks rests largely on mutual confidence and trust between the two parties to observe previous agreements. Thus, a secure environment is a pre-requisite for the impending questions of development, ancestral domain and a politically negotiated settlement. A secure environment is also essential to the thousands that live,