Mindanao approves referendum for peace

The tri-people of Mindanao are now calling on the government of the Philippines to hold a referendum in Muslim Mindanao.

In a declaration approved at a Peace Summit held in Midsayap, Cotabato December 20, Lumad, Bangsamoro and settlers approved a United Nations-Supervised Referendum as "the best hope for a peaceful, just, democratic and final solution to end the long war waged by the Bangsamoro in pursuit of self-determination".

The Tri-People Assembly of the 2nd Mindanao People's Peace Summit declared that the Bangsamoro should have "the opportunity to determine their political future as either a part of the Philippines or as an independent nation" by conducting a Referendum within the next few years in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and contiguous territories predominantly inhabited by Moro people.

More than 500 delegates from across Mindanao and international observers from Burma, East Timor, the Republic of Korea, the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands gathered at Southern Christian College to discuss a common dream for Peace with Self-Determination.

Vice President Teofisto N. Guingona Jr. spoke at the summit, and Virgilio Leyretana, deputy presidential assistant for Mindanao, read the speech of President Macapagal-Arroyo. Two Moro National Liberation Front groups and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front sent spokespersons to contribute to this movement for peace. Prof. Abhoud Syed M. Lingga, chair of the Bangsamoro People‚s Consultative Assembly, gave a speech espousing a referendum.

The summit was an initiative of the Mindanao People's Peace Movement which held a first peace summit in June last year in Davao City. MPPM supports peace talks, as it did the resolution passed during that first summit, as long as they are "linked to and grounded in educated and enlightened participation by the masses of the Tri-People," who must be allowed to express their will through a Referendum.

Alvaro Senturias Jr., chairman of MPPM, was obviously elated by the passage of the Declaration. At the summit, he said, "Our vision is and must always be a just and lasting peace not only in Mindanao but also in the Philippines and in our world. Our willingness to come together in this summit is a sign of commitment to build peace. However, it is not enough to come together. We must reason together. And decide together."

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The declaration states:

"For several decades, the Bagsamoro of Mindanao have waged a war against colonization and subjugation. For many centuries, they have relentlessly struggled for their Right in Self-determination (RSD). Now, the Moro people themselves have proposed an alternative way to solve the raging conflict: a United Nations-Supervised Referendum on political options in the Bangsamoro areas of Mindanao (ARMM and contiguous areas predominantly inhabited by Moro people).

"The Bangsamoro collectively hold a long-cherished dream of Self-Determination, a situation where the people themselves decide and conduct their own affairs in accordance with their traditions and culture. At the same time, they do not wish to violate the other peoples' Right to Self-Determination (RSD) and right to self-governance. Accordingly, all must recognize the inherent rights of our Lumad brothers and sisters as embodied in but not limited to the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA, R.A. 8371 of 1997).

"In all processes that the Moro people will undertake, the Mindanao settlers and their Descendants and the Lumad brothers and sisters living in Mindanao should be actively involved. The consultation and participation of all the Tri-people at the grassroots level is imperative, since our vision of a just and lasting peace includes all Tri-people living and working together in harmony and trust. While peace negotiations must be held among official leaders and elected representatives, they must be linked to and grounded in educated and enlightened participation by the masses of the Tri-people, so that all may be unified in their cry for human rights, self-determination, justice, and peace for all peoples."

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According to the declaration, several strategies have been attempted in the past "in order to solve the Bangsamoro problem, including armed struggle which has led to prolonged war with massive death and suffering. It states that "a genuine referendum has not yet been pursued as a step towards resolving centuries-old Bangsamoro grievances. It believes that an end to this strife in Mindanao "by peaceful and democratic means is in the best interest of all people" and that a Referendum supervised by the United Nations can be "the most appropriate way to achieve a peaceful and democratic resolution to the conflict."

The declaration recognizes that "massive education/conscientization and organization are needed to ensure that the options offered by the Referendum are thoroughly studied, discussed and understood, so that the people are empowered to participate fully in the democratic process."

It declares that the MPPM calls on the Government of the Philippines to hold within the next few years a United Nations-Supervised Referendum in Bangsamoro areas or Mindanao. In the Referendum, the Bangsamoro people would have the opportunity to determine their political future."

Now that the declaration for a referendum has been made, we will watch with bated breath how the government will react. The tri-people of Mindanao have spoken. Will their voice be heard?

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