Details

KAS’s partners,the Institute for Autonomy and Governance, the Local Government Development Foundation, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, along with other groups, the Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, the Senate-Muslim Advocates for Peace and Progress, the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation, and the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of the Philippines, organized a conference on the effect of the Mamasapano incident on the peace process in Mindanao and in particular, its implications on the passing of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the future of that region. KAS supported this event,along with UNICEF and AusAid.

On the 25th of January 2015, the Mamasapano clash took place, involving the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It resulted in 67 deaths, especially on the SAF side, which suffered the loss of 44 lives.Based on reports from the media, this incident could cause a delay in the passage or even blockage of the law.

There were experts from the national and local governments, the academe,non-governmental organizations, and the international community who exchanged their opinions regarding the BBL and the situation in Mindanao. Since the topic is highly relevant at present and very critical for the future of the Bangsamoro region, as well as for the entire Philippines, all of the attendees were highly involved in the event. Moreover, the conference gained much media attention.

Majority of the voices in the conference underscored that the BBL should be passed as soon as possible---therefore, the government should not wait for the next Administration to do so.The peace process, furthermore, has to include all stakeholders involved in the conflict and not just high-level personalities, but also people on the ground.

The resource persons agreed on the strong need for solving conflict in the region. After 40 years of conflict and 150,000 deaths, it was highlighted that there has to be an end to the battles. People in Mindanao want peace because they are tired of war and so the next generation can finally live in peace.It was also indicated that with the current situation that Mindanao is in, it is not only an issue of peace---it is also an issue of development, as they also talked about the economic impacts, because peace would probably provide more prosperity for the country.

It was also indicated in the event that the challenges of the region are not only the challenges of Mindanao, but of the Philippines.Unfortunately, many Filipinos neither understand the struggle, nor the peace process. By understanding and being open to the intricacies and complexities of the peace process and knowing what it is like for all sides of the spectrum, then perhaps Mindanao and the Philippines can achieve peace once and for all. As Mr. Benedikt Seemann, Country Representative of KAS Philippines said in his welcome remarks, “Not continuing the peace process is not an option.”