With two peace processes resuming in 2011 under a new Philippine administration, the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement is again faced with the challenges of engaging the tri-people peace constituency as well as preparing their communities for the possible situations that may come up from the sincerity or lack thereof of the contending parties to pursue peace in Mindanao.

For ten years since its conception in response to the call of former President Joseph Estrada for “All Out War” against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which had massively taken lives, properties and sense of security among the tri-people, the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement had actively pursued peace by building and empowering a grassroots peace constituency.

By educating, organizing and capacitating the people in the communities, it had formed a critical mass among its members and leaders that does not only look at peace as a result of the peace processes between the government of the Philippines and the insurgents but also as a product of peace-building initiatives in the grassroots to advance the peoples’ right to self-determination, uphold human rights , encourage dialogues as well as promote sustainable and ecological development.

In its first meeting of the members of the Council of Peoples’ Representatives on January 14-16 this year, the peace movement reflected on its ten-year journey; learning from its successes and failure.

The direction for the next few years was also set with not only the peace processes in mind but also taking into greater consideration the various issues and concerns that adversely affect the tri-people communities as much as Mindanao conflict had.

The struggle of the Katawhang Lumad for their right to self-determination and ancestral domain against the state’s lack of genuine implementation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) in Mindanao had for years been overshadowed by the attention given to the peace processes. The process of ancestral domain delineations and titling as well as implementation of sustainable development programs remains slow compared to the rapid development aggression through mining, logging and land conversions that does not only destroys the ancestral lands and livelihood but most importantly, annihilates the culture and heritage of the indigenous peoples.

Thus, in its tenth year of existence, the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement grassroots peace constituency faces the challenges of 2011 and beyond by not only giving the Bangsamoro people their political options for peace but also by harmonizing and intensifying tri-people support and active participation to the Katawhang Lumad’s struggle.

Posted on MPPM website Friday, 28 January 2011 08:22

 MPPM holds sixth Mindanao Peace Summit in Maguindanao town

December 13, 2010 - The Mindanao People’s Peace Movement (MPPM) marked its 10^th year of its existence, by holding a Summit Meeting in Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao on December 12.

More than 300 peace advocates from all over Mindanao attended the summit in this highland town of Maguindanoao.

The biennial assembly is being held at Upi Agricultural School-Provincial Technical Institute of Agriculture (UAS-PTIA) - campus in Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao from December 12-16, 2010.

This year summit focuses on Indigenous Peoples (IP’s) issues and concerns in relation to the Mindanao peace processes. The summit intend s to give an open space not only for IP’s but also to allow the Bangsamoro and the Mindanao migrants understand deeply the position of the IP’s in Mindanao.

In Mindanao, there is strong sense of anticipation for the resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Libration Front (MILF) after the talks is currently passing through a difficult stage. The sad experience of the MOA-AD opened the eyes of the top level actors on the importance of people’s consultation and opinion especially on the issue that cut across various and diverse political socio-cultural and economic boundaries.

Delegates have already arrived yesterday. The opening program started also yesterday with Engr. Sukarno B. Datukan, UAS-PTIA Administrator rendering the welcome address.

Today, Congressman Teodoro Baguilat, Jr, chairperson for national Cultural Communities, will give his keynote speech.

The main advocacy of the MPPM is about the conduct of a United Nations-supervised/managed/facilitated referendum on four political options: free association, autonomy, federalism and independence to determine the wishes of the people of Mindanao particularly the Bangsamoro people.

Posted on MPPM website Monday, 20 December 2010 13:36

 6^th Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Summit

As practiced biennially since its founding at the first Summit in Davao City in 2000, the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM) is once again inviting members and friends of the MPPM alliance/network/coalition to the 6^th Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Summit (MPPS). This will be held at the Upi Agricultural School (UAS) in Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao on December 12 to 16, 2010. These peace summits were attended by the tri-people (Katawhang Lumad, the Bangsamoro and the Mindanao Migrants/Descendants) in their hundreds have been held in Midsayap, Cotabato (2^nd MPPS), Lake Sebu, South Cotabato (3^rd MPPS), Lamitan, Basilan (4^th MPPS) and Marawi City (5^th MPPS).

Anchored on the theme “Weaving the path towards justpeace in tri-people communities”, the 6^th MPPS will focus on the current situation and on the active participation of the grassroots tri-people in the Mindanao peace processes. The biennial summits are also venue to celebrate the success stories of the different community peace initiatives of the tri-peoples.

Major themes and thematic workshops which have been features of the past two summits will still be conducted which range from the subjects on democracy and peoples’ self-determination, climate justice, food sovereignty, women and youth, engaging men in gender justice and peacebuilding, foreign military bases and its implication to the peace and development in Mindanao among others. The delegates will also have an opportunity to listen and interact to the updates on the peace processes engaged by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. The 6^th MPPS will also have time for tri-people caucuses which will choose the MPPM Council of Peoples’ Representatives and will allow the MPPM General Assembly to chart the general direction and thrusts of MPPM for the coming years.
Participants who can afford are encouraged to pay P1200, which will cover food, kit and registration fee. Solidarity accommodations will be provided by our local host, the Upi Agricultural School, at their Farmers Training Center, others can stay in homes and tents for those who have them. For those who preferred to stay in inns or lodging houses, you may contact the Secretariat for booking arrangements. Lodging fees range from P250/person (non airconditioned rooms)-P1,000 (air-conditioned room, double bed can accommodate 4 persons). Travel cost and lodging expenses will be borne by the participants. A mandatory registration fee for all is P250.

Nuro,Upi is accessible by a double tire Ford Fierra and motorcycles locally known as “habal-habal” from Cotabatao City. When you are coming from the Cotabato City town proper, take a Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) with an “Awang” signboard and get off at the ABBA South Bound Terminal in Malagapas near the DXMY radio station. PUJ fare is only PhP7.00

For those coming from the Awang Airport, you can take a tricycle from the airport and get off outside where the local jeepneys and tricycles are. Tricycle fare is PhP7.00. You may then take any PUJ going to the City/Town and get off at the ABBA South Bound Terminal in Malagapas.

From the ABBA Southbound terminal, public transportation (double tire Ford Fierra) will cost you PhP50.00. It will take an hour to travel from Cotabato City to Nuro. You may request the driver to let you off at the Upi Agricultural School.

Alternatively, one can take the “habal-habal”. They are usually stationed at the crossing Awang and is available until 4PM. If you want to be the sole passenger, you may hire the “habal-habal” for PhP 200, otherwise the regular fare is PhP 100. It will only take 45 minutes to reach Nuro in this mode of transportation.
For delegates coming from Western Mindanao, there are buses from Zamboanga City-Pagadian 24 hours a day. Then you can take the vans plying the Pagadian-Cotabato City route everyday from 4AM-3PM. Those from Southern Mindanao can take either the Husky bus or vans from General Santos City going to Cotabato City. For delegates coming from CARAGA and the Greater Davao Areas, Weena buses are available from 4AM-2PM for Cotabato City. Alternatively, you can also take the van stationed at SM Van Terminal, which plies the Davao-Cotabato route from 4AM-5PM everyday.

For friends coming from Manila, there are two (2) direct flights to Cotabato daily: Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

Members and friends are encouraged to join the Caravan preceding the Summit from four (4) converging points: Iligan City, Pagadian City, Cotabato City and Midsayap, Cotabato.

Please confirm your attendance by writing MPPM using mppm4peace yahoo.com and/or al_carumba yahoo.com. Attached is the 6^th MPPS program for your information and reference. For urgent messages please call our office at 064-4211358 or 0920-506-5235 (Mabel Carumba).

Sunday, 05 December 2010 13:49