‘Extension of Bangsamoro transition period opportunity to reflect on achievements’

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - The decision to extend period of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA) is an “opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved to this point,” a report about southern autonomous region of Philippines said on Thursday.

“It is an opportunity for the parties to jointly reflect on what has been achieved to this point, and to adjust and refine the way the process is implemented,” said Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) for the Bangsamoro Peace Process in its seventh Public Report discussing period between Nov. 2020 to Jan. 2022.

The TPMP said the foundations for “effective institutional and legislative structures” in the Bangsamoro have been laid, “which in itself is an outstanding achievement, there cannot be any room for complacency.”

However, it added, “several dimensions of the peace process are still at an early implementation stage.”

“The challenge of realizing sustainable peace by 2025 remains great and should not be underestimated,” it noted.

The TPMT was formed in 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to monitor the implementation of peace agreements signed between the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants.

The Philippines parliament passed extension in the BTA last year before being approved by President Rodrigo Duterte to allow transitional government led by the MILF Chief Murad Ebrahim to stay until 2025.

Heino Marius, a former EU diplomat, chairs the TPMT of which Turkiye’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation, popularly known as the IHH, is part of the TPMT.

- Use intergovernmental relations body to address pending issues

To “consolidate the implementation of the peace process,” the TPMT recommended “priority legislation ideally within the originally defined timeframe prior to June 2022.”

It asked Manila national government and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) led by the MILF to use Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) “to methodically address pending issues.”

The TPMT said the two sides should also address “normalization on the basis of synchronized actions combining all its different elements.”

“Most importantly, resolve questions related to the provision of socio-economic packages for decommissioned combatants and agree on guidelines for the entry” of MILF and other combatants in Philippines National Police.

It also urged the two sides to ensure that the National Amnesty Commission “can begin operations as soon as possible.”

“Strive for greater security and prevention of violent incidents, whether involving rido, resource conflicts or extremism, through holistic and strategic measures,” the report urged the national as well as the autonomous Bangsamoro governments.

“The TPMT is convinced that the peace agreements remain the cornerstone of peace in Mindanao. We remind all stakeholders to appreciate the underlying human, economic and security benefits of lasting peace in the region,” it said.

It said building “comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable peace” in Mindanao is the “key inheritance which the parties can leave to future generations.”

“Their strongest underlying commitment and continued allegiance to letter and spirit of the agreements is the best guarantee of success,” the report added.

- Long struggle until 2019

The MILF led the region’s struggle for autonomy since the mid-20th century, ultimately resulting in peace talks and the transitional government’s formation after a referendum on Jan. 21, 2019.

Before the BTA was founded in 2019 following the referendum, the MILF, led by Murad Ebrahim, had asked for a six-year transition period during peace negotiations with the Manila national government.

But negotiations resulted in a three-year transitional government under Ebrahim as chief minister until 2022.

The two sides agreed to allow the transitional government to take control of regional governance and run affairs until 2022, when elections were agreed to be held.

However, the elections have now been pushed back to 2025 under the popular law signed by the nation’s president, extending the transitional government’s term three more years.

The law, signed by Rodrigo Duterte last month after parliamentary approval, moves the date of the BARMM parliamentary and regional elections to May 2025.

The majority-Muslim region’s first elections after an interim government was formed in February 2019 with Murad Ebrahim as chief minister had been scheduled for next year.

But public demand in the region, which gained autonomy in 2019, led to the elections being pushed back to 2025.

Bangsamoro is a region of nearly 5 million people who are ethnic Moros and mostly Muslims. It has five provinces and three cities, including a capital.