Preamble
We, the members and participating organizations of the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement, have gathered at this 2nd Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Summit as diverse representatives of all the Tri-People – Indigenous Peoples (Lumad), Bangsamoro and Mindanao Settlers & their Descendants (MSDs) – to discuss alternatives for attaining a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.
For several decades, the Bangsamoro of Mindanao have waged a war against colonization and subjugation. For many centuries, they have relentlessly struggled for their Right to Self-Determination (RSD). Now, the Bangsamoro 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 the Bangsamoro).
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 aspirations. 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, RA 8371 of 1997).
In all processes that the Bangsamoro will undertake, the Mindanao Settlers and their Descendants (MSDs) 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 designated representatives of contending parties, they must be linked to the initiatives of and grounded inthe 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.
Based on this understanding, the 2nd Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Summit in Session Assembled,
MINDFUL that Mindanao has three distinct Peoples: the Lumad, the Bangsamoro, and the Mindanao Settlers and their Descendants (MSDs);
CONSCIOUS of the diversity of the Tri-people in terms of their unique traditions, cultures and their distinct struggles for self-determination;
ACKNOWLEDGING the important role of each of the Tri-People in solving the conflict and in building a just and peaceful society in Mindanao;
RECOGNIZING that the peoples of Mindanao ardently desire a final end to the long strife that continually engenders animosities, divides them and depletes their resources;
CONSIDERING that 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;
REALIZING that a genuine REFERENDUM has not yet been pursued as a step towards resolving centuries-old Bangsamoro grievances;
AWARE that a REFERENDUM is internationally recognized as a democratic and effective method of attaining peace, considering the trends in Czechoslovakia, Canada and recently in East Timor;
PERCEIVING that a REFERENDUM supervised by the United Nations can be the most appropriate way to achieve a peaceful and democratic resolution to the Mindanao conflict;
CONVINCED 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;
URGENTLY PROCLAIMING the necessity of reaching a comprehensive resolution to the conflict in Mindanao, a resolution which will finally uphold the Bangsamoro’s inalienable right to self-determination and bring justice to each of the Tri-People;
HEREBY UNANIMOUSLY DECLARE that:
The Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM), in its sincere desire to attain a just and lasting peace in Mindanao, calls on the Government of the Philippines to hold within the next few years a United Nations-Supervised REFERENDUM in Bansamoro areas of Mindanao. In this REFERENDUM , the Bangsamoro people would have the opportunity to determine their political future as either a part of the Philippines or as an independent nation. The MPPM pledges its commitment to support and promote this proposal through a multi-track strategy, including, but not limited to, legislative pressure, peoples’ initiatives, peace constituency building and national and international lobbying.
Adopted by the Delegates on 20 December 2002 in Midsayap, Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines.
Attested by: Alvaro Senturias, Jr
Chair, MPPM
