Documentary Report: Germany, Norway express commitments for Bangsamoro peace process on Transitional Justice

 

The opening day of the Plenary for Transitional Justice (TJ) Conference, 7 Feb 2023, Davao City

By Jun Enriquez

Davao City - Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJR) is a continuing process of the gains of peace between the Philippine Government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) under the signed peace agreement in 2014, the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB). The TJ conference was conducted on 7-9 of February 2023, held at Acacia hotel, Lanang, Davao City, hosted by the German Development Cooperation - Civil Peace Service (GIZ-CPS) and the forumZFD, all of Germany institutions. The main facilitator of the conference was Mags Maglana. On the opening day, the program started with interfaith prayers followed by the Philippine national anthem and Bangsamoro hymn. 

Ms. Mags Maglana, main facilitator

In a welcome messages, first, delivered by Ms. Máiréad Collins, Country Director of the forumZFD of Germany. She emphasized that forumZFD is a German organization begun in 1996 in response to the conflict in the western Balkans. An organization works on peacebuilding and conflict transformation program across 13 countries in western Balkans, Ukraine, Middle East and in southeast Asia, as well as in Germany itself. The forumZFD engaged in the Philippines in 2010, with offices presence in Davao, CARAGA and in the Bangsamoro. "In 2014, forumZFD produced a report which is pre-conditional on Transitional Justice in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This report considers the experiences on Transitional justice from other countries, alongside the specific BARMM context and its transitional justice needs," said Collins. 

Ms. Máiréad Collins, Country Director of the forumZFD of Germany.

She added, the role of Transitional justice is to sustain just peace, has not been forgotten, remain its importance around in the heart of the discussions of the peace process.

In another welcome message, Ms. Karen Watermann, coordinator of the GIZ-CPS in Mindanao, the successor of Dominik Hammann in her statement said that Dominik was a henchman of the GIZ-CPS team during his stay of implementing projects for peace and security regulations including the COVID-19 pandemic protection over the past challenging years.

“To all the challenging times like this, peacemakers should be courageous and heads up, instead of getting depressed, move on,” said Watermann. She added that Hope is a must for people who engage themselves in the challenge working for peace and peacemaking. Watermann further said, this hope is the certainty that something make sense, regardless of how some single turnout in hopeless things conviction. 

Ms. Karen Watermann, Coordinator, GIZ-CPS

Watermann also expressed and shared about Eternal peace, is a title of variety of writing of a German philosopher Emmanuel Kant produced in 1795. Conflict is popular worldwide. Millions of people are fleeing in the unveiling conditions due to conflicts or climate change. She said Kant wrote very important things in his writings many years ago. May be Peace is not a natural state, but peace must be built, made and worked for, and to understand that hope is a must.

Watermann expressed her experienced many years of deeply rooted multi-layered conflicts all over Asia, participating conferences on the topic, Transitional justice. There was a worked in Sri Lanka and she learnt to come to terms with the past to build relationships for the future. In the first place, the people and the stakeholders must shape and agree to the process.

The next speaker, Mr. Alexander Schmidt, First Secretary for Political Affairs, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Manila, representing German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel. Schmidt in his message, Peacebuilding and conflict transformation, and stabilization implemented through GIZ and forumZFD, and other partners, local and International organizations in Mindanao, is one of the main areas of Germany's bilateral development cooperation in the Philippines. 

Mr. Alexander Schmidt, First Sec. for Pol. Affairs, German Embassy, Manila

Schmidt paused a question, "Why Mindanao? While Mindanao is rich in natural resources, some of the poorest provinces are in Mindanao.” This southern island has also been marked of violence and struggle for Moro autonomy. The disparity among the population, unequal distribution of power, access to natural resources and land, are the main sources of conflict in Mindanao. These in turn are prospects for sustainable development and economic growth which has potential to stabilize the region." Schmidt emphasized.

Germany's commitment of the peace process in the Bangsamoro is project implementation of GIZ in Mindanao on peacebuilding and sustainable development established in 2005. There are about 72 organizations implementing projects in Mindanao with a total volume of currently 38.6 million euros which has approximately 2.2 billion pesos.

"Transitional Justice is the key issue for BARMM," said Schmidt. The Comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) is not a long document signed with a view to ending violent military conflict both the National Government and MILF, also signed the Annex on Normalization which include components such as demobilization of combatants, conflict transformation, transitional security measures, Transitional justice and reconciliation, and confidence building initiatives.

Schmidt said he is looking forward to discussing Transitional justice in the Bangsamoro in the conference and learning from other examples from western Balkans, Nepal, and Cambodia. Looking forward, What’s next?

He reiterated that Germany is committed and supporting to the inclusive peace process in the Bangsamoro based on the principles of Human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Another speaker to deliver a message was Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster, Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines. Ambassador Lyster in his message expressed of supporting peace is a cornerstone of Norway's foreign policy, a firm believer of rights-base and rules-base a global order. Norway's peace and reconciliation efforts, a long term commitment in fighting durable and non-violence solutions to many across the globe.

Christian Halaas Lyster, Norwegian Amb. to the Phils.

Lyster said Transitional justice and rights of victim is one of the conflict focus area of peace work. Citing transitional justice and the survivors’ agenda is evident in the peace process facilitated in Columbia with the FARC, the revolutionary armed forces in Columbia.

In the Philippines, Lyster added that they learnt a great deal of innovative solutions and transitional justice approaches from the Bangsamoro experience. “Your insights are valuable not only for Mindanao but for the global practice of putting people at the heart of conflict transformation,” said Lyster.

Lyster also discussed two main themes, first, is the support to the Philippines on the quest for peace, and secondly, the principles of Norway’s peace work - global. In the Philippines they have been involved in the peace process between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front – Philippines (NDFP) in the communist armed conflict. Norway is the third party facilitator since 2001 and continued to support the process highs and lows, and assisting peace actors on wide array necessary for negotiations and peace talks.

Under the Moro Islamic liberation Front (MILF) peace agreement, Norway is part of the normal peace architecture under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed in 2014. Ambassador Lyster is the Vice chair of the Independent decommissioning body, Norway assisted parties and oversight in the decommissioning of weapons and combatants. Since 2015, Norway has specialists deployed on the ground and currently aiming having four novation experts deploying for the third phase of the decommissioning process.

Norway recently concluded its security membership at the United Nations (UN) in 2022. One of the foremost areas is to champion in their watch is to role the women as peacebuilders. Norway supports first Philippine action plan for women, peace and security, and advocated strongly for women, peace and security (WPS) agenda in all of their peace efforts worldwide. As such, Philippines is one of Norway’s 10 WPS priority countries, along with Myanmar and the region and to call women peace experts of the conflict zones as facilitators, and importantly recognizing the role of women as key resources for sustainable peace.    

“Norway’s perspective on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJR), have many homewards with three racks. First, Impartial Facilitation, as facilitator in the peace process, Norway remains impartial. However, this does not mean that we are neutral when it comes to values,” said Lyster. In peace processes in which Norway is engaged actively promotes the principles of the International law and Human rights. This means there are cases of resistance from the parties.

Secondly, “we are involved in long journey. Norway has long tern willingness to provide assistance. Many conflicts in the past decades takes time before the parties are ready to negotiate for political solution,” said Lyster. He added, Norway has been declared long term approach to its peace and reconciliation efforts. Lyster said there is rule agreement on this in the commission parliament and several other processes in Norway’s currently engaged in the last for many years and has been supported by many different Norwegian governments. “Our efforts in the governments of Middle East and Columbia are two good examples. This continuity is one of our unique strength to ensure the higher level of predictability and it is part of the confidence of Norway’s efforts,” emphasized Lyster.

Lastly, “Inclusive Peace Process. Peace processes involves the civilian population, especially women and victims in a greater sense of local ownership and result any better and sustainable peace agreement. On several occasions, Norway ensure has helped that women who were otherwise was excluded in the process can articulate their demands and put it in the negotiating table and in the implementation phase,” said Lyster ended finally.

Ended, Ambassador Lyster extended his thanks and appreciation to the guests and participants in the conference, especially to the organizers, the forumZFD and GIZ CPS for a meaningful conversation.(Jun Enriquez is the President of Manggagawang Media ng Mindanaw - MMM)