PEACE BY PEACE
Ambassadors Marie Fontanel of France and Andreas Pfaffernoschke of Germany’s trip to the island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi last week is seen as a resounding vote of confidence on the vastly improved peace and security that the Bangsamoro region is becoming known for within and outside the country. The diplomats’ presence in the province not only celebrates the gains of peace but also shows the steadfast determination of the region to finally break free from the negative image it was associated with years ago.
By all indications, the Bangsamoro is emerging as a show window of peace and development in Mindanao. This remarkable transformation is evident in the increased commercial activity, tourism, and investments in the region. The strategic partnership between the Philippine government and its partner nations like France and Germany has been a key factor in the positive changes that are happening in Bangsamoro, which is home to four million Filipinos.
In particular, Germany’s commitment to carry out peacebuilding programs such as the COSERAM, which tackles poverty and peace issues, and YOUCAP, which empowers youth through peacebuilding activities, exemplifies how the support coming from international partners can make a significant impact on the lives of people. France, a relatively new but equally reliable partner, signals the country’s desire to expand its assistance to foster genuine peace and development in the region.
The partnerships that the Philippines has forged with ally nations are critical not just for the Bangsamoro but also for the international community as a whole. The success of the Bangsamoro peace process serves as a model for other nations, which to this day are still grappling with internal conflicts. This is the reason why just days after the Basilan and Tawi-Tawi visit of the German and French ambassadors, a delegation from the Thai Parliament arrived in the Philippines to learn from its peacebuilding efforts.
Thailand’s southern provinces face a decades-long insurgency, and the Thai government wants to draw lessons from the Philippine experience. At the heart of the Bangsamoro peace process are mechanisms like the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), which have been crucial in preventing the outbreak of violence and building trust between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
These mechanisms underscore the fundamental principles that make peace processes work. Mutual understanding, respect, and dialogue must take precedence over the use of force. Brigadier General Nasser Lidasan, chair of the CCCH, described the delicate process of confidence-building between the Philippine government and the MILF, allowing the parties to navigate the complexities of the peace negotiations which led to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)
Through its delegation’s visit to the Philippines, Thailand is looking into how similar strategies could be adapted to the country’s peace process. The Bangsamoro experience proves that peace agreements alone do not guarantee complete success in ending the cycle of conflict and violence. The effective implementation of peacebuilding programs, constant dialogue between the parties, and the involvement of all stakeholders are crucial to creating an environment where long-lasting peace can take root.
The normalization and transformation programs that are currently being implemented at an accelerated pace have been instrumental in sustaining and building on the gains of peace in the Bangsamoro. These programs aim to transform former combatants and their families into peaceful and productive members of society while addressing the socio-economic inequalities that fueled the conflict. As we have emphasized, peacebuilding must be a holistic, integrated, and inclusive process.
The Localizing Normalization Implementation (LNI) initiative, which we recently launched in Tawi-Tawi, reinforces this transformative approach. This crosscutting program will support socio-economic projects, infrastructure development, and conflict resolution initiatives. Our goal is not only to help combatants successfully return to mainstream society. It is about empowering communities to rise above their past and build a future that is anchored on peace, development, and stability.
As the Bangsamoro region gears up for its first parliamentary elections, it must continue to stand as a beacon of democratic governance, while staying true to its promise of uplifting the lives and creating a better future for its people. Though the region continues to face challenges to its peace and security, its leaders are demonstrating that they have already learned an invaluable lesson: that good things come to those who choose the path of peace.
The recent respective visits of the German and French ambassadors and the Thai parliamentary delegations send a powerful message, that is, the whole world is watching and supporting the Bangsamoro’s journey toward long-lasting peace. This is the legacy that the Bangsamoro is trying to build, as it serves as a shining example of what is possible when nations, communities, and individuals are fully committed and work together to achieve a just and lasting peace.
(Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. is the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation, and unity.)