Resolution no.58/28-p

On Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines

 The Twenty-eighth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, (Session of Peace and Development – Intifada Al-Aqsa), held in Bamako, Republic of Mali, from 4 to 6 Rabiul Thani 1422H (25-27 June, 2001),

          Bearing in mind the resolutions of the OIC and the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee of Seven on the question of Muslims in Southern Philippines;

          Recalling the Tripoli Agreement signed on 23 December 1976, under the auspices of the OIC, between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) which the signatory parties agreed to consider as the basis for a permanent, just and comprehensive political solution to the question of Muslims in Southern Philippines within the framework of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines;

          Also recalling that in accordance with the two Memoranda of Understanding with which the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front concluded two rounds of preliminary talks, held successively in Tripoli, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on 3-4 October, 1992 and in Cipanas, Western Java, Republic of Indonesia on 14-16 April, 1993, the two parties agreed to conduct official peace negotiations for the full implementation of the letter and spirit of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement;

          Further recalling the results of the four rounds of formal peace talks held in Jakarta, Indonesia, between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front;

          Commending the agreement reached by the participants in the Fourth Round of Formal Peace Talks to reaffirm all the points of agreement in the 1994, 1995 and 1996 Interim Agreements and to include them in the Final Agreement provided for in the 1976 Tripoli Agreement;

 Recalling the report of the meeting of the Ministerial Committee of Seven, held on the fringe of the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference, held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 12-13 November, 2000. The meeting was devoted to listen to the report of the fact-finding Commission emanating from the Ministerial Committee of Seven on its mission to the Southern Philippines from 16 to 21 October 2000.

 Having considered the report of the Secretary General on the Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines (Document No. ICFM/28-2001/MM/D.2).

 1.     RENEWS its support to the “ Peace Agreement" between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) initialled on 30 August 1996 in Jakarta and officially signed on 2 September 1996 in Manila.

 2.     CALLS ON both the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the MNLF to preserve the gains achieved as a result of the signing of the "Peace Agreement".

 3.     LAUDS the Government of the Republic of the Philippines for receiving the fact-finding commission and facilitating its task of evaluating the current situation in Southern Philippines.

 4.     COMMENDS the Moro National Liberation Front, the sole legitimate representative of Muslims in Southern Philippines ("Bangsamoro people"), under the leadership of professor Nur Misuari, Chairman of the MNLF, for facilitating the task of the fact-finding commission.

 5.     PAYS TRIBUTE to the role of the Government of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, under the wise leadership of H.E. Colonel Moomar Gaddafi, in achieving the Tripoli Agreement of 1976 and in hosting the first preliminary talks in Tripoli from 3 to 4 October, 1992.

 6.     ALSO PAYS TRIBUTE to the role of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia in facilitating the peace process culminating in the signing of the Final Peace Agreement on 2 September 1996 and expresses satisfaction for the efforts of the Ministerial Committee of Seven in this regard.

 7.     WELCOMES the accession of Malaysia to the membership of the Committee which will contribute to support the functioning of the Committee of Eight.

 8.     COMMISSIONS anew the Chairman of the Committee of Eight to continue the necessary contacts with the Government of the Philippines and the MNLF during a period not later than the end of 2001 in order to define a timetable for implementing all the articles of the Peace Agreement of 1996.

 9.     URGES Member States and subsidiary organs, specialised and affiliated institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank, to increase their economic, financial, technical and material assistance for the development and rehabilitation of the Southern Philippines through the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) under the auspices of the MNLF.

 10.    DECIDES to maintain the observer status and the participation of the MNLF in the activities of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in its capacity as the sole legitimate representative of the Bangsamoro people in Southern Philippines in order to improve the conditions of this people in accordance with the provisions of the Peace Agreement.

 11.  APPEALS to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines not to take any unilateral measures, and in particular not to unilaterally conduct a plebiscite in ARMM in line with the Peace Agreement concluded between the MNLF and the GRP under the auspices of the OIC.

 12.  URGES the GRP to extend the First Phase of the Peace Agreement and postpone the general plebiscite in order to ensure the complete implementation of all the procedures and policies provided for in paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Peace Agreement, including expediting the execution of development projects and programmes in the area dedicated to peace and development.

 13.  APPEALS to the GRP to reconsider extending the date for elections in ARMM to the year 2003 in response to the just request of the MNLF and to ensure conducting them in accordance with the provisions of Sections (a and b) of Para. (2) of the Peace Agreement. ALSO APPEALS to the GRP to honour its international obligations and commitments stipulated in this agreement and to guarantee the best conditions for development and stability in Southern Philippines. 

 14.  WELCOMES the efforts of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for restoring peace in Southern Philippines, which were crowned by signing the Peace Agreement between the GRP and the MILF in the meeting held in Tripoli on 22.6.2001.

 15.  REQUESTS the Ministerial Committee of Eight and the Secretary General to continue extending assistance as appropriate for the full implementation of the Peace Agreement during the transitional period pending the establishment of the regular autonomous region in Southern Philippines.

 16.  APPEALS to all Islamic and other charitable organizations in OIC Member States to extend medical and other humanitarian assistance to the displaced people who are the victims of violence in Mindanao and its islands.

 17.   URGES the Member States help mobilize international support for both parties of the Peace Agreement to enable them to achieve peace, development and prosperity in Southern Philippines.

 

 18.   REQUESTS the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and to submit a report thereon to the Twenty-ninth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.