RESOLUTION No. 2/33-MM

ON QUESTION OF MUSLIMS IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES

The Thirty-third Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, (Session on Harmony of Rights, Freedoms and Justice), held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan  from 23 to 25 Jumada Awal, 1427H (19-21  June 2006),

         Bearing in mind the resolutions of the OIC and the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee of Eight 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 Republic of Philippines (GRP) 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;

         Paying tribute to the role of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, under the wise leadership of H.E. Colonel Moamar Gaddafi, in achieving the Tripoli Agreement of 1976 and in hosting the first preliminary talks in Tripoli from 3 to 4 October 1992 and the Unity and Solidarity Meeting of the MNLF leaders on 6 April 2003;

         Also paying 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 expressing satisfaction for the efforts of the Ministerial Committee of Eight in this regard;

         Recalling that in accordance with the two Memoranda of Understanding by which the GRP and the MNLF 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;

         Recalling also the results of the four rounds of formal peace talks held in Jakarta, Indonesia, including the subsidiary mechanisms, between the GRP and the MNLF, through facilities made available by the OIC Committee of Eight;

         Noting that the gains achieved through the Peace Agreement concluded between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the MNLF and the cooperation obtaining between them need to be generalized and maximized to achieve comprehensive peace and development for the benefit of the people of Bangsamoro.

         Taking  note also of the report of the Committee of Eight which had convened a meeting on the periphery of the 32^nd Session of the ICFM in Sana’a, Republic of Yemen, on 29^th June 2005 and announced on the occasion the intention of the Government of the Republic of Philippines to complete the implementation of the 1996 Peace Agreement before the advent of the Tenth anniversary of its signing on 2^nd September 2006.  

         Reaffirming resolution No.2/32-MM on the Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines adopted by the 32^nd Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, in Sana’a, Republic of Yemen on 28-30 June 2005;

         Having considered the report of the Secretary General on the Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines along with its annexed report of the Fact-Finding Mission which visited the Philippines from 17 to 24 May 2006 (Document No. ICFM/33-2006/MM/SG.REP.2) ;

         Having considered the report of the Fact-Finding Mission of the Representatives of the Ministerial  Committee of the Eight of the Organization of Islamic Conference dated 2nd June 2006.

1.                  Renews its support for the Peace Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front 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 and the Moro National Liberation Front to preserve the gains achieved since the signing of the Peace Agreement and expresses its concern over the stalled implementation of the commitments enshrined in the 1996 Agreement and the gap between the stands of the two concerned parties, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front, on the results achieved as to the Agreement’s implementation.

3.                  Pays tribute to the Secretary General for the action he has taken in sending a Fact-Finding Mission to Southern Philippines led by Mr. Sayed Kassem El-Masry, Advisor to the Secretary General, which undertook together with the Ambassadors of the Member Countries of the Committee of 8 stationed in Manila, a successful visit to the Republic of the Philippines appreciates the efforts  for the said expanded mission in discharging its assignment, commends the report it prepared which is attached to the Secretary General’s report to this Conference, and endorses the observations and recommendations included in the report.

4.                  Welcomes the substance of the joint communiqué issued in Manila by the Philippine Government and the OIC delegation on 22^nd May  2006, and appreciates H.E. President Gloriaf Macapagal Arroyo for receiving the Head of the OIC Mission and his accompanying delegation and for the exchange of views undertaken on the conclusions reached by the Mission, particularly the suspension  of  military operations in the island of Sulu, achieved during the mission’s visit to the island. Appreciates further the positive response of Her Excellency to the said appeal of the Secretary General to grant a humanitarian and dignified treatment to Mr. Missuari. 

5.       Calls for an urgent high level tripartite meeting between the O.I.C., the Government of the Republic of Philippine (GRP) and the MNLF to be held in Jeddah as soon as practicable during 2006 to review the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement and make its assessment of the progress made and the obstacles facing its full implementation. The tripartite meeting is also mandated to draw up modalities for a new Joint Monitoring Committee to observe the implementation of the peace treaty and verify complaints in this regard and facilitate agreed solutions to such complaints.  

6.       Appeals to the Government of Philippines to expedite the legal process regarding Prof. Nur Missuari’s case and express the hope that this process will lead to his early release to enable him to participate in the fourth coming tripartite meeting, continue his constructive role in leading the Bangsamoro people and achieve its aspiration for security, stability and development.

7.       Calls upon the Government of the Philippines to consider the recommendations contained in the two reports of the Parliament’s Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, issued on 18 May and 19 September 2005, regarding the charges of human rights violations in Sulu against the Armed Forces officers, including what was known as the massacre of 1 February 2005 (the murder of Imam Badiwan and his family) and that perpetrators be brought to justice.

8.       Further calls upon the GRP to continue to address the grave environmental problems of and around lake Lanao with a view to arrive at a speedy remedy for all its consequences.

9.       Urges the MNLF and the MILF and all the other national components to unify their ranks and rally their efforts and act jointly for the Bangsamoro people’s peace and development, and requests the Secretary General to contribute his good offices for the achievement of their unity and reconciliation.

10.     Invites the Secretary General to appoint a special representative to follow-up the efforts of restoring peace to the Southern Philippines, in collaboration with the parties concerned.

11.       Urges the Member States, subsidiary organs, affiliated and specialized institutions as well as charitable Islamic organizations in the Member States to increase their medical, humanitarian, economic, financial and technical assistance for the development and rehabilitation of Southern Philippines through the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in order to accelerate the completion of the social and economic development.

12.     Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and to report thereon to the Thirty-fourth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.