(MPPM) 28
MINDANAO PEOPLES PEACE MOVEMENT
Title of Project: IP Voice: Full inclusion of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Bangsamoro Basic Law
The Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM) is an alliance/network and coalition of peoples’ organizations, and peace, human rights and environmental groups advancing the participation and engagement of the grassroots tri-people (Katawhang Lumad, Bangsamoro and Katawhang Migrante) in building peace in Mindanao in the Philippines. It was established in the year 2000 when former President Joseph Estrada launched an “All Out War” against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). MPPM was a product of the 1st Mindanao Grassroots Peace Summit in June 2000 that called for a STOP to the WAR in MINDANAO. Since its inception, it has supported the assertion of the indigenous peoples for the inclusion of their rights in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). IP Voice: Full inclusion of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Bangsamoro Basic Law is an 18-month project by the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM). The project improved the security of IPs (indigenous peoples) in the proposed Bangsamoro Territory through the full inclusion of their rights in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), strengthened capacities of IP leaders and organizations, and increased IP engagement in the Bangsamoro Peace Process. Specifically, this project supports the assertion of the Teduray, Lambangian and Erumanen ne Menuvu tribes in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. This is in line with the resumption of the peace process between the Philippine Government and the Bangsamoro, with vital issues on the negotiation table such as the rights to territory, identity, and self- governance of the IPs in the future Bangsamoro Government. This project was a continuation of a previous advocacy program of the target IP groups that were fully supported by MPPM. Although the right to self-determination assertion of the IPs has been supported by MPPM since 2004, it was only in 2014 that intensified campaign for the inclusion of IP rights in the BBL was pursued. The main objective of this project was to achieve Full inclusion of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Bangsamoro Basic Law specifically asserting the Teduray, Lambangian and Erumanen ne Menuvu tribes in Maguindanao and North Cotabato, that Leah above speaks of. Leah also reflected on her own journey within this project in this article The Next Generation Leader published by Voice. Because of the project, the informed communities and leaders have become actively involved in monitoring, documenting, and feedbacking of human rights and IP rights situation in their respective communities, i.e., IP killings, displacement, and armed conflicts. Capacitated IP leaders have become more active in representing their respective tribes and organizations in different peace and policy processes to negotiate and lobby for the recognition of their rights. Among these processes are local and national dialogues, congressional hearings and consultations, meetings and discussions with relevant legislators and committees in both houses of the congress.
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