WFDA

The World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA) is an international network and platform of democracy advocates in the region. It is forum committed to promoting and advancing the merits of democracy as a universal value and fundamental right to which all peoples in Asia are entitled and which is indispensable for sustainable peace and development. Specifically to this mission in Mindanao, the goal was to support democratization processes, encourage people's participation, seek international support, sharing experiences, address local concerns and support peace-building efforts by civil societies in conflict areas. Two teams were formed for two different trips. One went to the conflict area of Cotabato/Maguindanao and the other one to Zamboanga/Jolo. Basically the mission consisted of a mixture of kaonferences (from kaon (=food) and conference, because these two components go hand in hand in the Philippines!) with government representatives, refugees, civilians and civil society organizations to get a picture of the situation in Mindanao and Sulu.

As background might be said that the government keeps on the dialogue for more than 3 decades, first with the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front; they had a "Final Peace Agreement" in 1996 which had the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as a result) and now with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). In the peace talks with the MILF, both sides developed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) which gives greater autonomy and a bigger

region defined as Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE; which includes a bigger region than the ARMM and even includes regions in Palawan) to the Moros. This MoA should be signed on Aug. 5 2008 but the Surpreme Court stopped the signing because of insufficient consultation of the affected areas and refusals from several provinces.

Shortly after the alleged signing of the MoA were the elections of the ARMM. Hence, it was reported that many of the elections were officially peaceful but at the same time most of them dishonest.

Because of the NOT signing of the MoA the situation between the MILF and the Philippine army became tense and in some regions they started shooting. Therefore there are many refugees and civilians (both Christians and Muslims) affected by these political conflict. With this background and the MoA or BJE as main discussion point we went on the mission to explore the situation in different regions and from different perspectives.

The mission ended in a press conference in Manila (we were even on TV but I didn't see it!). Last but not least we visited Nur Misuari, the leader and founder of the MNLF, in his house in Quezon City!