Rights of indigenous peoples 'will be upheld in peace negotiations with Moro rebels'

Manila: The rights of indigenous peoples who will be affected by the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and Moro rebels, will be upheld, the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles assured.

Quintos-Deles, speaking before members of civil society organisations and groups representing Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities who had gathered in suburban Quezon City recently, said that IP rights would protected in the peace negotiations.

Deles recently consulted civil society representatives on the ongoing talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and delivered updates on the peace process.

The consultation in Cubao, Quezon City, was among the many stakeholder engagements conducted by the government to promote transparency and gather people's insights on how to move the peace process forward.

It was attended by civil society representatives from different regions, some flying in from Mindanao.

Among concerns raised by civil society members during the consultation was how the rights of the IPs will be affected in case a peace pact between the government and MILF is forged.

"We are really conscious about the rights and concerns of the IP community (every time we talk with the MILF panel). And the MILF are very aware of that as well," said government peace panel members Senen Bacani Bacani during the discussions.

Aside from Muslims and Christians, Mindanao is inhabited by several tribes of indigenous peoples.

Deles added that the IP rights are highlighted in the "Declaration of Continuity for Peace Negotiations," which was signed by both parties on June 3, 2010.

The Declaration of Continuity lists six points of consensus, two of these on the IPs. These are: "in reframing the consensus points on Ancestral Domain, respect the existing property and community rights, taking into account in particular the rights of indigenous peoples in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;" and "as a general principle, indigenous peoples who originally inhabit particular constituent units shall receive protection and enjoy equal rights similar to those enjoyed by the Moros taking into account in addition to economic and geographical criteria, their individual and communal property rights, cultural integrity, customary beliefs, historical and community traditions."

Meanwhile, in a separate consultation with the Timuay indigenous tribe in South Cotabato, government panel member for MILF talks Miriam Coronel Ferrer underscored that the peace panel also ensured that IP rights are considered in their "3 for 1" proposal.

She also said that the Decision Points on Principles signed by the government and the MILF affirm these basic rights.

Deles reminded the attendees that peace negotiations do not exist in a vacuum.

"For us, it is important that everybody (including the MILF and the supporters of the peace process) understands that there are political and legal realities that should always be taken into consideration," she said. "We need to understand how to make this happen, given the current realities."