The Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM) considers the struggle of the Bangsamoro and the Katawhang Lumad (Indigenous Peoples) one of its primary concerns. This is evident in the many venues it provided for the sharing, discussions, fora and summits on the understanding of the right to self-determination of peoples. Exposure programs and exchanges in the tri-people communities were also a constant event to foster further this understanding.
Ever since its inception in 2000, MPPM has been consistent in its support of the peoples struggle for their Right to Self-Determination. This manifests in its long running advocacy on the Referendum on the Political Options for Peace in Mindanao. For the tri-people peace movement, the advocacy on the REFERENDUM is its humble contribution in resolving the seeming never-ending conflict in Mindanao in a peaceful and democratic manner. While this mechanism may not yet be too popular in the Philippine context, however, other countries with multi-nationalities are replete with experience where Referenda were conducted successfully to decide the people’s political future in a peaceful and democratic manner.
This humble book will provide readers an opportunity in Understanding the Bangsamoro Right to Self-determination as eloquently presented by a respected Moro scholar, Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies. Meanwhile, MPPM’s advocacy on the Referendum is laid out as a civil society’s platform of hope in resolving the conflict in Mindanao.
It is with MPPM’s sincere effort to further the understanding of Referendum not only for its mass membership but also for other peace advocates, legislators and most importantly the ordinary masses of the tri-people of Mindanao that it embarked on a legal research on the study of the referendum. A renowned scholar and peace advocate now an honorable Judge of the ninth Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Nabua-Bato, Camarines Sur, Atty. Soliman “Sol” Santos ably undertakes the legal research at the instance of MPPM. He is a legal luminary that constantly shared his legal thoughts on Mindanao peace and security issues. He is a friend to many a Mindanao peace advocates and organizations.
The study papers are presented in four (4) parts, to wit:
Study Paper 1: Constitutional and Legal Basis for a Referendum Bill;
Study Paper 2: Legal Notes on Right to Self-Determination and Secession;
Study Paper 3: Notes on the International Practices of a Referendum;
Study Paper 4: Historical and Moral Arguments for Bangsamoro Sovereignty
A fifth paper sums up the Legal Basis and Arguments for MPPM’s proposed Referendum. Draft bills for the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and the Philippine Congress are also added features of this small book.
The Executive Committee and the Council of Peoples’ Representatives (CPR) of the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM) is hoping that this humble book will be useful to peace and human rights advocates, students of the law, and the grassroots tri-people of Mindanao. This is also with the ardent hope that legislators in creating legislations will use the humble publication that will aid in the resolution of the decades old conflict in Mindanao.
For the Executive Committee of MPPM,
Amabella L. Carumba
Secretary General
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