Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume IV, Number 2 February 8 - 14, 2004 Quezon City, Philippines |
U.S.
Counter-Terrorist in the GRP-NDF Talks Two
foreign NGOs claiming to be independent peace organizations are deeply involved
in the peace process in southern Philippines and in war-torn Aceh, Indonesia.
One of them wants to dip its hands into the GRP-NDFP talks. Their common link:
an American counter-terrorist general. By
Bulatlat.com
Gorman, both representatives of the CHD, to sit as observers. The NDFP panel, led by Luis Jalandoni, politely rejected the Norwegian proposal saying that CHD, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland cannot be a neutral observer. Not
neutral On
CHD’s board and council is Narcisa Escaler, former Philippine ambassador and
permanent representative to the United Nations and other international
organizations based in Geneva. With a government official on its board, the NDFP
panel said, CHD cannot claim to be neutral. More
questionable is the presence of Zinni who, as CHD and USIP adviser, has a role
to play in efforts by international “neutral observers” to tame the civil
war in Aceh, Indonesia and in southern Philippines. The
NDFP’s strong position prompted the Norwegian government not to pursue its
proposal, Bulatlat.com learned. War
veteran As
a Marine commander, Zinni held many overseas assignments including in the
Western Pacific particularly in Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as in
Somalia, Zaire, Sierra Leone and the Persian Gulf. Upon retirement, he served as
U.S. peace envoy to the Middle East. Zinni
also holds several positions on boards of directors of major U.S. companies and
is adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Council on
Foreign Relations, both conservative pro-war think tanks. Meanwhile,
CHD, which was founded in 1999, claims to be an “independent and impartial
organization” that facilitates dialogues on humanitarian issues and conflict
resolution. Its facilitation activities in Aceh, however, show that CHD’s
involvement runs far beyond the dialogue and humanitarian process. Taming
the Aceh rebellion In
2000, CHD succeeded in opening a dialogue between the Indonesian government and
the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) with the intention of forging a truce to
pave the way for humanitarian assistance as well as financial support. Through
the dialogue, CHD’s international advisers led by Zinni used the humanitarian
assistance intervention as a step toward the setting up of “peace zones” –
areas where the Free Aceh rebels are forbidden to operate. “Peace
zones” are a process of demilitarization that actually reduced GAM’s
fighting will – the process called for the surrender of guerrilla weapons in
designated sites. The
talks, however, apparently broke down in May last year followed by President
Megawatti’s declaration of martial law in Aceh. CHD continues to maintain a
staff in Jakarta. Muslim
Mindanao In
southern Philippines, USIP plays a “facilitating role” in peace talks
between the GRP and the MILF. USIP has been painted as an independent NGO
involved in peace but it was actually created by the U.S. Congress. The
role of USIP in the Mindanao peace talks was announced in May last year by U.S.
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s
visit in Washington. Five months later, USIP sponsored an off-the-record
briefing on Capitol Hill to discuss the GRP-MILF talks. Giving the briefing were
USIP adviser Zinni; Richard H. Solomon, USIP president and former U.S. ambassador
to Manila; and Eugene Martin, executive director of the Philippine Facilitation
project of USIP. In
effect, the U.S. government is deeply involved in the GRP-MILF peace talks
through a promise of grant amounting to about $50 million for Muslim
Mindanao’s development by the USAID with USIP playing as a conduit for aid
facilitation, among others. To fast-track U.S.-assisted development in
conflict-torn areas, the Bangsamoro Development Agency has been reportedly
formed. Before
he died in July last year, MILF chair Salamat Hashim reportedly welcomed the
involvement of the U.S. government in the talks. The idea was broached by Sen.
Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. Whether this meant the late MILF chair agreed to the
condition set by U.S. President George W. Bush, Jr. that the MILF rebels
“abandon their armed struggle” in exchange for U.S. financial support for
the Mindanao development remains a puzzle. How the U.S. government – through its two agencies – fits into the Mindanao peace process, now currently brokered by the Malaysian government which is not exactly friendly to Washington is also not clear. The peace talks are supposed to resume in Kuala Lumpur this month – or so the Macapagal-Arroyo government recently claimed. Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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