Malaysia : unsung hero of the Philippine peace process?

Abstract

This dissertation looks at the aborted signing of the 2008 Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain and the contributions of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT). It seeks to cut through the prevailing discourse in Philippine society – of suspicion over Malaysian motives. While there is consensus on the desirability of third-party involvement, the inherent complexity of the Mindanao conflict requires a more nuanced approach. Malaysian mediation has to be contextualized within its changing foreign policy and conceptions of national interests – which at present is best-served by as an impartial arbiter. More importantly what is shown is that the intractability of the Mindanao conflict is a result of local-level dynamics. Looking at the local manifestations of conflict, it is very clear that the IMT’s deployment has led to positive results. The ability of the IMT to operate effectively – in reducing AFP-MILF clashes, shows that local security is actually insulated from the suspicious discourse at the higher policy levels. This insulation is a result of the limited mandate of the IMT and the establishment of good working relations between the IMT and the AFP. The efficacy of IMT at the local-level in effects, “subsidizes” the soft institutionalism at the level of actual negotiations. Beyond acting as a model for conflict resolution, the experience of the IMT is relevant in creating a counter-narrative against the prevailing distrust of political elites and pundits in Philippines.