AWPR members, while fully aware that we are a Registry of Experts, feel we can do more to help and can be more engaged, particularly since ASEAN has been drafting a proposed Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security.   This was the first meeting of AWPR with the Governing Council, and a productive one.  

Our guest on “She Talks Peace” is a member of AWPR.  Ayu Katrika Dewi serves as Special Staff to President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, providing him with innovative ideas on peacebuilding efforts and issues relating to tolerance and social cohesion. She currently works as managing director of Indika Foundation. 

Recalling the episode on masculinist states and the progress being made on the Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, I thought Ayu could provide new insights as she works within the corridors of power in Indonesia.

There are two different facets of security and peacebuilding in Indonesia. The first is hard security, which pertains to matters such as terrorism and violent extremism. Ayu deals with the second facet—soft security. Here, she advises the President on ways to pre-empt and prevent domestic problems of intolerance. An effective communicator, Ayu opts out of using run-of-the-mill issue briefs when corresponding with the President. Observing President Widodo’s quickness to absorb information, she will sometimes commission an artist to transform her reports into comic books or infographics, so the President can digest complex information and ideas quickly on a tight schedule.  

Ayu’s civil society work is as managing director of Indika Foundation. Indika is a foundation geared toward creating an impact on peace education and character building for the youth. It focuses on cultivating the youth’s critical thinking and socio-emotional skills to become effective peacebuilders. Ayu asserted, “Without these [skills], it’s difficult for a [person] to become a peaceful human being.” To do this, Indika organizes various activities like journalism trips. During a journalism trip, youth participants visit post-conflict areas to interact with the people therein, learn about their experiences, and discover firsthand how they overcame intolerance in their communities.  

We spoke of “mindfulness” as a peacebuilding tool.Ayu learned to practice meditation and mindfulness from her mentor, and she promotes the two as tools for leaders and peacebuilders. Mindfulness, she explained, is the practice of being present and “[being] aware of expressing what is going on in our heads.” Ayu stressed that it is an excellent exercise in anger management, as it helps practitioners to assess their reactions to triggering situations. “If you’re not aware, then you can be swept into an intense emotion. Our actions will be clouded by these emotions.” She even believes that some acts of intolerance can be prevented through mindfulness.  

On Indonesia’s track record in promoting tolerance and diversity, I remarked, “It has always struck me that among our ASEAN neighbors, Indonesians are—maybe genetically—more mindful.” Ayu attributes this to a combination of Indonesia’s cultural background and the government’s initiatives. Unity in diversity is the founding father’s rallying cry for Indonesians to embrace the country’s inherent diversity and use it as a steppingstone to prosperity. The government also has initiatives to integrate peacebuilding into several aspects of daily life. This is the case in education, for example, where the Minister of Education designated the following acts as the “three biggest sins”: bullying, sexual harassment and intolerance. Such an appreciation for peace and tolerance from government agents builds bridges for Ayu to assist in integrating peacebuilding programs in school curricula. 

“To create peace in the outer world, we have to create peace inside,” Ayu reminds aspiring peacebuilders. Peacebuilders must make peace with and work through their personal trauma, dissatisfaction and disappointment before addressing the conflicts of others. 

Listen to Ayu’s observations on working with President Joko!  

She Talks Peace is now on Twitter and Instagram! Follow our pages to interact with us, and to get updates on the latest podcast episodes.

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(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Amina Rasul is the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, an advocate for Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, peace, human rights and democracy.)

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, so-called “Guidance Patrols” were created to police compliance to the norms of Sharia, particularly   a dress code requiring all women to wear the hijab and loose-fitting clothing in public to disguise their figures. The morality police had the power to detain women who wore too much make up or showed too much hair or tight clothes.  Punishment included prison or flogging.  

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York,  said he had ordered an investigation of Amini’s death while warning the protesters  that “acts of chaos” were not acceptable. A Senior Member of Parliament, Jalal Rashidi Koochi, has publicly criticized the morality police for using force.

At least seven persons have reportedly been killed since the protests started. 

Why has the hijab become THE more important aspect of Islam instead of charity? Charity, after all,  is one of the five pillars of the faith.

Does the Holy Quran itself make the hijab a religious obligation for all Muslim women? I am not an Islamic scholar so I turn to those who have researched the issue.   According to Dr. Asma Lambaret, the term “hijab” is reiterated seven times in the Qur’an referring each time exactly to the same meaning. “Hijab” means curtain, separation, wall and, in other words, anything that hides, masks and protects something^[i]. She is the Director of Studies and Research Center on Women’s Issues in Islam of (Rabita Mohammadia des Ulemas), supported by King Mohammad VI.   

Dr. Lambaret notes:  “the verse that has been most often used to prove the “obligation” of veiling for women and that mentions the term Hijab is the following: ” O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal… And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a separation (Hijab)” Quran 33; 53.

“As indicated here, the Hijab concerns only the wives of the Prophet and meets a circumstantial requirement in order to respect the private life of the Prophet. Besides, it does not represent, in any way, a particular model of clothing. The essence of this requirement aimed, mainly, to educate Arabs of that time to respect the privacy of people and good manners.”

On clothing, the Quran has three references enjoining women to be modest and not draw attention to their sexuality.  In Sura 24:30-31, the reference is to let their head covering cover their necklines and not reveal their charms.  Do note that it does not mandate the use of a head scarf.  However,  all women in the Middle East used veils in those days to protect them from the sun and sand.  Also note that in those days, women of ill-repute would bare their breasts and legs to attract men.  Thus, it made sense that women of faith be enjoined to cover their bodies.  

Today, however, women’s veils are occupying center stage instead of the plight of the Muslim refugees, of Palestine, of the Rohingya, the restriction of Afghan girls from going to school, among many.  

If my mother, former Senator Santanina T. Rasul, were still in public office, she would surely stand up for the rights of Muslim women in Iran and everywhere else, including the Philippines.   While she fought for the right of Muslim women to use the hijab in public and not be discriminated against, she also defended our right not to wear the hijab.  It is our choice.

In our latest episode on “She Talks Peace,” my sister Salma and I shared stories about our mom.  We recalled her remarkable life as an educator and advocate for adult literacy, a Muslim senator, and a trailblazer in promoting and protecting the rights of Filipino women. 

Mother of Illiterates. Senator Rasul was mother not only to the six Rasul siblings, but also to the Philippines’ adult illiterates. Recognizing the low literacy rates in Muslim Mindanao and working in her own capacity in civil society — long before civil society was established in Muslim Mindanao — she rose to the challenge of teaching adult illiterates in underserved communities how to read and write. With our help, she developed the Magbassa Kita reading manual which employed the phono syllabic method of teaching adults to read. As word of her effective method spread, organizations began reaching out to ask her to teach in their communities.  Shout out to Marlen Ronquillo (Manila Times) who wrote last week about Mama and her advocacy for education.     https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/09/25/opinion/columns/downhill-from-there-for-education-sector/1859675

Observing that the Philippine educational system is geared toward children and alienating for adults, Senator Rasul personally went to the barangay to teach. She also trained people from the barangays to become literacy teachers, so the program could continue after she left. Magbassa Kita would later become a nationwide program, prompting President Corazon Aquino to make her a senatorial candidate.

A Fair Lawmaker. Senator Rasul was the first Muslim woman to be elected senator, the first Muslim Senator to be re-elected, and the last Muslim Senator from Muslim Mindanao.  This is a huge feat, considering that the Philippines’ Muslim population is no greater than 10%. However, she was acutely aware that she was a senator for all Filipinos, regardless of religion, creed, or association. 

During her career in the Senate, countless civil servants approached her and complained that they were being eased out of their positions because they were appointed during the Marcos years and seen as sympathizers. Seeing how this affected hundreds of thousands of innocent civil servants, Senator Rasul launched hearings to look into the situation and came up with a bill—which later became known as the “Rasul Law”— to stop the practice. 

Women’s Rights Advocate. The celebration of women’s month in the Philippines can be attributed to Senator Rasul. She moved to make allies in both the Senate, and the House of Representatives to pass the bill and make it a law. 

Senator Rasul notably authored the Women in Development and Nation-building Act, among other acts that aimed to empower women. Very much ahead of her time, she penned this powerful piece of legislation that required to set aside a certain percentage of the budget for projects that capacitate women.  Later, the late Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani fixed the percentage at 5% in the Magna Carta for Women, but it was Senator Rasul who first put it on the table. 

Lessons Learned. We have inherited much of our ethos from our mother. If you want to know about the lessons we have learned from Senator Rasul – like the meaning of a cracked porcelain plate – listen to “She Talks Peace”.

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(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Amina Rasul is the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, an advocate for Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, peace, human rights, and democracy)

Chair Misuari obliged, joining President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and CM Ebrahim at the ceremonial opening of the BTA. Also present were Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez.

CM Ebrahim, happy that the MNLF and the MILF would “ work together for a united Bangsamoro, bound by our common goal,” called on Marcos to complete the peace process – stating that it could be one of his greatest legacies.

I can imagine the setting – all these masculine leaders sharing a stage, vowing to support peace. What were the women thinking, I wonder?

Which leads me to the conversation I had with Dr. Lourdesita Sobrevega-Chan of Ateneo de Davao on “She Talks Peace.” Prof. Bing is the Philippines’ Women’s Rights Representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Women and Children (ACWC) and has served as such since 2017. She is the Chairperson of the Ateneo de Davao University’s Research Council. In this week’s episode of She Talks Peace, Dr. Bing Chan gave us an inside look on her experience advocating for women’s rights among masculinist states.

“The ACWC is a human rights body of the ASEAN,” Professor Bing explained. “As such, it is dedicated to studying the particular situation of women and children in the region.” Each ASEAN member state has two representatives in the Commission—one for women’s rights, and the other for children’s rights. Together, the representatives work to end violence against women and children (VAWC) in the region through such instruments as joint statements, declarations, and similar documents. The body is concerned with a wide range of issues including but not limited to gender mainstreaming and the protection of migrant workers.

When questioned on the effectivity of the ACWC (and of the ASEAN itself), Professor Bing came to its defense. “I feel privileged to be a part of this body where we can make a dent,” she began. “We can influence policy directions and decisions of the key stakeholders in the region: the 10 member states.” The dominance of masculinist states in the region makes it difficult to instantaneously address gender issues of pressing concern (e.g., VAWC). The question, therefore, becomes: How does one convince what Prof Bing calls “a masculinist state” to mobilize its financial resources in support of programs and campaigns to systematically put an end to VAWC? The solution is only further complicated by the ASEAN’s reliance on consensus. It’s no wonder that the ASEAN seems to make decisions slowly when the 10 members states have such diverse — and occasionally contradicting —government systems, from a true monarchy to democracies.

“Nothing is made easy,” Professor Bing said. The Commission is often confronted with formidable states, but she believes that there is no state so formidable that it cannot be penetrated. Professor Bing assured that major milestones are being made slowly but surely, as the ACWC’s consultations go beyond their ranks and reach the tables of state leaders. However, mobilizing masculinist states to strive toward the protection of women, cannot be done by the ACWC alone. All states, however formidable, are sensitive to public opinion. With this knowledge, women’s groups can strengthen their ranks and let their advocacies be heard by their governments.

For one, women and civil society groups have been discussing the draft of ASEAN’s Regional Plan of Action for Women, Peace, and Security. ACW and the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) are responsible for the draft plan, envisioned to be approved at the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in November. We at the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy have been working with UN Women-Indonesia to organize consultations that will surface recommendations from civil society organizations (CSOs) in ASEAN member states, particularly women and youth (#WPSASEAN). And CSOs have much to say indeed.

Closing the episode, Professor Bing called on young boys and girls to start building the future now. “If you enjoy the liberty and gains of freedom, you enjoy now, remember it was paid with the lives and blood of those who came before you,” she pleaded. The youth should treasure this freedom, and may do so simply by looking at their own families. “Look at the gender relations within your family, and you will see that there are privileges, discriminations, and subordinations. There [may be] those suffering from violence. Ask yourself, ‘Should I just be a silent witness?”

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(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Amina Rasul is the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, an advocate for Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, peace, human rights, and democracy)

QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 04 September) — Does Islam limit women’s leadership?  

My cohost, Dr. Ayesah Uy Abubakar, and I had an interesting conversation with Hadja Nur-Ainee Tan-Lim.  One could say that she grew up with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)  – her father is MNLF Chair Nur Misuari, whom we call “Maas” or “Elder” and Desdemona Tan, one of the courageous intellectuals of Sulu when I was growing up.   Together with her sister Ruayda, Des inspired us to support the call of Maas – fight for the rights of the Bangsamoro.

Nur-ainee, President of Al Husna Foundation Inc., in Zamboanga City, is a newly inducted Sharia counsellor.  She has a Masters in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management in 2017 and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah, UAE 2004.  In 2018, she was chosen by the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation as one of 4 DigiBayanihan or DB Champions, promoting digital literacy, digitally-enabled literacy, and digital citizenship to communities across the Philippines.  She is the head of the secretariat of the MNLF.

According to Nur-Ainee,  Chair Misuari believes that women were crucial to the organization of the MNLF.  He said that women had the freedom, charisma, passion, nurturing spirit that could move communities. Women were at the forefront of the political shaping of the MNLF. The women were able to organize mass movements while the men bore arms. Maas asked her to play a role in strengthening the MNLF organization.

Nur-Ainee strongly believes that Islam does not limit the roles that women play.  After all, the Holy Quran does mention strong women such as the Queen of Shebah, who was described as a wise and consultative ruler.  When she heard that Solomon was marching towards her kingdom, she asked her generals for advice.  They counseled her to prepare for war.  Instead, she decided to send him gifts and to see what his reaction would be.  Dialogue first, clearly.   Then there is Khadija, the Prophet’s first wife who was also his boss, his first supporter and adviser.  His third wife, Aisha, even led an army during the Battle of the Camel.  However, Nur-Ainee admits that there are limitations which are a form of protection for women – not a barrier for their participation.

When asked about the possibility of a 30% quota for women in elections, Nur-Ainee said she would even push for more than 30%.

The MNLF women are viewed as an independent force that strengthens the MNLF. They have been working with UN Women and the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity  (OPAPRU)  for the past three years, to strengthen their organization for the challenges in developing themselves and their communities, and building the foundation for peace. 

The MNLF Women’s old guard lived in a time when there was not much discrimination against women in terms of leadership roles. The second generation of women is assuming leadership roles in a very different situation – a time when extreme fundamentalist interpretations of Islam are seen as restricting the participation of women.   Nur-Ainee says that her father and brothers do not put any limits on the women (her brother Abdulkarim Tan Misuari  and sister Nurredha were recently appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority). The new generation is enthusiastic and active and have access to knowledge and training that previous generations did not. 

She says that the new generation of MNLF women, with proper training and with guidance of the elder women leaders, will be a potent force in the recovery of the Bangsamoro.  As long as they do not forget their history. 

We asked her if the MNLF and Moro Islamic Liberaton Front (MILF) women are collaborating together.  Nur-Ainee says that senior MNLF and MILF women leaders are in touch and are open to working together. There’s no formal unification, but Nur-Ainee looks forward to more formal unification efforts in the coming months and years.

Her message to women: trust in yourself. There is power within us that just needs to be nurtured and harnessed.  She advises – do good, talk about what you are passionate about, use your voice as it can change lives.   

Listen to Nur-Ainee share stories about growing up in exile, raised in Pakistan, and when she found out who her father really was.    

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-55-nur-ainee-tan-lim-talks-women-leadership-and-islam/id1579999446?i=1000578290864

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Amina Rasul is the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, an advocate for Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, peace, human rights, and democracy)

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***

Dear readers, I thought that you might wish to know a little more about the Claim, as the French Arbitration Court has ruled in favor of the claimants.   I have always been personally interested in the claim and have written about it in the past since my father, the late Ambassador Abraham Rasul Sr. was the wazir or prime minister of Sultan Esmail Kiram (who authorized the Philippine Government to pursue the claim) and his son Sultan Mahakuttah.  As well, my mother, Senator Santanina T. Rasul, was requested by both Presidents Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos to bring the Sabah heirs together to discuss the claim.

In 1878, Sultan Jamalul Alam, the Sultan of Sulu, signed an agreement to lease Sabah to Baron Von Overbeck of the British East India Trading Company.  The company paid an annual rent of 5,300 Mexican Pesos.  This company was later absorbed by the British North Borneo Company which, in 1946, transferred sovereign rights over Sabah to Britain.  When the Federation of Malaya won its independence from Britain, Sabah was one of the territories turned over to it.  The rental money was later converted to 5,300 Malaysian Ringgits.  Malaysia dutifully paid the heirs of Sultan Jamalul annually until the Philippine Government filed its case in the International Court of Justice.  

5,300 ringgits per year for Sabah? That’s P66,000.  Rent for a dilapidated house in a slum area would cost more than that.  Well, the French Arbitration Court agreed.  Last Feb 28, it ruled on the case, “Heirs to the Sultanate of Sulu v. Malaysia.”  The court decided in favor of the Sultan Jamalul’s heirs, based on the Macaskie Decision, and ordered Malaysia  to pay to Claimants the amount of USD 14.92 billion plus interest and reimbursement of their legal fees. In 1939, Chief Justice C. F. C. Macaskie of the High Court of North Borneo ruled and recognized Sultan Jamalul’s heirs to Sabah and their shares:   Dayang-dayang Hadja Piandao Kiram (3/8), Princess Tarhata Kiram (3/16), Princess Sakinurin Kiram (3/16), Mora Napsa (1/24), Esmail Kiram (1/24), Punjungan Kiram (1/24), Mariam Kiram (1/24), Rada Kiram (1/24) and Jahara Kiram (1/24).   Thus, my father, the late Ambassador Abraham Rasul, and his siblings are heirs.  This was recognized by the late Princess Denchurain (daughter of Princess Tarhata). 

Dayang-Dayang Hadji Piandao Kiram, wife of the Sultan, was childless. Therefore her cousins, nieces and nephews will divide her 3/8 share.  Among her cousins was my grandmother, Hadja Salma, wife of Senator (Note: Hadji Butu, Wazir or Prime Minster to  Sultans Badaruddin, Jamalul Kiram and Harun. Hadji Butu was a descendant of Mantiri Asip, prime minister of Raja Baginda, a Sumatran prince who conquered Jolo in 1390. Traditionally, the wazirs come from the line of Mantiri Asip.   When Hadji Butu died in 1938, Dayang-Dayang Jadji Piandao was by his bedside with Hadji Salma, according to the New York Times.)

The Malaysian Government has rejected the decision of the French court.  What will our government do?  Will our government support the claim of its citizens? At the very least, the monetary award – at least P850 billion – would be a welcome resource for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and thus the Philippines.   The claimants are Tausug from Sulu.  We can assume that they would invest some of that in their home province.   That is if we can persuade  Malaysia to finally settle the proprietary claim of the heirs.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.  vowed not to “abandon even one square inch” of  Philippine territory in his State of the Nation Address.  However,  the sovereign claim over Sabah is very complicated.  But the proprietary claim of the heirs is not as complex.  Considering the size of the award, shouldn’t our government move to protect the rights of its citizens? Especially since an international court has already ruled in our favor.  And there are at least P850 billion reasons why.

***

Meanwhile, do listen to our conversation with Dr. Arifah Rahmawati on “She Talks Peace” and find out why the female ex-combatants of Aceh joined the armed struggle and what has happened to them since.  It is a tragic story.

“She Talks Peace” is available on Spotify, Google, Apple podcasts and other platforms.
(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Amina Rasul is President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and host of the “She Talks Peace” podcast)

Ep. 53: Dr. Arifah Rahmawati Talks Justice for Female Combatants.
She Talks Peace.  Link: https://spoti.fi/3Rd0NvG

News Source: https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2022/08/she-talks-peace-5300-malaysian-ringgits-yesterday-14-92-billion-today-the-sabah-claim/

QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 07 August) — Our deepest condolences to the family of our beloved FVR – Tita Ming, her daughters Angel,  Cristy, Carolina, Gloria, and her grandchildren.  We share your loss.

When Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) ran for President in 1992, only two elected senators joined his slate: his sister, the late Senator Leticia R. Shahani, and my mother, former Senator Santanina T. Rasul.  I remember the meeting with the late President Corazon Aquino, when she requested my mother to be on the Ramos senatorial team.  Mama was already on the well-organized LDP (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino) slate at the time. But Mama said yes immediately because she owed so much to President Cory, who had supported her candidacy fully.    

When FVR first met with his senatorial candidates, Mama worried that he didn’t have too much charisma.  He definitely was not a politician. 

Mama despaired over his speech delivery during the first sorties – so stiff!  However, during the campaign, we saw his transformation from a military leader to a political leader.    FVR was a quick study and he blossomed into a more responsive speaker.  It was an impressive transformation.  Even more impressive was the transformation of his public persona into the caring, sensitive and inclusive leader that he truly was.

He cared about Mindanao. Early on as President-elect, he requested Mama to bring the Muslim leaders together to meet with him.  We had that first meeting at DBP, where FVR asked the leaders to formulate a Mindanao agenda. Peace, of course, was a priority. That early, he had us sharing, caring and daring (SCD).

One of his first initiatives for peace was to reach out to the MNLF to return to the negotiating table, tapping Ruben Torres who was Chair Nur Misuari’s buddy in UP. FVR signed Executive Order  125, defining the Three Principles Underlying the Comprehensive Peace Process and the Six Paths to Peace, created OPAPP. He appointed the late Ambassador Manuel Yan as  Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (PAPP).  

The negotiations finally resulted in the signing of the GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement on September 2, 1996, the first peace accord in Asia.  FVR and MNLF Chair Misuari received the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize. The award honors “living individuals and active public or private bodies or institutions that have made a significant contribution to promoting, seeking, safeguarding or maintaining peace, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitution of UNESCO.”  The peace process had its ups and downs but FVR never let the downs deter him from the path to peace.   Thank you, our Steady Eddie, for your consistency and constancy.

He had a soft spot for young people and wanted them to be part of decision making.   FVR had appointed me Presidential Adviser on Youth Affairs with Cabinet rank and asked me to help him create a government agency for youth development.  At the time, a bill establishing the National Youth Commission was in Congress.  The bill was finally passed and signed into law on June 7, 1995.  FVR appointed me as the first Chair of NYC.  Meeting with him to discuss the appointments of Commissioners, I recommended that he appoint young leaders from other political parties, as part of his UST strategy – unity, solidarity, teamwork.  FVR readily agreed and gave me a free hand.  Thus, PDP’s Koko Pimentel of Mindanao, former Provincial Board Member Joeyboy Holganza, son of the late Cebu opposition leader, LDP’s Jojo Mitra, and Celine Madamba for Lakas Youth were appointed as the first set of Commissioners of NYC.   Any other President would have simply appointed members of his own party.  Not FVR.   SK National President Ryan Culima of Butuan joined, as mandated by law.  Cesar Chavez, a media practitioner, was also  appointed.  

This is one of the many anecdotes I can share about how FVR was consultative and inclusive, two traits that drove his insistence on CSW or “complete staff work.”  All of us in Cabinet learned to do CSW, if we needed anything approved by FVR. We had to make sure we consulted and got the agreement of all affected agencies.  The first time I submitted a recommendation to FVR, without doing CSW, my memo came back to me with comments in red (including edits) in all paragraphs.  The paper had more red than black ink.  I felt like I had received an “F.”  Needless to say, I never submitted a memo again without doing my CSW.

When we organized the first National Youth Parliament, a mandate of NYC, I suggested to FVR that leaders of the Parliament be allowed to observe a Cabinet Meeting.  He instructed that  20 young leaders join the meeting.   FVR welcomed them and asked that they move their chairs closer to the Cabinet members.  He also asked one young leader to sit beside him.  That kid was nervous as hell.  Throughout  the meeting, FVR would lean towards the young man, talk to him, even making him laugh. Defense Secretary Rene de Villa then suggested that the youth leaders be excused as he was going to present on security matters.  FVR said “no, they will lead someday and they should know the dangers we face.”  After the meeting,  the young leaders told me what a life-changing experience that was.  Youth participation was not just propaganda for FVR, it was real.  Thank you, President Ramos, for encouraging and supporting Filipino youth.  

I became closer to FVR when he became Citizen Eddie.  He enjoyed our visits  to his office at the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDev), with young people, Muslim and civil society leaders.  He accepted all our invitations to speak at conferences organized by the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy – on peace, on autonomy, on security.  The last conference he keynoted for us was the two-day South East Asia Conference on Peace and the Prevention of Violent Extremism, part of the activities when the Philippines chaired ASEAN in 2017.  Over 400 delegates joined us from ASEAN and its partner countries.  I was told that he might not be able to attend, as he was unwell. But he did, adding gravitas – and jokes – to the conference. As usual, he threw out his printed speech, saying “Amina wanted me to read this but it’s too long.”   FVR’s concluding message focused on UST – unity, solidarity and teamwork.  He said “There should be one Asia, one Europe, one Oceana, one World, one family.”

Thank you, President Ramos – our Tiger Eddie, our Steady Eddie – for including all of us – the young, the minorities, civil society. Thank you for making us feel that we mattered.  Until we meet again, we will remember your alphabet lessons: SCD, CSW, UST! We will care for Team Philippines, as you wanted us to do.  Kakayanin po namin ito.

Note:  Dear readers, I apologize for my long absence in this space.  I caught COVID, although I have already received a booster.   While it was a mild case, the after effects were terrible.  For weeks, I couldn’t concentrate and felt tired all the time.  My brain felt like cotton.  I do hope that all of you still take precautions – mask when in crowded places like malls, wash your hands often.

Meanwhile, our podcast “She Talks Peace” is celebrating its first year anniversary.  Do join us and listen to our conversations on Spotify, Apple, Google and other platforms.  A new episode is released every Sunday.

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QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 19 June) — Last week, The United Nations (UN) commended Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. for his role in advancing the Bangsamoro peace process as Presidential Pdviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.  UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González cited Galvez’s “commitment and professionalism in peacebuilding efforts”.

I couldn’t agree more.  Sec Galvez’ support for the peace process has been instrumental in strengthening the foundation for peace in Muslim Mindanao.

The peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was no walk in the park.  The peace talks started under then President Fidel V. Ramos, lasting almost two decades with many ups and downs, many armed clashes caused by perceived violations of terms of the peace talks.  Finally, an agreement was signed under the late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and a law was passed under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.  This law, the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), was the foundation for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government, which came into being after a plebiscite in Muslim Mindanao.  The 2019 Bangsamoro autonomy plebiscite  ratified BOL and replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao  (BARMM).  The plebiscite also determined the provinces and communities that would become part of BARMM.

The creation of the BARMM introduced a new system of government – a parliamentary system –  in the country.  The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).  is the transition parliament mandated to pass the laws needed to enable parliamentary system to function.  This is a unique experiment in governance as the nation is under a unitary system but the BARMM region will be parliamentary.  Much work is required to ensure smooth governance.  

You may be interested to know that Bangsamoro and Muslim women lobbied hard for the passage of the law, demanding that their rights be respected, that women be supported to be part of decision making.  I remember well the interesting meetings that we had with then MILF Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal.  (Thanks Chair IQ, for your support!)

Lobbying by civil society had positive results: women, youth, and indigenous communities each have reserved seats in Parliament, and at least one woman must be appointed to the Cabinet. The law ensures an allocation of at least five per cent of the budget for programs on gender and development. It calls for addressing the rights of women, and for women’s needs to be considered in rehabilitation and development programmes for internally-displaced people. 

However, in BARMM, women’s participation and promotion still need to be ensured.  During the pandemic, there was a rise in women’s radicalization and gender-based violence due to conflicts including “rido” or clan feuds.  Women’s access to justice and opportunities remains weak.  And yet the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda is crucial not just to BARMM but all conflict-affected communities.

Our guest on “She Talks Peace” is the perfect resource to understand the issues.  Atty. Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba, who placed 3^rd in the Special Shariah Bar Examinations in 2018, is the Attorney General (AG) of the BARMM. AG Lai, as she is fondly called, was part of the 2019 Obama Leaders Class in Asia, recognized by Tatler Asia as one of the Gen T 2020 Leaders of Tomorrow and an Asia Peace Innovators Fellow 2020.

AG Lai served as Deputy Executive Director of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, and Attorney VI of the Civil Service Commission – ARMM before being appointed AG in 2019.   Atty Lai is the co-chair of the Joint Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Relations Body, that ensures governance in BARMM and the national government are in sync.  As the Attorney General, she is the Chief Legal Counsel of the Regional Government.  She facilitates the gradual phasing out of the employees of the ARMM as it transitions to the BARMM.   

I asked her what challenges she faced in BARMM.  She  gets to sit at the same table with powerful men. At first, she questioned whether she belonged at the table.  Today, she speaks her mind, comfortable that the BARMM leadership does listen to what she has to say.  That is good news indeed.  Another challenge:  physical security.  The shift from ARMM to BARMM threatened the employment of many who belonged to armed clans so she had to beef up her security – couldn’t even go out alone.  

Then there is the matter of ensuring that national law and Islamic law or Sharia are in sync.  I asked her, for instance, about laws like the banning child marriage, which is in effect in many Muslim majority countries – even Saudi Arabia.  After consultations with the leadership, religious leaders and other sectors, she had to present the position of BARMM to Congress – that BARMM be exempted as it is governed by Sharia.  She had to present the official position.  I know that situation well, having been part of the Cabinet of former President Fidel V. Ramos: you have to support the position of the administration.  If you cannot, then resign – don’t ever take a public position contrary to the official position.

AG Lai is optimistic that BARMM laws will, in the long run, respond to the needs of all constituents.  For instance, there are positive developments with regards to women’s access to justice and opportunities.  The Bangsamoro Women’s Commission under Chair Bainon Karon, also a member of the BTA, has been busy with consultations to ensure that the needs and priorities of women are brought to the attention of the leadership and are responded to.   

AG Lai shared that a recent assessment shows that the Sharia Courts have become a women’s court – with most cases dealing with women’s cases (divorce, inheritance, among others).  The Regional Government has instituted a mechanism – the Regional Interagency Council Against Trafficking (RIACT), expanding its mandate to include violence against women.  There are structural challenges, she acknowledges, but together with the BWC and civil society, she is confident that women’s access to justice, rights and participation will be greatly improved. 

She says that BARMM is slowly changing the view that women are victims of conflict to partners for peace.   But more needs to be accomplished in BARMM.

Want to know what the men in her life think about her position and work?  What her dad, DOH Undersecretary Abdullah Dumama, did when Lai said she wanted to be a lawyer and not a doctor? What her husband says?  Then listen to Atty Lai on “She Talks Peace”.  

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(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Amina Rasul is the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, an advocate for Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, peace, human rights, and democracy)

Source: https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2022/06/she-talks-peace-women-and-justice-in-barmm/

QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 12 June) — New corruption charges were filed against Myanmar’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi this week, who has been under arrest  since February 2021.  According to the junta’s  Anti-Corruption Commission, they have new evidence on top of previous charges that she had accepted accepted illegal payments of $600,000 in cash plus gold.  According to the news, her lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, said “Those who accuse her with greed and corruption are spitting towards the sky.”

I had a conversation with a Burmese civil society leader who is now in exile.  Even as she feels that their situation is dire and that they lack international support, she remains committed to restoring democracy in Myanmar, even as she and her colleagues are threatened, facing death threats from the military junta ( thus I cannot reveal her name).  Still, Burmese civil society are holding firm against the junta. 

It seems that at least half of rally participants are women.  She shared the actions of women in the anti-coup movement.  News reports note some innovative ones such as wearing wedding dresses in a number of rallies, hanging women’s underwear across streets to insult and prevent the male dominated Myanmar army from advancing to the rally areas. 

On “She Talks Peace,” I had an enlightening and encouraging conversation with Emma Leslie, the founder director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, supporting peace processes and conflict transformation in Asia.   Emma is Australian-Cambodian and no stranger to Mindanao – she had served as a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) for a decade, supporting the Philippine Government – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace talks. Emma has been actively engaged in Myanmar for 25 years, and was one of 1000 women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, profiled by KACIID as a ‘hero of dialogue.’ Emma recently founded Dialogue Australia and will soon release a podcast – “Peacebuilder Who Pack a Punch.”

I asked her if she was optimistic about a way forward for Myanmar.  She says she is – she has to be, as that’s part of the job of a peace builder.  However, I wondered if the junta – described by Emma as a hierarchical, patriarchal group – really has much interest in a peace process.

Emma talked about the role that Burmese women play in the anti-junta movement.  She has nothing but admiration for them.  According to the news, half of the participants in protests last year were women.  Emma is encouraged that the women are the ones asking critical questions.  She highlighted two Burmese women who were cited as part of the Top 100 Influential Persons in the world by Time Magazine last year.  Esther Ze Naw Bamvo and Ei Thinzar Maung who belong to the Karen ethnic group,  led people on the very first anti-junta protest in Yangon in February 2021.   Esther,  a leader of the Kachin Peace Network, was one of the few people who spoke up for the Rohingya.  Ei Thinzar has been named as Myanmar’s youngest-ever deputy minister in the shadow government, the National Unity Government.

Then there are the fallen. Mya Thwet Khaing , the first martyr who  was shot in the head last February 2021when the military forces opened fire to disperse a peaceful anti-coup demonstration for democracy.   According the news reports, she was targeted because she was wearing a red t-shirt, a symbol of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party.   Angel or Kyal Sin, a 19-year-old wearing a t-shirt with “Everything will be OK” printed on it,  was shot in the head last March 2021.  She and her t–shirt have become a symbol of defiance against the junta.

The ASEAN initiative to establish a Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) is an excellent step forward.  Emma has admiration for the commitment and work done by Cambodia, ASEAN Chair for 2022, on WPS.  The ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) recently had its 2^ndTechnical Working Group Meeting on the proposed Plan, getting inputs from expert resources like former Peace Adviser Ging Quintos-Deles and Panel Chair Iye Coronel-Ferrer  and many others to ensure that the Plan becomes an effective initiative to ensure women’s participation in peacebuilding, conflict resolution and peace processes – such as what is clearly needed in Myanmar. (#WPSASEAN)

Emma is also fascinated by the role that the youth are playing in Myanmar.   Youth organizations have pushed the ASEAN and the international community  to focus on Myanmar, to send peace keepers and monitors.  ASEAN foreign ministers have become more engaged.  ASEAN has done an extraordinary job in setting benchmarks – the five consensus points that the junta had agreed to:  immediate end to violence in the country; dialogue among all parties concerned; the appointment of a special envoy; provision of humanitarian assistance by ASEAN; and a visit by the bloc’s special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all parties.  However, it was a rude shock to many ASEAN leaders that the junta has not honored the consensus points.  

The Burmese people, particularly the youth,  are fatigued by ineffective peace processes .  Emma says the young leaders are no longer interested in the frameworks or tools that we peacebuilders have been using, not keen on dialogues or peace talks. They don’t want to sit down with the military.  They want to build new, not go back to what they had, which didn’t serve them well.  Essentially , they are “exploring a 21^st century way forward,” says Emma.  

The organizing by youth is both encouraging and frightening.  Emma relates their belief that they  have to protect our communities themselves, since the international community can’t seem to move the junta to the peace table. The young have organized defense forces, growing a national army from ground up.    Some of these community groups are autonomous, some are more organized with a hierarchy covering several communities.   Some have become mechanisms for revenge.  They are building the Burma Peoples Liberation Army, unique in Asia.  Encouraging for their commitment and energy, scary for the potential impact on regional security and stability. 

How do we reach them?  Emma cites the role that internet and connectivity play,   so powerful that the military cannot shut them down.  These groups meet and connect and plan virtually. Even the shadow government -the National Unity Government – is able to behave as though they are THE government, connected as they are to the world outside Myanmar.  

Is there a way to peace?  To restoring democracy?  Listen to Emma Leslie on “She Talks Peace”.

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(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Amina Rasul is the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, an advocate for Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, peace, human rights, and democracy)

Source: https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2022/06/she-talks-peace-myanmar-community-army/

QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 29 May) — Last March, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security released a paper on the impact of climate change on women stating: “The fields of climate change and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) are often viewed as separate from one another. The sooner we acknowledge that they are inextricably linked, the sooner we can take synergistic action. 

“The landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325 formalized the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. The WPS Agenda affirms the critical role of women in addressing security threats, and calls for women’s equal participation in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding efforts. Climate change is increasingly recognized as a security threat. It drives insecurity both through direct negative impacts on environmental systems and through secondary risks such as political instability, population displacements, poverty, and hunger. Despite this reality, only about one in four WPS National Action Plans make a direct reference to climate. For the most effective response to the security threat posed by climate change, we must leverage frameworks such as the WPS Agenda to recognize the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and the security threats they pose. The WPS Agenda also offers a valuable tool to ensure women’s meaningful participation in climate interventions.”

Clearly, the impacts of climate change are not gender neutral.  Our guest on “She Talks Peace,” Maria Paz “Ipat” Luna, couldn’t agree more.  Ipat, former DENR Undersecretary,  has been engaged in environmental law and policy practice for three decades. She has managed several foundations and organizations for the conservation of the environment, built local consensus on important policy decisions affecting natural resources and habitats, particularly in protected areas and published numerous works in these fields. She has also assisted in crafting numerous public health policies. She is a member of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW). She is an advisory member of the Global Just Transition Project organized by Foreign Policy in Focus.   She has been described as  “a naturalist — a native tree enthusiast, a birdwatcher and a trained rescue diver.”  She has created a sanctuary in Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas, on the shore of Taal Lake with indigenous flora.  Originally intended to be a home away from Manila, she and husband Howie Severino welcome guests, sharing their peace as well as ecological practices with them.  She even put up an earth house – like her very own Hobbit house.  

Acknowledging that climate crisis is the existential threat of our time, Ipat agrees, climate change has disproportionate impact on women who are 14 times more likely than men to die in natural disasters. 

She is currently the Chief of Party of the INSPIRE Project of the Gerry Roxas Foundation that will be giving grants and establishing a Conservation Academy in the next five years. The Conservation Academy provides grants that can help csos improve capacity, support civil society work with and lobby government to deal with environmental protection as development runs rampant.  Civil society is a vital part of the defense of bio-regions.  She says that we have a small window of opportunity to shore up defenses but we need government to pro-active on climate change and environmental protection. 

But will the Marcos-Duterte Administration be pro-active?  Incoming Vice President Sara Duterte, when she was Davao City Mayor, confirmed her commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation by establishing the Davao City Climate Change Commission (DCCC) through an executive order in 2021.  What has happened since?  And even more important:  will she push through with the agenda over the next six years, supporting

policy reforms and programs that create a peaceful balance between economic development and the environment.   

Ipat shared her agenda for the incoming administration.  First, food and water security on a sustainable basis.  This will include soil conservation, forest restoration, prioritization in the government’s “build, build, build projects.”    Support the protection of our watersheds, like the Masungi Georeserve run by the Dumaliangs (She Talks Peace Episode 38).   Second, rationalize or reform the Department on the Environment and Natural Resources, creating a separate agency that protects the environment and conserve our natural resources. Ipat believes the DENR is schizophrenic, managing both the extraction and protection of our resources.  Thus, checks and balances are virtually impossible within DENR.  Third, proactive action on climate change is vital.  Thus far, government has only paid lip service to this existential threat.  For instance, government declared a climate emergency but the laws passed do nothing to address the threat.

Ipat stressed that “the earth will be here for a very, very long time to come but our place on earth is in danger.”  She believes the young are our hope.  The older generation may be complacent but the young – like Greta Thunberg – have gone the distance, filing cases against their own governments, to defend the environment.  They are the inventive ones who have stopped buying cars, preferring environment friendly bicycles.  The older generation must listen to them and we have to “make decisions on their behalf, while we are still in a position to do so.”  

Listen to what Ipat says on why many young people don’t want to marry and have children. Please Click, Play and Listen 

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https://apple.co/3aifu02

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Amina Rasul is the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, an advocate for Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, peace, human rights, and democracy)

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Source: https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2022/05/she-talks-peace-womens-agenda-for-environment-and-climate-change/