Pagpati'ut - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

Mediating Violence In Sulu
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opposition by ensuring victory if not a stalemate; (b) for those who feel
aggrieved by the current arrangement, the motivation is to reclaim in whole
or in part the contested resources.
representatives to carry on the armed hostilities on their behalf. They
enjoy a level of deniability when push comes to shove.
There are the
arms, ammunitions, and other instruments and materials that are used
in threatening or neutralizing the opponent. They don’t side with anyone
of arms. These entrepreneurs also have access to decision makers and
power holders that they often escape the attention of the public even
‘peace spoilers.’ They
Sadly, the ‘pawns’
family/ community. Since these clans reside in the same community, the
On the other side of the continuum are the ‘peace holders.’ They are the
key players in forging and nurturing peace agreements. Peace holders
all of those involved; or a person or group outside the family but also
There are the ‘peace sponsors’ – they are respected individuals who use
their name and stature to support the peace settlement. Their function is
to bring the parochial, limited concerns of parties into the attention of the