Pagpati'ut - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

While the PWG was initially successful at resolving and addressing
review of the implementation of the 1996 Agreement, coupled with other
In 2007, the MNLF camps were overrun by government forces following
a series of skirmishes and the HD Centre realized it was time to shift
tact. The HD Centre conducted an extensive study of violence and
armed groups 2
of just dealing with representatives from the two parties, it decided to
work through credible, impartial, respected individuals who could reach
name of the group was changed to the Tumikang Sama Sama (Together
We Move Forward) and members were added based on input from
civil society, the provincial government, and latterly from parties to a
the Preventing Election Related Violence (PERV) Initiative, a program
incidents of election-related violence to the TSS and conducts peace
building activities in their respective districts.
I N T R O D U C T I O N & C O N T E X T
Nonetheless, while it was apparent that the TSS and the monitoring
operation were successful at preventing and resolving some local-level
private investment, among others prevented Sulu from sustainably getting
projects had failed to make any comprehensive progress. These projects
are all too often targeted at one sector or another but failing to address all
The HD Centre’s initiatives had also often come up short as it seemingly
tried to resolve all of Sulu’s problems. Following the success of its
mediation work in Barangay Silangkan, Parang Municipality and noting the
drive of its local politicians, MNLF commanders and others to move away
from ‘business as usual’, made HD Centre rethink its efforts in Sulu. The
and also to draw the attention of donors and the government on a few
2 See Mirelle Widmer et al. 2011. Armed Violence in Mindanao: Militia and Private Armies. The
See Mirelle Widmer et al. 2011. Armed Violence in Mindanao: Militia and Private Armies. The
Institute of Bangsamoro Studies and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
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