Ratification Mechanism: Mindanao Final Agreement
Implementations
Ratification Mechanism – 1996
No referendum was observed this year.
Ratification Mechanism – 1997
No referendum was observed this year.
Ratification Mechanism – 1998
No referendum was observed this year.
Ratification Mechanism – 1999
No referendum was observed this year.
Ratification Mechanism – 2000
No referendum was observed this year.
Ratification Mechanism – 2001
As called for in 1996 peace agreement, a regional plebiscite on the expansion of the four-province Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was held in August of 2001. Only one new province, the Muslim majority island of Basilan, voted to join the ARMM. Faced with a blatant democratic rejection by ARMM voters, even in several Muslim majority provinces, MNLF leader, Nur Misuari protests the timing and legitimacy of the plebiscite election, amid widespread calls for his resignation. In November, MNLF units claiming loyal to Nur Misuari attack AFP installations in Zamboanga and Jolo island that resulted in around 140 deaths. It remains unclear whether Nur Misuari ordered the attacks. He was arrested trying to cross the border into Sabah, Malaysia and was held by AFP security forces in the Philippines. He was later put under house arrest.1
- “Amnesty International Report 2002 – Philippines,” Amnesty International, May 2002, accessed July 30, 2012, http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3cf4bc0f0.html.
Ratification Mechanism – 2002
No further developments observed.
Ratification Mechanism – 2003
No further developments observed.
Ratification Mechanism – 2004
No further developments observed.
Ratification Mechanism – 2005
No further developments observed.