Urliapov Vyacheslav

Malaysia and the problem of the South of the Philippines

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2010, №14, 166-189

 
Annotation: Dr. Vyacheslav Urlyapov's paper is devoted to Malaysia's involvement in the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as a third party. The talks started in 2001. While maintaining its facilitation role, Malaysia was providing mediation. This might have not been obvious because of Malaysia's preference for «silent diplomacy». Every time the GRP and MILF negotiating process reached a point of disagreement, Malaysia was helpful in suggesting alternatives. Malaysia's meditation worked not so much during the panels meetings but rather at the time they were not talking with each other. Such an approach was demonstrated in the cause of Malaysian diplomats' frequent visits to Manila and the MILF headquarters on Mindanao Island. The Malaysian authorities have not publicly demonstrated any direct linkage between their involvement in the peace process and the Philippines claim to Sabah. But Kuala-Lumpur hopes that if it plays an important role in ending the conflict, the Sabah claim would be dropped or delayed indefinitely. But in August 2008 the talks were stalled after the Philippine Supreme Court issued restraining order on the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain which is the main aspect of the peace accord. There are powerful economic and political forces in the Philippine elite who believe that their interests would be adversely affected by the Mindanao peace process.

Keywords: PHILIPPINES, MALAYSIA, GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES (GRP), MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (MILF)