U.S. Counter-Terrorist in the GRP-NDF Talks
Former U.S. Marine commander has links to ‘NGOs’ in Aceh and Mindanao

Two foreign NGOs claiming to be independent peace organizations are deeply involved in the peace process in southern Philippines and in war-torn Aceh, Indonesia. One of them wants to dip its hands into the GRP-NDFP talks. Their common link: an American counter-terrorist general.

By Bulatlat.com

Gorman, both representatives of the CHD, to sit as observers. The NDFP panel, led by Luis Jalandoni, politely rejected the Norwegian proposal saying that CHD, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland cannot be a neutral observer.

Not neutral

On CHD’s board and council is Narcisa Escaler, former Philippine ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations based in Geneva. With a government official on its board, the NDFP panel said, CHD cannot claim to be neutral.

More questionable is the presence of Zinni who, as CHD and USIP adviser, has a role to play in efforts by international “neutral observers” to tame the civil war in Aceh, Indonesia and in southern Philippines.

The NDFP’s strong position prompted the Norwegian government not to pursue its proposal, Bulatlat.com learned.

War veteran

As a Marine commander, Zinni held many overseas assignments including in the Western Pacific particularly in Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as in Somalia, Zaire, Sierra Leone and the Persian Gulf. Upon retirement, he served as U.S. peace envoy to the Middle East.

Zinni also holds several positions on boards of directors of major U.S. companies and is adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Council on Foreign Relations, both conservative pro-war think tanks.

Meanwhile, CHD, which was founded in 1999, claims to be an “independent and impartial organization” that facilitates dialogues on humanitarian issues and conflict resolution. Its facilitation activities in Aceh, however, show that CHD’s involvement runs far beyond the dialogue and humanitarian process.

Taming the Aceh rebellion

In 2000, CHD succeeded in opening a dialogue between the Indonesian government and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) with the intention of forging a truce to pave the way for humanitarian assistance as well as financial support. Through the dialogue, CHD’s international advisers led by Zinni used the humanitarian assistance intervention as a step toward the setting up of “peace zones” – areas where the Free Aceh rebels are forbidden to operate.

“Peace zones” are a process of demilitarization that actually reduced GAM’s fighting will – the process called for the surrender of guerrilla weapons in designated sites.

The talks, however, apparently broke down in May last year followed by President Megawatti’s declaration of martial law in Aceh. CHD continues to maintain a staff in Jakarta.

Muslim Mindanao

In southern Philippines, USIP plays a “facilitating role” in peace talks between the GRP and the MILF. USIP has been painted as an independent NGO involved in peace but it was actually created by the U.S. Congress.

The role of USIP in the Mindanao peace talks was announced in May last year by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s visit in Washington. Five months later, USIP sponsored an off-the-record briefing on Capitol Hill to discuss the GRP-MILF talks. Giving the briefing were USIP adviser Zinni; Richard H. Solomon, USIP president and former U.S. ambassador to Manila; and Eugene Martin, executive director of the Philippine Facilitation project of USIP.

In effect, the U.S. government is deeply involved in the GRP-MILF peace talks through a promise of grant amounting to about $50 million for Muslim Mindanao’s development by the USAID with USIP playing as a conduit for aid facilitation, among others. To fast-track U.S.-assisted development in conflict-torn areas, the Bangsamoro Development Agency has been reportedly formed.

Before he died in July last year, MILF chair Salamat Hashim reportedly welcomed the involvement of the U.S. government in the talks. The idea was broached by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. Whether this meant the late MILF chair agreed to the condition set by U.S. President George W. Bush, Jr. that the MILF rebels “abandon their armed struggle” in exchange for U.S. financial support for the Mindanao development remains a puzzle.

How the U.S. government – through its two agencies – fits into the Mindanao peace process, now currently brokered by the Malaysian government which is not exactly friendly to Washington is also not clear. The peace talks are supposed to resume in Kuala Lumpur this month – or so the Macapagal-Arroyo government recently claimed. Bulatlat.com

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