ALBERT Einstein said that in order to change something, we need to change the way we think about it. In other words, the way we perceive and understand the world around us can greatly impact our ability to bring about change.
In the past few months, I read a couple of reports, analyses, and policy papers about the Bangsamoro peace process. The reports discussed the positive side of the period of transition and also the challenging part. These reports are made by third-party experts in the field of peace and conflict studies. I read these documents because they are vital to my work at the University.
One article from Georgi Engelbrecht, a senior analyst for the Philippines of the International Crisis Group, which was published online mentioned that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was created in 2019, with progress made in the political track since the ratification of the law, faces interlocking issues such as contentious politics, local violence, and uneven implementation of the peace agreement pose challenges to durable peace. Clashes and violence linked to clan feuds, political competition, and land disputes also risk peacekeeping efforts in the area.
Aside from the said article, there are also reports that are saying the process of transitioning from war to peace, known as normalization, is not going as planned. While rebel demobilization may be on-track, other aspects such as disarmament of private armed groups, transformation of rebel camps, and compensation for decommissioned combatants are behind schedule. This is causing frustration among the rebel group and leading to tensions.
Other than the academe, who are the stakeholders that are reading these reports, analyses, and policy papers? We take note that these reports are important because alongside them are the recommendations for addressing the different forms of challenges in the peace process.
Since these reports and policy papers may lead to change and there are people or groups of people that are reluctant to embrace change, this affects the whole picture of the peace process. This leads to a state of inertia that can stifle progress and innovation. As a result, it maintains the status quo - poverty and a prolonged cycle of violence in the region.
I have been involved in the Bangsamoro peace process since 1998. For most of that period, I was and am tasked as a community development specialist, policy maker, and once as a member of parliament. For some technocrats, my task was usually described as change-maker. Over time, I have seen clear patterns that have emerged in relation to human responses to change in the context of Bangsamoro, I am sad to say that fear of the unknown emerges.
Therefore, following the line of thinking of Einstein, it is not enough to simply produce studies and findings about societal problems and have them sit in libraries or on bookshelves. These studies and findings must be disseminated, understood, and acted upon in order to bring about meaningful change in our society.