Policy Statement and Declarations of the Bangsamoro Congress on Self-Determination

In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful


Policy Statement and Declarations of the Bangsamoro 
Congress on Self-Determination
August 15-16, 2009, Regency Inn, Davao City


We, the Bangsamoro people upholding the Immense Sovereignty of Allah over the Worlds and over all creations, do hereby adopt, collectively proclaim, and promulgate the following declarations in the pursuit of the Bangsamoro peoples’ right to self-determination and for establishing an Islamic system within the territory on which we assert our collective birthright claim, to wit:

1) That the Moro peoples’ right to self-determination shall be attained and achieved through the process of decolonization of the Bangsamoro Homeland as an indigenous nation independent in character, and whose existence and contemporary identity and destiny is upheld and defined under the UN Covenant on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of April 1994;

2) That we shall explore, as we do, peaceful avenues in attaining and achieving the Moro right to self-determination, including support to the demand for the full implementation of the MNLF-GRP 1996 agreement and the ongoing peace process between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front , and propositions therein that provide for an “associative relation” of the Bangsamoro with the national government for a short- or medium-term time-frame of the BM aspiration;

3) That we shall support initiatives, moves and processes that seek to (bring together) the Moro fronts in solidarity towards the attainment of RSD;

4) That we seek resolution of the Muslim Mindanao conflict by addressing its root causes - injustice, poverty, underdevelopment, displacement and the illegal encroachment of the Bangsamoro territory, by returning to them lands unjustly taken from them through legitimized processes that were alien to them, such as land titling and the national enactment of colonization laws;

5) That through peaceful and legitimate means, the Bangsamoro people shall pursue retrieval of lands taken from their forebears with policies enforced upon them by the succession of colonial and neo-colonial administrations without undermining the legitimate rights of the present owners ;

6) Enhanced respect for other peoples in a diversity of Bangsamoro territory or governance and tolerance shall be the guiding principles in the relationship of Moros with other peoples. The first Muslim administration best exudes respect and tolerance in the Magna Carta of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) on the Rights of non-Muslims in a Muslim government, particularly the St. Catherine Monastery of Mt. Sinai, an enclave of the Roman Empire in the 7th Century;

7) That the Bangsamoro people shall have access to all social services necessary to establish a productive, self-reliant and righteous ummah; 

8) That the Bangsamoro shall exercise control over its territories, including the realm of decision-making on the utilization, preservation and protection of its natural resources through ways formulated to collectively benefit the Moros of the present and future generations; 

9) That the Bangsamoro people are developing and shall establish their own system of education for children and youth, as well as alternative learning system for adults;

10) That Human Security does not solely apply on the problem of terrorism, but more importantly for every human being to be safe, and be secured in their domicile as well as their rights protected, including free movement and speech (without violating the Qur’an prohibition of slander);

11) That the rights of women shall be defended and protected and their representation in governance and other forums and sectors of society shall be upheld and promoted. In the same manner that cases of violations against their rights shall be documented and prosecuted;

12) That the Bangsamoro people shall promote and establish an Islam-inspired finance and economic system of usury-free, partnership (profit-loss sharing) scheme on public transactions, particularly those pertaining to market and banking businesses and in the management and utilization of the Bangsamoro resources;

13) That the Moro cultural heritage, the tradition and the rich history of the Bangsamoro people shall be maintained, preserved and promoted and shall be taught in schools attended by Moros and non-Moros, and,

14) The rights of children and youth shall be upheld and protected equally at all time among Moro and non-Moro people in the Bangsamoro Homeland. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) recognized and promoted their potentials not only in sports but also in community affairs when he introduced the concept of foster-parenting among the children of poor and rich families in the Dark Age of Arabia.

We assert our quest for just peace and humane society for the Bangsamoro peoples and their future generation!

Reaffirm the struggle of the Bangsamoro for self-determination, decolonization and political freedom and economic prosperity!

Adopted from consensus reached during the two-day Bangsamoro Congress on self-determination, and promulgated by 92 leaders of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations this 25th Day of Sa’aban 1428 HC, corresponding to 15th day of August 2009 in Davao City.