Going back to the colonial era, one of the longest-running internal conflicts in Asia is the struggle by the Muslims of the southern Philippines for greater autonomy or even independence. This conflict has been given new salience in recent years with allegations of links to international terrorist groups. To explore ongoing efforts to bring peace to Mindanao, the United States Institute of Peace, in cooperation with the Asia Society and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, on September 28 co-hosted a special discussion on "Securing Peace in Mindanao: Resolving the Roots of Conflict." Held at the Woodrow Wilson Center, the event featured a panel of distinguished experts who addressed the complexities underlying the Mindanao conflict, the prospects for a sustainable peace policy, and the constructive engagement of the United States in resolving the crisis.

Richard Solomon, president of the U.S. Institute of Peace and former assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs and ambassador to the Philippines, delivered the opening remarks. Commentators included Michael Mastura, president, Sultan Kudarat Islamic Academy Foundation; Abhoud Syed M. Lingga, chairman, Bangsamoro People's Consultative Assembly; Carolyn Arguillas, chairperson, Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center; and Steven Muncy, executive director, Community and Family Services International. The session was moderated by Eugene Martin, executive director of the Philippine Facilitation Project at the United States Institute of Peace.

Speakers

Opening Remarks

• Richard Solomon
  President, United States Institute of Peace; former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; and former Ambassador to the Philippines

Commentators

• Carolyn Arguillas
  Chairperson, Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center
• Abhoud Syed M. Lingga
  Chairman, Bangsamoro People's Consultative Assembly
• Michael Mastura
  President, Sultan Kudarat Islamic Academy Foundation
• Steven Muncy
  Executive Director, Community and Family Services International

Moderator

• G. Eugene Martin
  Executive Director, Philippine Facilitation Project, United States Institute of Peace

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