Negotiating peace with the Reform the Armed Forces Movement/Soldiers of the Filipino People/Young Officers Union: issues and prospects

Abstract

President Fidel V. Ramos in his first State of the Nation address on July 27,1992, emphasized that the advancement of peace and reconciliation shall be among the priorities of his administration. Presently, the Government is holding peace negotiations with the Reform the Armed Forces Movement/Soldiers of the Filipino People/Young Officers Union (RAM/SFP/YOU) after both parties have signed a peace agreement on December 23,1992 to pave way for the peace process. The primary purpose of this paper is to analyze the crucial negotiating issues and positions to arrive at an educated estimate of what could derail the peace process and what could the government do about it. It will also attempt to determine the RAM/SFP/YOU intentions and probable courses of action during the peace process and to formulate the best possible courses of action the government panel may take in terms of issues to be raised, bargaining positions, negotiation procedures, and other related matters based on a set of negotiation guidelines. Lastly, the study will present possible scenarios anticipating the RAM/SFP/YOU likely courses of action and the recommended government countermoves.