Global peace: Phl ranks 129th

MANILA, Philippines - Internal civil conflict has placed the Philippines on the list of “least peaceful” countries in the region, according to a report that measures the state of global peace.

The Global Peace Index 2013 report showed the Philippines ranking 129th out of 162 countries in terms of peacefulness, better than its 133rd rank last year but one of the lowest in the Asia-Pacific.

The country’s peace ranking was lower than that of its Southeast Asian neighbors – Singapore (16th), Malaysia (29th) Laos (39th), Vietnam (41st), Timor-Leste (51st), Indonesia (54th) and Cambodia (115th) – but higher than Thailand (130th) and Myanmar (140th). “Ranking among the least peaceful countries in Asia Pacific, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar all face ongoing internal civil conflict,” the report read. The report, released last June 11, showed that the most peaceful country this year was Iceland followed by Denmark, New Zealand, Austria and Switzerland. The five least peaceful countries were Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq and Sudan.

The Philippines scored 2.37 in the index and was among the countries with “medium” state of peace.

The report used a one to five scale with one being the highest in terms of state of peace.

“Last year saw improved prospects for peace between the Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) when a framework deal for a potential peace agreement was signed,” it said.

“There are many obstacles to lasting peace, but negotiations appear to be on-track in 2013,” it added.

The government and the MILF signed the historic framework agreement on Oct. 15, 2012 in Malacañang. The deal would form a new political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which President Aquino had called “a failed experiment.” 

The peace process, however, is facing uncertainties as the MILF is now accusing the government of delaying the signing of a comprehensive agreement.

“Over the last six years the world has experienced a decline in peacefulness. Much of this is a result of increases in the intensity of internal conflicts, which have tended to exceed concurrent declines in external conflict,” the report said.

The Global Peace Index assessed 22 indicators that fall into the broad themes of ongoing domestic and international conflict, societal safety and security and militarization.

Described as a leading measure of national peacefulness, the index ranks 162 nations according to their absence of violence.

The Index was developed by the Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace and was based on data gathered by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The data were based on various sources including the International Institute of Strategic Studies, the World Bank, various agencies of the United Nations and peace institutes.