Iqbal: "Let us fast track the negotiation"

Opening statement of Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel, during the 21st GPH-MILF Exploratory Talks in Kuala Lumpur on April 27-28, 2011
Let us fast track the negotiation


Under the Aquino dispensation, this is our third meeting to pursue the peace negotiation that started fourteen years ago. Surely, we are still very much on track and we hope to stay on course until we finally sign the comprehensive compact which contains the negotiated political solution to the Moro Question and the armed conflict in Mindanao. I am sure both peace panels have this in mind and are both committed to make this a reality.


Frankly, at no time in the 14-year GPH-MILF peace negotiation that the delivery capacity of the government is seen very clearly. First, President Benigno Aquino III has vast political and social capital that he can use to rally massive support to his peace agenda in Mindanao. His popularity, as reflected in various surveys, is unequalled in the history of presidents in the Philippines. Second, my counterpart has expressed several times his unflinching commitment to address the problem in Mindanao including the resort to the “universe of possibilities” in order to sign a peace deal with the MILF. This indeed is very encouraging. Afterward, he made another bold assertion that a peace pact with the MILF can be done within one year. Thirdly, the current peace panel is undergoing serious consultations with various stakeholders in Mindanao especially local government executives, whose political interests, although some are fleeting, are radically affected by any alteration or dislocation of power in governance. And fourth, the government has all the time needed to accomplish this peace pact with the MILF within their remaining time in government.

On the part of the MILF, we are also holding dialogues with various non-Moro groups in Mindanao, even if it is not our responsibility, as agreed by the parties. We have reach out to the clergy, both Catholics and Protestants, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), and business groups. After this meeting, we have another round of dialogues in Manila with non-Moro NGOs, CSOs, business groups and members of the diplomatic community; and from there, we will proceed to Zamboanga City, the island provinces of Western Mindanao, Pagadian City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Iligan City. At the same time, we are also conducting side forums with members of the indigenous communities and members of the MILF political and military leadership in the various cities and provinces which we visited and are scheduled to visit. They must not be left in the tail-end of the dialogues; on the contrary, they must be in the forefront to know and understand not only the inside and out of the peace process but more importantly to accept the validity and wisdom of a peaceful, just, and lasting negotiated political settlement of the problem in Mindanao. They must own the peace process and the results; otherwise, a problem is in the offing.

Mind you, in these sorties even to areas traditionally dubbed as “unfriendly” to the peace talks like Zamboanga City, people are cautioning us about the security risk. We told them that all these efforts are done in the name of peace and is part of advocacy agreed by the parties. We tell them also that our counterpart in government is informed of this officially and we are sure they are not remiss in their responsibility.

In addition, we have met several experts on conflict resolutions and constitutional negotiations, and in the course of our serious discussion, we have learned and drawn lessons from their vast experiences that, to us, are of tremendous value to anyone who is serious in resolving conflicts of various nature, including sovereignty-based like the MILF. I hope those government officials whom these experts talked to also shared our views.

At this juncture, let me refresh our memories about the coming in of the International Contact Group (ICG) to the GPH-MILF peace process. During the GPH-MILF non-meeting on July 7, 2009, the MILF peace panel had categorically told their counterpart in government that the MILF will not return to the negotiating table even in the brink of more fighting except when there is an international guarantee. “We cannot trust the government anymore after they deliberately did not sign the MOA-AD.

After some serious talks, the MILF and the government settled to use “contact” instead of “guarantee”, on the condition that its main task is “to exert proper leverage” to the parties in negotiation.

For the MILF, the ICG is not dispensable; they must be invited to attend and observe not only the opening and closing programs of the talks but more importantly to the plenary session where the substantive agenda of the talks is under deliberation. Of course, the parties can go on an executive meeting to discuss an agenda that is considered exclusive to them.

On the issue of Ameril Ombra Kato, he has not yet “burned his bridges” with the MILF. On the contrary, he said he will stay within the fold of the MILF no matter what happens. Kato has said that he will not create trouble against the peace process and the ceasefire. He also pledged to respect the good result of the negotiation. What he cannot accept is “endless negotiations” and the failure of government to deliver their part of the bargain.

For your information, the MILF Central Committee has exerted efforts to make him realize his mistakes, discontinue with his so-called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and return to the fold of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) but more efforts are still wanting --- and we are not giving up.

The Kato problem is internal to the MILF. Leave this problem to us.

Fourteen years since the start of the GPH-MILF peace negotiation in 1997 is too long a process. We have gone through various hardships and tribulations and practically only one agenda is left for discussion; i.e., the comprehensive compact. For the MILF, this is not very difficult agenda; it is only about an asymmetrical state-substate relationship. We are not talking here of independence, as what was done in Islamic Sudan and Christian-Animist South Sudan.

But let me caution ourselves that all eyes are trained on us, whether we are serious or not, or whether we are engaged in problem solving or merely managing the conflict in Mindanao. For the MILF, the parties need to fast track the process. Practically one year has already been consumed in the six-year term of President Aquino, and the GPH peace panel has not submitted their own counter-draft on the comprehensive compact. We want the GPH peace panel to be ready with their draft during the next round of talks. If they want ample time to be able to do this, we can allow them the time they need; and one month timeframe, I think, is fair enough.

On this note, let me once again extend my heartfelt gratitude to members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) for their coming and attendance in this important meeting of the parties. And to his Excellency, Datuk Othman Bin Abd’ Razak, my sincerest thanks for his services in the name of peace-making and more importantly for his sterling performance as Malaysian facilitator of the GPH-MILF peace talks. He can be equaled but his deep commitment to peace and fair play are outstanding that could remain in the annals of this negotiation for the years and generations to come. And to the new Malaysian facilitator, we welcome you and rest assured of our cooperation in our common journey to peace.


Thank you and wassalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!
--------------------------------
** Opening statement of Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF peace panel, during the 21st GPH-MILF Peace Talks in Kuala Lumpur on April 27, 2011.


Opening statement of Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel, during the 21st GPH-MILF Exploratory Talks in Kuala Lumpur on April 27-28, 2011
Fix IE Bug. Dont remove this line.
Let us fast track the negotiation


Under the Aquino dispensation, this is our third meeting to pursue the peace negotiation that started fourteen years ago. Surely, we are still very much on track and we hope to stay on course until we finally sign the comprehensive compact which contains the negotiated political solution to the Moro Question and the armed conflict in Mindanao. I am sure both peace panels have this in mind and are both committed to make this a reality.


Frankly, at no time in the 14-year GPH-MILF peace negotiation that the delivery capacity of the government is seen very clearly. First, President Benigno Aquino III has vast political and social capital that he can use to rally massive support to his peace agenda in Mindanao. His popularity, as reflected in various surveys, is unequalled in the history of presidents in the Philippines. Second, my counterpart has expressed several times his unflinching commitment to address the problem in Mindanao including the resort to the “universe of possibilities” in order to sign a peace deal with the MILF. This indeed is very encouraging. Afterward, he made another bold assertion that a peace pact with the MILF can be done within one year. Thirdly, the current peace panel is undergoing serious consultations with various stakeholders in Mindanao especially local government executives, whose political interests, although some are fleeting, are radically affected by any alteration or dislocation of power in governance. And fourth, the government has all the time needed to accomplish this peace pact with the MILF within their remaining time in government.

On the part of the MILF, we are also holding dialogues with various non-Moro groups in Mindanao, even if it is not our responsibility, as agreed by the parties. We have reach out to the clergy, both Catholics and Protestants, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), and business groups. After this meeting, we have another round of dialogues in Manila with non-Moro NGOs, CSOs, business groups and members of the diplomatic community; and from there, we will proceed to Zamboanga City, the island provinces of Western Mindanao, Pagadian City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Iligan City. At the same time, we are also conducting side forums with members of the indigenous communities and members of the MILF political and military leadership in the various cities and provinces which we visited and are scheduled to visit. They must not be left in the tail-end of the dialogues; on the contrary, they must be in the forefront to know and understand not only the inside and out of the peace process but more importantly to accept the validity and wisdom of a peaceful, just, and lasting negotiated political settlement of the problem in Mindanao. They must own the peace process and the results; otherwise, a problem is in the offing.

Mind you, in these sorties even to areas traditionally dubbed as “unfriendly” to the peace talks like Zamboanga City, people are cautioning us about the security risk. We told them that all these efforts are done in the name of peace and is part of advocacy agreed by the parties. We tell them also that our counterpart in government is informed of this officially and we are sure they are not remiss in their responsibility.

In addition, we have met several experts on conflict resolutions and constitutional negotiations, and in the course of our serious discussion, we have learned and drawn lessons from their vast experiences that, to us, are of tremendous value to anyone who is serious in resolving conflicts of various nature, including sovereignty-based like the MILF. I hope those government officials whom these experts talked to also shared our views.

At this juncture, let me refresh our memories about the coming in of the International Contact Group (ICG) to the GPH-MILF peace process. During the GPH-MILF non-meeting on July 7, 2009, the MILF peace panel had categorically told their counterpart in government that the MILF will not return to the negotiating table even in the brink of more fighting except when there is an international guarantee. “We cannot trust the government anymore after they deliberately did not sign the MOA-AD.

After some serious talks, the MILF and the government settled to use “contact” instead of “guarantee”, on the condition that its main task is “to exert proper leverage” to the parties in negotiation.

For the MILF, the ICG is not dispensable; they must be invited to attend and observe not only the opening and closing programs of the talks but more importantly to the plenary session where the substantive agenda of the talks is under deliberation. Of course, the parties can go on an executive meeting to discuss an agenda that is considered exclusive to them.

On the issue of Ameril Ombra Kato, he has not yet “burned his bridges” with the MILF. On the contrary, he said he will stay within the fold of the MILF no matter what happens. Kato has said that he will not create trouble against the peace process and the ceasefire. He also pledged to respect the good result of the negotiation. What he cannot accept is “endless negotiations” and the failure of government to deliver their part of the bargain.

For your information, the MILF Central Committee has exerted efforts to make him realize his mistakes, discontinue with his so-called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and return to the fold of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) but more efforts are still wanting --- and we are not giving up.

The Kato problem is internal to the MILF. Leave this problem to us.

Fourteen years since the start of the GPH-MILF peace negotiation in 1997 is too long a process. We have gone through various hardships and tribulations and practically only one agenda is left for discussion; i.e., the comprehensive compact. For the MILF, this is not very difficult agenda; it is only about an asymmetrical state-substate relationship. We are not talking here of independence, as what was done in Islamic Sudan and Christian-Animist South Sudan.

But let me caution ourselves that all eyes are trained on us, whether we are serious or not, or whether we are engaged in problem solving or merely managing the conflict in Mindanao. For the MILF, the parties need to fast track the process. Practically one year has already been consumed in the six-year term of President Aquino, and the GPH peace panel has not submitted their own counter-draft on the comprehensive compact. We want the GPH peace panel to be ready with their draft during the next round of talks. If they want ample time to be able to do this, we can allow them the time they need; and one month timeframe, I think, is fair enough.

On this note, let me once again extend my heartfelt gratitude to members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) for their coming and attendance in this important meeting of the parties. And to his Excellency, Datuk Othman Bin Abd’ Razak, my sincerest thanks for his services in the name of peace-making and more importantly for his sterling performance as Malaysian facilitator of the GPH-MILF peace talks. He can be equaled but his deep commitment to peace and fair play are outstanding that could remain in the annals of this negotiation for the years and generations to come. And to the new Malaysian facilitator, we welcome you and rest assured of our cooperation in our common journey to peace.


Thank you and wassalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!
--------------------------------
** Opening statement of Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF peace panel, during the 21st GPH-MILF Peace Talks in Kuala Lumpur on April 27, 2011.