Antipolo, Rizal, May 17 – The government Reciprocal Working Committee (RWC) has begun drafting its version of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-economic Reforms (CASER) that will be presented by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel at the next round of formal talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).
The committee has identified the key principles that will ground the position of the GPH panel in the bilateral meeting of CASER tentatively scheduled during the second week of June.
With insights from the focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) conducted in April and May among various stakeholders, RWC-SER Chair Ednar Dayanghirang said "This is unprecedented. We have made the people part of the peace negotiations. A peaceful and just settlement of conflicts is meant to be inclusive of the interests of all.”
The FGDs and KIIs covered issues related to indigenous peoples (IPs), urban land reform, fisheries and forest reform, inclusive growth, agrarian reform, environmental risk, resource access and utilization (local and national), industrial policy and agricultural development, and social protection.
More of these research instruments tackling several other issues are expected to be completed as the peace talks progress.
Exchange of drafts
The GPH draft will be exchanged for review with the NDFP version two weeks prior to the first RWCs-SER bilateral meeting.
These drafts will focus on “agrarian reform and rural development” for the NDFP and “asset reform” for the GPH, and “national industrialization” for the NDFP and “industrial policy” for the GPH.
A total of three bilateral meetings have been set by both parties. The two other meetings are scheduled for the second and fourth weeks of August.
The consolidated CASER is slated to be finished for submission to the negotiating panels by September 2011.
CASER to address the causes of conflict
Dayanghirang underscored the importance of CASER in paving the way for a negotiated political settlement with the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
“This is the meat of the much-needed reforms. We are putting into writing our response to the causes of conflict,” he stated.
Fr. Albert Alejo, RWC-SER member, is upbeat on the just-concluded writeshop that produced the draft agreement.
“We are all in consensus that asset reform is not just agrarian reform. We’ve broadened its scope to include fisheries, forest, and urban land reform,” he said.
Prof. Fernando Aldaba, another committee member, said that “reducing inequality is key – we should work for increase not only of income but also of individual assets.”
In the same light, Atty. Aison Garcia, one of the government’s consultants on agrarian reform, said that the increase in assets should help uplift the lives of the marginalized sectors. “It’s all about making economic growth work for the poor.”
Also present at the writeshop were Jimid Mansayagan, consultant for IP concerns; Proculo Fuentes, consultant on basic services concerns; Joselito Sescon, consultant on inclusive growth/ industrial policy concerns; and Atty. Jun Quicho, consultant on environmental risk concerns.
SER, one of the four substantive agenda
SER is one of the four agenda items affirmed by The Hague Joint Declaration as instrumental in the eventual forging of a final political settlement between the GPH and the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
The agenda on human rights and international humanitarian law had earlier been addressed in 1998, when the two parties signed the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
The remaining agenda for discussion within the agreed upon three-year time frame of the peace talks are political-constitutional reforms (PCR), and end of hostilities and disposition of forces (EoH/DoF).#
Showing posts with label mindanao peace process. milf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mindanao peace process. milf. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Charter change, answer to Bangsamoro problem—MILF
Charter change, answer to Bangsamoro problem—MILF
QUEZON City, May 8, 2011—A constitutionalist who is now a senior member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has claimed Charter change is the only way to end the Bangsamoro problem.
Atty. Michael Mastura, elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1971, said “there is no other way” to resolve the Bangsamoro problem but a Charter change “because our issue is a constitutional issue.”
He gave the statement in answer to a question raised by a nun during a series of consultation meetings with the MILF peace negotiators at TECHNOHUB along Commonwealth Ave.
One of the nuns who attended the consultation meeting had asked Mastura if the MILF proposal would require constitutional change.
“The answer to this question is the very solution to the issue of independenc,” the lawyer said.
Mastura and four other panel members took turns in answering the question raised by a representative of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines from different perspectives.
Passionate as he has ever been, Mastura emphasized that the MILF has already abandoned its bid for independence even if they could “not accept a unitary state,” a reason he cited in appealing for Filipinos to open their minds and closely examine their proposed draft comprehensive agreement that they handed to the government peace panel during the April 27-28 negotiation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Included in the MILF’s draft proposal is an annex that would detail two schemes in changing the constitution, one would be through referendum and the other is amendment by appendage, the latter, Mastura believes may not be readily acceptable for the government.
In expanding the claim that the Moro problem is a constitutional issue, Mastura cited Article 10 of the Constitution which he said has 14 sections about autonomy.
“What is being contested here is Article 10—about the autonomous region, which has 14 sections.”
He implied that what they were asking from government was too much of a compromise from their original demand for independence.
“We are no longer asking for a parity rights. We are only asking for parity esteem,” Mastura told a crowd of over a hundred representatives of church, and civil society organizations.
He added that when the MILF abandoned its demand for cessation, they were “open to unity. We want unity with you,” referring to the non-Muslims.
Since they were “open to unity,” Mastura relayed that they exerted efforts to ensure not to offend the non-Muslims by carefully choosing the language and words they used in their proposals, citing the “Bangsamoro Juridical Entity” in reference to the territory proposed to be government by the Bangsamoro people.
The BJE, classified in three categories, is composed of 785 barangays in Muslim dominated areas of Mindanao.
“But even the Supreme Court,” which botched the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain in 2008, “did not even know what it was.”
In the MILF’s draft, it proposed a State-Sub-state relationship between the national government and the Moro-governed region in Mindanao and since the country’s Constitution does not speak of it (State-Sub-state) the more there is a need to change the Charter, Mastura told the crowd which majority expressed support to the GPH-MILF peace process at the end of the consultation.
Many of the participants to the consultation admitted they campaigned against the MOA-AD in 2008 because they believed that changing the Constitution would open a floodgate of proposed changes to the Charter that would ensure then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could hold on to power.
The MILF said that the Aquino administration can change the Constitution through a constitutional process. (Romy Elusfa)
QUEZON City, May 8, 2011—A constitutionalist who is now a senior member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has claimed Charter change is the only way to end the Bangsamoro problem.
Atty. Michael Mastura, elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1971, said “there is no other way” to resolve the Bangsamoro problem but a Charter change “because our issue is a constitutional issue.”
He gave the statement in answer to a question raised by a nun during a series of consultation meetings with the MILF peace negotiators at TECHNOHUB along Commonwealth Ave.
One of the nuns who attended the consultation meeting had asked Mastura if the MILF proposal would require constitutional change.
“The answer to this question is the very solution to the issue of independenc,” the lawyer said.
Mastura and four other panel members took turns in answering the question raised by a representative of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines from different perspectives.
Passionate as he has ever been, Mastura emphasized that the MILF has already abandoned its bid for independence even if they could “not accept a unitary state,” a reason he cited in appealing for Filipinos to open their minds and closely examine their proposed draft comprehensive agreement that they handed to the government peace panel during the April 27-28 negotiation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Included in the MILF’s draft proposal is an annex that would detail two schemes in changing the constitution, one would be through referendum and the other is amendment by appendage, the latter, Mastura believes may not be readily acceptable for the government.
In expanding the claim that the Moro problem is a constitutional issue, Mastura cited Article 10 of the Constitution which he said has 14 sections about autonomy.
“What is being contested here is Article 10—about the autonomous region, which has 14 sections.”
He implied that what they were asking from government was too much of a compromise from their original demand for independence.
“We are no longer asking for a parity rights. We are only asking for parity esteem,” Mastura told a crowd of over a hundred representatives of church, and civil society organizations.
He added that when the MILF abandoned its demand for cessation, they were “open to unity. We want unity with you,” referring to the non-Muslims.
Since they were “open to unity,” Mastura relayed that they exerted efforts to ensure not to offend the non-Muslims by carefully choosing the language and words they used in their proposals, citing the “Bangsamoro Juridical Entity” in reference to the territory proposed to be government by the Bangsamoro people.
The BJE, classified in three categories, is composed of 785 barangays in Muslim dominated areas of Mindanao.
“But even the Supreme Court,” which botched the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain in 2008, “did not even know what it was.”
In the MILF’s draft, it proposed a State-Sub-state relationship between the national government and the Moro-governed region in Mindanao and since the country’s Constitution does not speak of it (State-Sub-state) the more there is a need to change the Charter, Mastura told the crowd which majority expressed support to the GPH-MILF peace process at the end of the consultation.
Many of the participants to the consultation admitted they campaigned against the MOA-AD in 2008 because they believed that changing the Constitution would open a floodgate of proposed changes to the Charter that would ensure then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could hold on to power.
The MILF said that the Aquino administration can change the Constitution through a constitutional process. (Romy Elusfa)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Nun urges church to 'listen, understand' MILF demands
05-May-11, 6:25 PM | Romy Elusfa, special to InterAksyon.com
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MANILA, Philippines - "The church should listen to and try to understand the demands" of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Catholic nun said Thursday.
Sr. Ma. Arnold Noel, SSPS, said the church can only contribute to the peace process in Mindanao if it listens and “recognize(s) that a historical injustice has been done against them.”
The nun, who traces her roots to Mindanao, was one of some 100 participants to a dialogue with the MILF peace negotiating panel, led by Mohagher Iqbal, in Quezon City Thursday morning.
Representatives of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRPS) and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches attended the dialogue.
“The church, including the government, should look at the root cause of the Mindanao problem if they want to contribute in solving the problem,” she said in an interview after the first in a series of dialogues the MILF has lined up with non-Moro people in Manila from May 4-7.
Among the sectors the rebels will consult are businessmen, churches, the academe and civil society organizations. They will also meet with members of the diplomatic community.
The MILF will present to the participants the proposals for a negotiated settlement of the four-decade old Mindanao conflict, which they submitted to the government during the formal resumption of the peace talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last April 27-28.
Sr. Noel said Mindanao was “once not just a food basket but a paradise. That was when it was not yet annexed by the Philippine government. Mindanao is the only place in the country which was never conquered by our colonizers.”
Today, she lamented, “Mindanao is one of the poorest regions in the country despite the fact that it has all the resources that make this country survive.”
Sr. Noel, who admits being angered by the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain when the pact, which would have led to the creation of a Bangsamoro homeland, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, said they would “double their efforts now to ensure that the MOA-AD debacle will never be repeated.”
The SC decision was almost immediately followed by renewed fighting between the MILF and government forces that displaced up to 700,000 people in central and western Mindanao.
Sr. Noel said she had also asked chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen, to “correct the historical injustice against the Bangsamoro people.
“You do not have the right to talk of justice if you cannot even give to the Bangsamoro what is due to them,” she said, recalling the time when government invited people from Luzon and the Visayas to settle in Mindanao under a law that allowed indigenous people to own only five hectares of land, and Muslims, 10 hectares, but set no ownership limits for the newcomers.
Iqbal, on the other hand, reported that the initial consultations with the religious and businessmen in Mindanao were “very encouraging,”
“For the past several weeks, not counting those dialogues in the past months and years held by the MILF peace panel, we have been very busy in reaching out to the non-Moro non-government organizations, civil society organizations, people’s organizations, religious groups, both Catholic and Protestants, business groups and indigenous communities,” Iqbal told participants at the Thursday dialogue.
“The feedbacks that we receive from the (consultation) participants are very encouraging, especially from the business groups and the Christian religious groups in Mindanao,” he said. “We would have a very effective and powerful base of support for our journey to peace and just settlement of the conflict in Mindanao.”
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MANILA, Philippines - "The church should listen to and try to understand the demands" of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Catholic nun said Thursday.
Sr. Ma. Arnold Noel, SSPS, said the church can only contribute to the peace process in Mindanao if it listens and “recognize(s) that a historical injustice has been done against them.”
The nun, who traces her roots to Mindanao, was one of some 100 participants to a dialogue with the MILF peace negotiating panel, led by Mohagher Iqbal, in Quezon City Thursday morning.
Representatives of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRPS) and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches attended the dialogue.
“The church, including the government, should look at the root cause of the Mindanao problem if they want to contribute in solving the problem,” she said in an interview after the first in a series of dialogues the MILF has lined up with non-Moro people in Manila from May 4-7.
Among the sectors the rebels will consult are businessmen, churches, the academe and civil society organizations. They will also meet with members of the diplomatic community.
The MILF will present to the participants the proposals for a negotiated settlement of the four-decade old Mindanao conflict, which they submitted to the government during the formal resumption of the peace talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last April 27-28.
Sr. Noel said Mindanao was “once not just a food basket but a paradise. That was when it was not yet annexed by the Philippine government. Mindanao is the only place in the country which was never conquered by our colonizers.”
Today, she lamented, “Mindanao is one of the poorest regions in the country despite the fact that it has all the resources that make this country survive.”
Sr. Noel, who admits being angered by the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain when the pact, which would have led to the creation of a Bangsamoro homeland, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, said they would “double their efforts now to ensure that the MOA-AD debacle will never be repeated.”
The SC decision was almost immediately followed by renewed fighting between the MILF and government forces that displaced up to 700,000 people in central and western Mindanao.
Sr. Noel said she had also asked chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen, to “correct the historical injustice against the Bangsamoro people.
“You do not have the right to talk of justice if you cannot even give to the Bangsamoro what is due to them,” she said, recalling the time when government invited people from Luzon and the Visayas to settle in Mindanao under a law that allowed indigenous people to own only five hectares of land, and Muslims, 10 hectares, but set no ownership limits for the newcomers.
Iqbal, on the other hand, reported that the initial consultations with the religious and businessmen in Mindanao were “very encouraging,”
“For the past several weeks, not counting those dialogues in the past months and years held by the MILF peace panel, we have been very busy in reaching out to the non-Moro non-government organizations, civil society organizations, people’s organizations, religious groups, both Catholic and Protestants, business groups and indigenous communities,” Iqbal told participants at the Thursday dialogue.
“The feedbacks that we receive from the (consultation) participants are very encouraging, especially from the business groups and the Christian religious groups in Mindanao,” he said. “We would have a very effective and powerful base of support for our journey to peace and just settlement of the conflict in Mindanao.”
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Statement of GPH Chair Marvic Leonen, 21st Exploratory Talks with the MILF
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MILF not giving up on Kato
MILF not giving up on Kato
28-Apr-11, 4:41 PM | Ria Rose Uro and Romy Elusfa, special to InterAksyon.com
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ILIGAN CITY, Philippines - (UPDATE) Leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) admitted that efforts to win back Ustadz Amiril Umra Kato “are still wanting” but vowed that they would continue to convince the breakaway field commander to return.
“We are not giving up,” said chief MILF peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal MILF in his opening statement during the 21st exploratory talks with government in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Government had earlier expressed “serious concern” following reports that Kato had broken ranks and formed his own armed group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
Kato used to lead the MILF command operating around the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
He was one of three field commanders accused of atrocities against civilians during the renewed fighting with government forces in 2008 that followed the aborted signing of a landmark Bangsamoro homeland deal.
Iqbal assured government that Kato “has not yet burned his bridges with the MILF” and asked that they be given a chance to resolve the problem.
He also said Kato assured them “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,” Iqbal stressed.
On Thursday, a post on the MILF’s official website revealed the various efforts undertaken by the rebel leadership to have Kato “return to the fold of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) without delay.”
The BIAF is the armed wing of the MILF.
The post also quoted MILF vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar as saying Kato was not expelled from the MILF but is being branded a renegade because “he willfully defied orders by organizing another army, which is totally unacceptable in any revolutionary organization.”
A former Arabic teacher in madrasahs in Davao Oriental, Kato joined the MILF in 1993.
The MILF said it had sent several emissaries, from rebel officials to Islamic teachers or ulama, to explain its stand to Kato about his actions.
“The MILF Central Committee has exerted efforts to make him realize his mistakes (and) discontinue with his so-called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters,” Iqbal said.
In a related development, peace activists urged both parties’ peace negotiators to focus their efforts on more substantive issues than the status of Kato.
Bobby Benito, executive director of the Bangsamoro Council for Just Peace, worried that the questions chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen raised about Kato could be “counter- productive.”
Benito, who agreed that the Kato case should be left for the MILF to resolve, explained that Leonen’s questions “could invite more supporters for Kato whose major concern, among a few others, is an endless negotiation.”
“Instead of wasting time and energies on the Kato case, the negotiators should buckle down to work on a comprehensive agreement because if there are disagreements among the ranks of the MILF, the more disagreements are there among government officials and agencies,” Benito stressed.
Aware of an earlier report by an independent organization on the status of Kato, Benito even entertained the possibility that “the government might just be looking for a reason to delay the peace process. I really hope that this is not one of the dilatory tactics that the government has stocked.”
Leonen, referred to an independent report about Kato by the Mindanao Peoples Caucus in his opening statement at the Kuala Lumpur talks.
While Kato, in that report, clarified that his BIFF does not intend to hold separate negotiations with government and will respect the outcome of the GPH-MILF talks, he also warned government against deceiving the Bangsamoro people again, citing the botched Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain as example of alleged government deception.
Rexall Kaalim, head of the grassroots independent ceasefire monitoring group Bantay Ceasefire, urged the peace negotiators to “reiterate an earlier request for the International Monitoring Team to conduct an independent investigation on the alleged coercion and other atrocities being blamed on Kato.”
Kaalim, who was among those who dialogued with the BIFF commander in the hinterlands of Maguindanao on April 16, relayed that “until now, Kato is still waiting for any independent party who would want to investigate on what really happened in August of 2008,” referring to the war that broke after the botching of the MOA-AD and displaced 700,000 civilians.
The MPC report quoted Kato belying allegations that his forces attacked innocent civilians in 2008, saying: “It was the military who attacked us first.”
It also cited the claim of Kato that there was not one investigation done on the allegations hurled against him and three other MILF commanders.
“Kato claims that there has never been an investigation conducted in order to ferret out the truth about this incident. Lahat nalang ibinibintang sa akin,” the MPC report said while emphasizing that the BIFF chief “is open to any impartial investigation so that the truth will come out.
28-Apr-11, 4:41 PM | Ria Rose Uro and Romy Elusfa, special to InterAksyon.com
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ILIGAN CITY, Philippines - (UPDATE) Leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) admitted that efforts to win back Ustadz Amiril Umra Kato “are still wanting” but vowed that they would continue to convince the breakaway field commander to return.
“We are not giving up,” said chief MILF peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal MILF in his opening statement during the 21st exploratory talks with government in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Government had earlier expressed “serious concern” following reports that Kato had broken ranks and formed his own armed group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
Kato used to lead the MILF command operating around the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
He was one of three field commanders accused of atrocities against civilians during the renewed fighting with government forces in 2008 that followed the aborted signing of a landmark Bangsamoro homeland deal.
Iqbal assured government that Kato “has not yet burned his bridges with the MILF” and asked that they be given a chance to resolve the problem.
He also said Kato assured them “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,” Iqbal stressed.
On Thursday, a post on the MILF’s official website revealed the various efforts undertaken by the rebel leadership to have Kato “return to the fold of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) without delay.”
The BIAF is the armed wing of the MILF.
The post also quoted MILF vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar as saying Kato was not expelled from the MILF but is being branded a renegade because “he willfully defied orders by organizing another army, which is totally unacceptable in any revolutionary organization.”
A former Arabic teacher in madrasahs in Davao Oriental, Kato joined the MILF in 1993.
The MILF said it had sent several emissaries, from rebel officials to Islamic teachers or ulama, to explain its stand to Kato about his actions.
“The MILF Central Committee has exerted efforts to make him realize his mistakes (and) discontinue with his so-called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters,” Iqbal said.
In a related development, peace activists urged both parties’ peace negotiators to focus their efforts on more substantive issues than the status of Kato.
Bobby Benito, executive director of the Bangsamoro Council for Just Peace, worried that the questions chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen raised about Kato could be “counter- productive.”
Benito, who agreed that the Kato case should be left for the MILF to resolve, explained that Leonen’s questions “could invite more supporters for Kato whose major concern, among a few others, is an endless negotiation.”
“Instead of wasting time and energies on the Kato case, the negotiators should buckle down to work on a comprehensive agreement because if there are disagreements among the ranks of the MILF, the more disagreements are there among government officials and agencies,” Benito stressed.
Aware of an earlier report by an independent organization on the status of Kato, Benito even entertained the possibility that “the government might just be looking for a reason to delay the peace process. I really hope that this is not one of the dilatory tactics that the government has stocked.”
Leonen, referred to an independent report about Kato by the Mindanao Peoples Caucus in his opening statement at the Kuala Lumpur talks.
While Kato, in that report, clarified that his BIFF does not intend to hold separate negotiations with government and will respect the outcome of the GPH-MILF talks, he also warned government against deceiving the Bangsamoro people again, citing the botched Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain as example of alleged government deception.
Rexall Kaalim, head of the grassroots independent ceasefire monitoring group Bantay Ceasefire, urged the peace negotiators to “reiterate an earlier request for the International Monitoring Team to conduct an independent investigation on the alleged coercion and other atrocities being blamed on Kato.”
Kaalim, who was among those who dialogued with the BIFF commander in the hinterlands of Maguindanao on April 16, relayed that “until now, Kato is still waiting for any independent party who would want to investigate on what really happened in August of 2008,” referring to the war that broke after the botching of the MOA-AD and displaced 700,000 civilians.
The MPC report quoted Kato belying allegations that his forces attacked innocent civilians in 2008, saying: “It was the military who attacked us first.”
It also cited the claim of Kato that there was not one investigation done on the allegations hurled against him and three other MILF commanders.
“Kato claims that there has never been an investigation conducted in order to ferret out the truth about this incident. Lahat nalang ibinibintang sa akin,” the MPC report said while emphasizing that the BIFF chief “is open to any impartial investigation so that the truth will come out.
JOINT STATEMENT OF GPH AND MILF
JOINT STATEMENT
The 21st Round of Peace Talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with the facilitation of the Malaysian Government concluded today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with the Parties tackling important issues paving the way for the discussions of the Comprehensive Compact.
The GPH Panel made queries on the Revised Draft Comprehensive Compact submitted by the MILF during the last meeting seeking to clarify concepts, meanings and intent on some of its provisions. The GPH panel Agreed to submit its counter proposal during the next meeting on June 27-28, 2011.
The GPH Panel briefed the MILF Panel on the Progress and the efforts of the Government on the political detainees claimed by the MILF.
The GPH Panel sought clarification on the status of Commander Kato. The MILF reiterated their stand that it is an internal matter that they are still exerting all effort to resolve.
The Parties also provided updates on the formation of their respective committees to the AHJAG.
The Parties expressed their appreciation and deep gratitude to HE Datuk Othman Bin Abd Razak for his efforts in moving forward the peace process and welcome HE Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Bin Tenku Mohamed as the new Malaysian Facilitator.
Likewise, the Parties expressed their high appreciation to HE President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for his unstinting support to the Peace Process, to HE Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak for his continuing support in the achievement of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao and HE MILF Chairman Al haj Murad Ebrahim for his commitment to the resolution of the Bangsamoro Question.
Done this 28th day of April 2011 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
FOR THE GPH:
MARVIC M.V.F. LEONEN
GPH Panel Chair
FOR THE MILF:
MOHAGHER IQBAL
MILF Panel Chair
SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE OF:
TENGKU DATO’ AB GHAFAR BIN TENGKU MOHAMED
Malaysian Facilitator
The 21st Round of Peace Talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with the facilitation of the Malaysian Government concluded today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with the Parties tackling important issues paving the way for the discussions of the Comprehensive Compact.
The GPH Panel made queries on the Revised Draft Comprehensive Compact submitted by the MILF during the last meeting seeking to clarify concepts, meanings and intent on some of its provisions. The GPH panel Agreed to submit its counter proposal during the next meeting on June 27-28, 2011.
The GPH Panel briefed the MILF Panel on the Progress and the efforts of the Government on the political detainees claimed by the MILF.
The GPH Panel sought clarification on the status of Commander Kato. The MILF reiterated their stand that it is an internal matter that they are still exerting all effort to resolve.
The Parties also provided updates on the formation of their respective committees to the AHJAG.
The Parties expressed their appreciation and deep gratitude to HE Datuk Othman Bin Abd Razak for his efforts in moving forward the peace process and welcome HE Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Bin Tenku Mohamed as the new Malaysian Facilitator.
Likewise, the Parties expressed their high appreciation to HE President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for his unstinting support to the Peace Process, to HE Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak for his continuing support in the achievement of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao and HE MILF Chairman Al haj Murad Ebrahim for his commitment to the resolution of the Bangsamoro Question.
Done this 28th day of April 2011 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
FOR THE GPH:
MARVIC M.V.F. LEONEN
GPH Panel Chair
FOR THE MILF:
MOHAGHER IQBAL
MILF Panel Chair
SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE OF:
TENGKU DATO’ AB GHAFAR BIN TENGKU MOHAMED
Malaysian Facilitator
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Let us fast track the negotiation
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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.
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.
GPH-MILF 21st exploratory talks
GPH-MILF 21st exploratory talks
Kuala Lumpur, Apr. 27 – The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) today resumed peace negotiations, the 2nd round of formal talks under the Aquino administration.
The talks is currently being facilitated by Tenkgu Dato AB Ghafar Tengku Mohamed, the new Malaysian third party facilitator who replaced Datuk Othman bin Abdul Razak.
Othman introduced Ghafar at the opening of the 21st formal exploratory talks, saying that “I have been in this position for almost 9 yrs and I have overstayed so it’s time for me to leave. I am hoping that the (new) facilitator will be able to guide the talks, having heard that the GPH has a timetable to complete the talks in the soonest possible time.”
The GPH and MILF panels lauded the introduction of the new facilitator. At the same time, both panels signified their appreciation to Othman for his strong commitment to the Mindanao peace process.
Substantive Agenda of the Talks
The meat of the current peace negotiations is the clarification on some points of the Comprehensive Compact, the standing position of the MILF.
GPH Panel Chair Marvic Leonen thanked the MILF for allowing the government to comb through the MILF proposal and ask for clarifications.
“We hope that you would take our questions in the spirit in which we have to make them: to elicit your interpretation so that we or our principals will not second guess what your initial positions are,” Leonen stated.
Meanwhile, Iqbal expressed hope that the GPH and the MILF will finally be able to forge a peace agreement in the soonest possible time.
According to Iqbal, “President Benigno Aquino III has a vast social and political capital that can be used to push the peace process forward.”
Iqbal also said that he is encouraged by Leonen’s bold public statement that a peace agreement can be effected in one year.
Public Consultations
Both the government and MILF panels have been conducting public consultations to get the pulse of the public on the countless issues related to the Mindanao peace process.
According to Leonen, the government has already conducted a total of 24 consultations with different sectors where there were “frank and candid exchanges of hopes and aspirations, ideals and pragmatic results, ideas and approaches that can help validate our position on countless issues.”
“Our schedules are full the next few weeks: meetings which range from command conferences of the area commands in Mindanao, consultations with local government officials, to meetings with legislators, former justices, cabinet clusters and of course with our direct principal, the President,” Leonen added.
Meanwhile, the MILF is also set to pursue several more consultations with the different stakeholders, the clergy which includes Catholics and Protestants, NGOs, civil society as well as several Manila-based groups including the Manila Business Club.#
Kuala Lumpur, Apr. 27 – The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) today resumed peace negotiations, the 2nd round of formal talks under the Aquino administration.
The talks is currently being facilitated by Tenkgu Dato AB Ghafar Tengku Mohamed, the new Malaysian third party facilitator who replaced Datuk Othman bin Abdul Razak.
Othman introduced Ghafar at the opening of the 21st formal exploratory talks, saying that “I have been in this position for almost 9 yrs and I have overstayed so it’s time for me to leave. I am hoping that the (new) facilitator will be able to guide the talks, having heard that the GPH has a timetable to complete the talks in the soonest possible time.”
The GPH and MILF panels lauded the introduction of the new facilitator. At the same time, both panels signified their appreciation to Othman for his strong commitment to the Mindanao peace process.
Substantive Agenda of the Talks
The meat of the current peace negotiations is the clarification on some points of the Comprehensive Compact, the standing position of the MILF.
GPH Panel Chair Marvic Leonen thanked the MILF for allowing the government to comb through the MILF proposal and ask for clarifications.
“We hope that you would take our questions in the spirit in which we have to make them: to elicit your interpretation so that we or our principals will not second guess what your initial positions are,” Leonen stated.
Meanwhile, Iqbal expressed hope that the GPH and the MILF will finally be able to forge a peace agreement in the soonest possible time.
According to Iqbal, “President Benigno Aquino III has a vast social and political capital that can be used to push the peace process forward.”
Iqbal also said that he is encouraged by Leonen’s bold public statement that a peace agreement can be effected in one year.
Public Consultations
Both the government and MILF panels have been conducting public consultations to get the pulse of the public on the countless issues related to the Mindanao peace process.
According to Leonen, the government has already conducted a total of 24 consultations with different sectors where there were “frank and candid exchanges of hopes and aspirations, ideals and pragmatic results, ideas and approaches that can help validate our position on countless issues.”
“Our schedules are full the next few weeks: meetings which range from command conferences of the area commands in Mindanao, consultations with local government officials, to meetings with legislators, former justices, cabinet clusters and of course with our direct principal, the President,” Leonen added.
Meanwhile, the MILF is also set to pursue several more consultations with the different stakeholders, the clergy which includes Catholics and Protestants, NGOs, civil society as well as several Manila-based groups including the Manila Business Club.#
Davao Based Peace Group MPC to GPH-MILF Panel: Finalize Working Draft of the Talks; Sign the Peace Agreement Immediately
Press Release
April 27, 2011
Davao Based Peace Group MPC to GPH-MILF Panel: Finalize Working
Draft of the Talks; Sign the Peace Agreement Immediately
Davao based peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), called on both the GPH-
MILF panels to focus the discussions on finalizing the working draft of the talks and tackle the
substantial issues that covers the demand of the MILF on governance, territory, and control of
resources rather than focus its time and energy on issues that sidetracks the negotiations. This
statement was delivered in a rally held yesterday at Davao City that coincided with the opening
of the formal talks between the GPH-MILF panels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
MPC Secretary General Atty. Mary Ann Arnado said that “since the timeframe set by the
government to finally reach a negotiated settlement with the MILF is 12 months there is a need
to fast track the talks and to finally set a date to for the negotiations on the substantial agenda
of the peace talks as contained in the draft comprehensive compact submitted by the MILF.”
The draft comprehensive compact contains provisions that address the demand of the
Bangsamoro people for the creation of a Bangsamoro homeland and creation of a Bangsamoro
sub-state. The document also discusses the relationship of the proposed Bangsamoro sub-state
with the Philippine government, resource sharing, and economic development.
“We hope that this meeting in Malaysia will finally discuss the points in the comprehensive
compact and that the next meeting of the GPH-MILF panel will be the for the formal
negotiations that will eventually lead to the signing of an inclusive peace agreement agreeable
to both parties”. Arnado said.
The current meeting in Malaysia is the third time the panels meet since the resumption of
talks which started last January during a “non-meeting” organized by Malaysia through Datuk
Uthman bin Razak the third party facilitator to the talks. Since February, MPC has helped
organized consultation meetings of the MILF peace panel with non-moro civil society groups
coming from indigenous peoples, business, academe, and religious sectors to clarify the MILF
demands and discuss state of the current peace negotiations.
“So far the participants to these consultations have been optimistic about the GPH-MILF
negotiations and they have been very supportive of the MILF agenda. This indicates the
aspirations and overwhelming support of the people for a peaceful negotiated settlement of
the Bangsamoro issue. It is now up to the panels, particularly the GPH panel to live up to these
expectations by finalizing a peace agreement within the year.” Arnado reiterated.
The protestors who formed a human chain that covers the 200 meters of Quimpo Boulevard in
Davao held posters calling for an inclusive peace agreement and negotiated settlement. They
also wore individual cut-out letters that spelled out that ‘Mindanaons support the GPH-MILF
peace talks”. #
April 27, 2011
Davao Based Peace Group MPC to GPH-MILF Panel: Finalize Working
Draft of the Talks; Sign the Peace Agreement Immediately
Davao based peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), called on both the GPH-
MILF panels to focus the discussions on finalizing the working draft of the talks and tackle the
substantial issues that covers the demand of the MILF on governance, territory, and control of
resources rather than focus its time and energy on issues that sidetracks the negotiations. This
statement was delivered in a rally held yesterday at Davao City that coincided with the opening
of the formal talks between the GPH-MILF panels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
MPC Secretary General Atty. Mary Ann Arnado said that “since the timeframe set by the
government to finally reach a negotiated settlement with the MILF is 12 months there is a need
to fast track the talks and to finally set a date to for the negotiations on the substantial agenda
of the peace talks as contained in the draft comprehensive compact submitted by the MILF.”
The draft comprehensive compact contains provisions that address the demand of the
Bangsamoro people for the creation of a Bangsamoro homeland and creation of a Bangsamoro
sub-state. The document also discusses the relationship of the proposed Bangsamoro sub-state
with the Philippine government, resource sharing, and economic development.
“We hope that this meeting in Malaysia will finally discuss the points in the comprehensive
compact and that the next meeting of the GPH-MILF panel will be the for the formal
negotiations that will eventually lead to the signing of an inclusive peace agreement agreeable
to both parties”. Arnado said.
The current meeting in Malaysia is the third time the panels meet since the resumption of
talks which started last January during a “non-meeting” organized by Malaysia through Datuk
Uthman bin Razak the third party facilitator to the talks. Since February, MPC has helped
organized consultation meetings of the MILF peace panel with non-moro civil society groups
coming from indigenous peoples, business, academe, and religious sectors to clarify the MILF
demands and discuss state of the current peace negotiations.
“So far the participants to these consultations have been optimistic about the GPH-MILF
negotiations and they have been very supportive of the MILF agenda. This indicates the
aspirations and overwhelming support of the people for a peaceful negotiated settlement of
the Bangsamoro issue. It is now up to the panels, particularly the GPH panel to live up to these
expectations by finalizing a peace agreement within the year.” Arnado reiterated.
The protestors who formed a human chain that covers the 200 meters of Quimpo Boulevard in
Davao held posters calling for an inclusive peace agreement and negotiated settlement. They
also wore individual cut-out letters that spelled out that ‘Mindanaons support the GPH-MILF
peace talks”. #
Monday, April 25, 2011
Mindanao CSOs Hold Peace Rallies in Support of GPH-MILF Talks in Malaysia
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