COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 19, 2012) – Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front negotiators resumed peace talks on Monday in Kuala Lumpur in an effort to strike a deal that would put an end to decades of bloody fighting in the troubled, but mineral-rich region of Mindanao.
Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the Aquino government is committed to a genuine autonomy for Muslims in Mindanao where the MILF is fighting for self-determination for the past three decades now.
“Once again, the GPH and the MILF are meeting this week to move forward on the heart of the negotiations and address issues of political settlement. While recognizing the many challenges that still lie ahead, government is committed to a genuine autonomy for the Bangsamoro to finally end the armed conflict in Mindanao. We call on the MILF to work with us, expedite and redouble efforts to bring permanent peace founded on justice for our people and communities in Mindanao,” Deles said.
Malaysia, an influential member of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, is brokering the peace talks.
Marvic Leonen, the chief government peace negotiator, described the talks as difficult, but said “let us stay focused, be patient so that we can have greater understanding of the possibilities that still lie ahead of us.”
“The timelines that we have imagined presupposes the political and legal possibilities that are present within the first half of this administration. Should we fail to meet these timelines, these negotiations will continue but we would have to seriously re-craft the proposals that we now already have on the table.”
“But that time has not yet come, and we are still in the midst of exploring the many opportunities that an agreement within the first half of this year can bring. Let us redouble our efforts, understand the reasons for our positions; bring them carefully and accurately to our principals and constituents, spark the needed public debate and then participate with our principals to come out with difficult decisions,” he said at the opening of the peace negotiations.
The Oman Tribune, which quoted MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, published a report last month that said Aquino agreed to a Muslim autonomy proposed by the MILF.
It said that Aquino has approved the proposal through a parliamentary form of government similar to that of Malaysia.
“No less than His Excellency President Benigno Aquino 3rd agreed to the MILF proposal,” it quoted Iqbal as saying.
The MILF proposal calls for the direct election by the people of the leaders of the autonomous region to be headed by a chief minister similar to the parliamentary government in the federal states of Malaysia, according to Iqbal.
Iqbal said the proposed government is to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao and Maguindanao.
But Manila and Iqbal had denied the report which came out after peace negotiators ended three-day talks in Malaysia on February 15.
Negotiators will continue the discussion on substantive issues, among them the concept of governance and the listing of reserved powers of the national government as contained in their respective draft.
The MILF said the issues that prominently preoccupied the negotiators were on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, and interim mechanism. The rebel group has previously rejected the government’s offer, saying it would stick to its demand for a Muslim sub-state.
“We are approaching what would seem to be a stalemate in our ideas for transition as well as in our ideas of how to make permanent the solutions that work for our peoples. I invite our counterparts to take a step back with us. Perhaps, by examining the reasons why we insist on our various positions we can see ways forward. Perhaps if both our teams can temporarily suspend judgment so that we can candidly evaluate our reasons and standpoints, see their political viability. Perhaps, we can both keep an open mind; we could convince ourselves that there are goals more appropriate rather than sticking to our encrusted positions,” Leonen said.
Iqbal, in his opening statement, said without doubt, the comprehensive compact will not be signed tjis month and not even in April, despite Manila’s claim.
“The greater fear is that we might not even sign it at all if we are not firm on our resolve to push hard in our negotiation. Sad to note, however, that within the first two years of the Aquino administration, we have not signed anything of great consequence that we can show to our people and the world that indeed there is big happening in the current peace negotiation,” he said.
Iqbal said the current peace talks were not as fruitful as it was during the previous administration.
“I am afraid that we might not be as productive as compared to the times of Secretary Silvestre Afable III, Secretary Rodolfo Garcia, and Ambassador Rafael Seguis, notwithstanding the fact that we have a counterpart in the GPH which is led by a brilliant lawyer and a dean of law at that,” he said.
Iqbal also praised the military for its support to the peace process, but he cautioned that excessive building of public expectation could have a serious repercussion.
“Honestly speaking, despite the stark picture of what is really happening in the negotiation, Central Mindanao provinces are dotted with placards and streamers, obviously coming from the military, proclaiming for the imminent coming of peace in Mindanao. While we congratulate the military for this support of peace in Mindanao; in fact, it is also our clamor, we are also perplexed no end, because such excessive building up of public expectation, will have serious backlash if at the end, there will be no signing.”
“I don’t know why the military is in such frenzy for proclaiming that peace is forthcoming in Mindanao. We do not question their motive, but perhaps there is a communication gap between those in charge of the negotiation and those on the ground. I do not want to view it as a deliberate act for some special effects of unknown reason. Unless we succeed in the current negotiation, this one-sided portrayal of the positive side of the negotiation will only create frustration amongst our people and the possible negative backlash is unimaginable,” he said.
Iqbal described last month’s talks as “very emotional because it affects the collective future of our people.” (Mindanao Examiner)
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