Building Bangsamoro

From the New Straits Times (Nov 5): Building Bangsamoro

Much work remains to be done to reconstruct lives and silence the guns. At a press conference at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, said his priority was "life-building" programmes to improve the lives and livelihoods of the Bangsamoro who have been "at war for decades" and "suffered so much".... Indeed, as the prime minister said at the signing of the landmark framework peace deal, Malaysia is ready to be a "partner in peace" through the provision of training, education and land development skills to the Bangsamoro people. But, as transplanting the Felda success story will take time and requires a fertile political climate to take root, shorter term solutions are needed for the problems of poverty, unemployment, lack of education and inadequate healthcare.... What is clear in the meantime is that much work remains to be done to reconstruct lives and silence the guns. However, though the road to peace remains as complex as ever, and the two peace panels have their work cut out to come to an agreement on the annexes on wealth-sharing, power-sharing and normalisation, there is cause to remain cautiously upbeat about prospects for lasting peace....

http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/editorial/building-bangsamoro-1.166637