GPH, MILF in KL to work on annexes; “partners now, not adversaries”

From MindaNews (Nov 15): GPH, MILF in KL to work on annexes; “partners now, not adversaries”

A month after the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), the government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are back at the Palace of the Golden Horses hotel to buckle down to work on the annexes on power-sharing, wealth-sharing and normalization, “to complete a comprehensive agreement by the end of the year.” The technical working groups (TWGs) on power-sharing and wealth-sharing have been meeting here since August but the TWG on Normalization was convened only on Monday with the MILF handing over its proposal to the GPH on Wednesday afternoon. Unlike previous peace negotiations, the mood has changed as both parties no longer view each other as adversaries but as partners, GPH peace panel chair Marvic Leonen and MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal said. Leonen told MindaNews that while the TWG are facing “several challenges, “it’s no longer adversarial. It’s more on let’s work on this together.” Iqbal agreed with Leonen’s observation. “It is more on problem-solving mode now,” he told MindaNews. The T­­­WG meetings are held simultaneously. This is the longest GPH-MILF negotiation in the last 15 years — seven days from November 12 to 18 — longer than last month’s six-day final round to complete the FAB. This is also the biggest delegation for both the government and the MILF – 40 for the government and 15 from the MILF. Each TWG has six members, three from each panel, with note-takers and observers that include members of the International Contact Group....

http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2012/11/15/gph-milf-in-kl-to-work-on-annexes-partners-now-not-adversaries/