MILF: Op/Ed--The Impasse May Imperil the Peace Talks

Op/Ed piece posted to the MILF Website: The Impasse May Imperil the Peace Talks

The Moro people were once again hit by a shockwaves of undetermined intensity as news of impasse in the 34th Exploratory Talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) reached the Bangsamoro homeland two nights ago from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Moro people were caught by surprise and as they expected the completion of discussions on the four (4) remaining contentious issues contained in the annexes such as wealth and power sharing; modalities and arrangement; and normalization by year end.

The signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) was lauded by different sectors of society; the international community as a roadmap towards the establishment of the Bangsamoro Region and seen as the ultimate solutions to the age-old Moro quest for peace, freedom and self-determination. The entire Moro people had been awaiting this development as past agreements failed in resolving the Mindanao crisis. The appointment of Prof. Miriam Ferrer-Coronel was assumed by many as a continuation of the position and gesture of erstwhile GPH Peace Panel Chair now Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen in completing the remaining unresolved issues contained in the annexes. All the while, observers and analysts presumed that both Coronel and Justice Leonen have the same line of thinking but found to be on different track.

Before the deadlock, Mohagher Iqbal, Chair of the MILF Peace Panel forewarned the parties for a “technical impasse” as the government was pressing for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to be led by a “Bangsamoro” which according to him would become a “struggle of the fittest and chaos as it would imply that the chairman of the BTA is open for grabs”. The impasse without fix date of resumption of the talks is really disheartening to the Moro people and will surely make them restless and impatient. However, Iqbal does not believe that the GPH panels’ position reflects the thinking of President Benigno Aquino III. On the other hand, MILF Peace Panel member Maulana Alonto told their counterparts in the government that “the MILF leading the BTA is a non-negotiable matter, arguing that the MILF has long been the partner of the government in peace making in the 16 long years of negotiation and after it signed the FAB; but all of a sudden, the government would replace it with strangers to the talks”.

Imposing the idea of placing someone not a party or privy to the struggle and the peace process is illogical and unacceptable as it will surely imperil the peace process at a time both sides are about to complete the unresolved issues. Alonto challenged the GPH Panel to “take it, or leave it”; referring to the position of the Moro Front that it should lead the BTA right after the Bangsamoro Basic Law has been promulgated and ratified in a plebiscite by the people in the proposed Bangsamoro Region. Datu Antonio Kinoc, alternate member of the MILF Peace Panel described it as “not reasonable, not fair and not humane”

As this saddening event developed during the most crucial period of the peace process, the Moro people are now skeptics as to its outcome. The sudden change of gesture or position of the GPH Peace Panel is seen as another sinister effort as shenanigans are bent to forego with the completion of the FAB; a decision disastrous to both parties. A derail or discontinuance of the peace process may incite other elements to resort to violence as the position of the government panel is blemished with trickery and deception. The GPH panel should have not been swayed by its inappropriate and unproductive position as it has adverse effect on the quest for peace and progress in Mindanao and Sulu. A delay on the “finishing touches” contained in the annexes will prolong the culmination of efforts in resolving the age-old Mindanao problem. The GPH Peace Panel should reconsider its position bynow.The two panels should have taken advantage of the prevailing momentum as public interest increases while information drive on the FAB is being intensified and supported by the people.

The event in Kuala Lumpur will put to test the political will of President Aquino if he is really serious in finding long lasting, comprehensive and acceptable solutions to the Moro problem in Mindanao. President Aquino should be decisive by now. The Moro general masses await and watch the succeeding development as other options remained open for them should the peace process fail. The issue at hand should be resolved at the earliest possible time so both parties can meet its timeline as a recurrence of armed conflict in the region is catastrophic to both the government and the Moro people.

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