Moro rebels buck gov’t transition proposal

From Business World (Dec 17): Moro rebels buck gov’t transition proposal

Disagreements on the leadership of a proposed body that will establish the fundamental governing structure of the future Bangsamoro region led to the failure of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to reach a consensus in the negotiations last week, putting at risk prospects to ink a deal by yearend. Last Sunday, the MILF said it made clear to the government that the MILF’s leadership of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) is "non-negotiable." The government peace panel, according to an MILF statement posted on its Web site, does not want exclusive MILF leadership in the transition authority as the composition should be Bangsamoro, or Muslim nation, connoting the inclusion of other Moro groups.

Sought for comment, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer yesterday told BusinessWorld that the government panel is confident that the issue will be addressed. "We have a common understanding that the MILF will play a leading role in the [transition authority] as well as in the other components such as the normalization process," she said. The normalization process, a key area in the peace plan, includes the disarmament of Moro rebels or their integration in a regional police force "Both panels and our respective technical working groups are working hard to complete the annexes. I am confident that in the course of the negotiations, we will be able to jointly formulate the appropriate language as well as other relevant details to reflect the role of the MILF in the [transition authority]," she added. Aside from normalization, the annexes to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro cover power sharing concerning governance and wealth sharing that involves resources and revenue.

For his part, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal described the government’s formula as a "menu for the ‘struggle of the fittest and chaos’ as this would imply that the chairman of the BTA is open for grabs." Mr. Iqbal said he "does not believe this position of the government peace panel reflects the thinking of the President [Benigno S. C. Aquino III]." Under the framework deal inked last Oct. 15 in Malacañan Palace, the BTA will be created after the "promulgation and ratification of the Basic Law" that will be drafted by the MILF-led 15-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission that will be approved by Congress and to be submitted for ratification by residents of the planned Bangsamoro region.

Meanwhile, a Palace fiat creating the transition commission has been inked by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III. Under Executive Order No. 120 signed on Dec. 17, the commission has been tasked to draft the proposed Bangsamoro basic law in line with the framework deal. The commission, which will be composed of 15 members to be appointed by the President, will have an initial budget of ₱100 million. The framework agreement states that "all devolved authorities shall be vested in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority during the interim period. The ministerial form and Cabinet system of government shall commence once the Bangsamoro Transition Authority is in place. The Bangsamoro Transition Authority may reorganize the bureaucracy into institutions of governance appropriate thereto." The BTA will be "immediately replaced in 2016 upon the election and assumption of the members of the Bangsamoro legislative assembly and the formation of the Bangsamoro government," according to the framework agreement.

Other members of the MILF panels backed Mr. Iqbal’s statement. Maulana Alonto, who was in the technical working group on Modalities and Transitional Arrangements, said the MILF has the right to lead the BTA as it has been negotiating with the government for nearly two decades. "The MILF leading the BTA is a non-negotiable matter…," he said. "This treatment is not reasonable, fair, and humane," added Datu Antonio Kinoc, alternate member of the MILF peace panel.
Based on the time frame, the two sides are supposed to conclude all four annexes -- wealth sharing, power sharing, normalization, and the Modalities and Transitional Arrangement -- that will make up the comprehensive agreement. Substantial progress was made on the annexes but the negotiations adjourned without a joint statement and schedule for the next round of talks.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Moro-rebels-buck-gov’t-transition-proposal&id=63088