Gov't, MILF sign terms for Bangsamoro framework monitoring team

From Rappler (Jan 25): Gov't, MILF sign terms for Bangsamoro framework monitoring team



TALKS. Government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer leads a caucus of the TWG on Normalization. Photo from the Google+ account of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Proces

The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has signed on Friday, January 25, a document outlining the terms of reference for the Third-Party Monitoring Team that will 'review, assess, evaluate and monitor' the implementation of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).

In a joint statement released after the 35th round of Formal Exploratory Talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, both sides said this marked another "milestone" in the peace talks.  The members of the team, which will be composed of international and domestic bodies, are expected to be named within a month.

Both parties also agreed to extend the mandates of the International Monitoring Team -- which oversees the ceasefire agreement between between both sides -- and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group -- a joint effort of the government and the MILF against lawless elements. 
 
However, their joint statement did not mention whether the latest round of talks produced a completed annex, as what both sides earlier expected.  Both sides are now in the process of settling the contentious details of the 4 annexes on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, normalization, and transitional arrangements and modalities that will complement the FAB.

Some of the remaining issues include:

• whether the MILF should the Bangsamoro Transition Authority;
• jurisdiction over natural resources;
• transportation and communication;
• the extent of territorial waters;
• taxation;
• timetables for decommissioning and demilitarization;
• policing structures.

The next round of talks will be on February......

http://www.rappler.com/nation/20444-gov-t,-milf-sign-terms-for-bangsamoro-monitoring-team