MILF: Gov’t, MILF 36th exploratory meeting starts today in KL

From the MILF Website (Feb 25): Gov’t, MILF 36th exploratory meeting starts today in KL

The government and MILF 36th Exploratory Talks will kick-off today to try to settle the remaining unsettled substantive issues on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, transitional arrangement and modalities, and normalization, which consistently evaded the two negotiating teams for almost six months since they started discussing these issues in August last year .

However, this meeting would involve fewer members from both peace delegations, because only the three members of the Technical Working Committee (TWG) on Normalization are joining their respective delegation. Members of the two TWGs (power-sharing and wealth-sharing) have already exited and the remaining issues which they failed to settle are elevated to the peace panels for resolution.

Prof. Mirriam Ferrer-Coronel heads the government peace panel and Mohagher Iqbal the MILF peace panel.

Also joining the two panels are their consultants and experts on taxation and transportation and communication.

A source at the MILF peace panel secretariat disclosed that at least three unsettled issues from each of the TWGs (power-sharing and wealth-sharing) are expected to be tabled for deliberation.

The parties are also expected to formally organize the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) which will be composed of international and domestic players.

The TPMT is tasked by the parties to monitor and assess compliance by parties of the comprehensive agreement and other agreements, and as part of the Joint Normalization Commission, they will make the final say whether an Exit Agreement is to be signed by the parties.

The Exit Agreement concludes the peace negotiation, after the parties have fully complied with all their obligations.

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