MILF: Editorial--Success in the peace talks

Weekly editorial posted to the MILF Website (Feb 1-7): Editorial: Success in the peace talks

Government chief peace negotiator, Prof. Miriam Ferrer-Coronel, has claimed that the signing of the GPH-MILF comprehensive agreement will most likely take place in March this year. It is barely one month away from now.

Indeed, it is nice to hear that great news! How we wish it comes true!

Frankly, we are inclined to agree with her. We believe her optimism is not without basis. After all, she is the chief peace negotiator of the government. As such, she knows many things that are hidden to most of us. She knows where the peace process is heading to and how surmountable the remaining issues on the table are. Like a good driver, she or he knows how to negotiate a rough terrain and succeed to get through it. Besides, she knows that pure speculation is not good especially for someone like her. She has nothing to gain when in the end what she said does not happen.

During the GPH-MILF 35th Exploratory Talks in Kuala Lumpur last January 21-25, the two Parties have made tremendous achievements in their talks including the signing of the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT). But the Parties are not discussing them openly, because in negotiation, nothing is agreed until it is agreed --- and signed. Besides, it is no-no to count the chicks before they are hatched.

It is also said that only few substantive issues are left for discussion on the three of the four Annexes: power-sharing, wealth-sharing, and transitional arrangement and modalities. However, by its nature, normalization is not expected to be finished on time alongside the three Annexes. It will take the nature of a work in progress, simply because such issues like decommissioning of MILF weapons and forces, gradual redeployment of government troops, and establishment of police in the Bangsamoro are very complex and would require in-depth study and research on models around the world and how the experts handled them successfully. While we want to settle these issues once and for all, but care and sensitivity are the cornerstone of the Parties’ approach.

Frankly and in reiteration, we rejoice at the current gains of the peace talks. This is made doubly encouraging when someone like the head of the government peace panel makes a timely and exciting prediction. We want her prediction comes true!

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3072:success-in-the-peace-talks&catid=344:gggg