Peace advocates welcome continuation of talks between GPH-MILF

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 28): Peace advocates welcome continuation of talks between GPH-MILF

An official of a peace network in Mindanao welcomed the announcement of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III about the resumption of talks between the government peace panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF)on the Framework Agreement of the Bangsamoro(FAB).

Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, convenor of the Mindanao People’s Caucus, said the President’s announcement underscored his quest to pursue a lasting peace in Mindanao.

Arnado is hoping the continuation of the talks will resolve the issues on the annexation of which 95 percent was reported to have been decided in the last meeting.

She said that based on the timetable of the GPH-MILF talks, they are supposed to sign a comprehensive peace agreement during the first quarter of 2013.

“The resumption of talks is a welcome development amid the observation that there are sectors that block the peace negotiations,” she said.

Arnado said there is a seeming tug-of-war between those who support and those who oppose the peace process between the government and the MILF given the attempts of spoilers to pull the negotiations down.

She also observed that the peace negotiations happen at a crucial time when many groups would muddle the issue, despite the established confidence-building measures, hope and trust on the framework agreement.

“We must inspire, motivate and even pressure both panels to finish the peace process. They must not allow distractions to derail the talks,” Arnado said.

She urged peace-loving residents of Mindanao to show their support to the peace process by attending peace rallies in their respective places.

Arnado said politicians, institution, religious leaders and ordinary residents must qualify their declared support to the Framework.

“We are hoping that all of us from Mindanao will show our support by going out and joining peace mobilizations,” she said.

Arnado said people must also be wary why the Sabah claim came to fore at the time when the peace negotiations between the government and MILF almost reach a final conclusion.

Maria Carmen Lauzon-Gatmaytan, consultant of the social mobilization unit of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said the peace panels of the government and the MILF are prepared to go to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the talks.

She said both panels are in touch.

“It's all systems go. They are prepared with all the documents that need to be discussed in the agenda,” Lauzon- Gatmaytan said.

She said there is only a big call from civil society organizations for government and the MILF to issue a joint statement on the Sabah issue.

Lauzon-Gatmaytan said both panels must also discuss the issue about Sabah and must come up with a common stand on this concern.

“That can only happen if both panels will talk,” she said.

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