'Intrusion won't affect peace pact'

From the New Straits Times (Jun 6): 'Intrusion won't affect peace pact'

INTACT: Lahad Datu incident a separate issue, says Manila

KUALA LUMPUR: THE armed intrusion by Sulu gunmen in Lahad Datu, Sabah in February is unlikely to affect the ongoing peace process in Mindanao, the Philippine government said yesterday.

Presidential adviser on the peace process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles said the Sabah intrusion and the peace agreement signed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last October were two separate issues that should not be linked.

"The armed intrusion was carried out by a group whose motivations have nothing to do with the peace agreement signed between the government and the MILF.

"The claims (by the Sulu sultanate) should instead be addressed through separate negotiations," she said during the 27th Asia-Pacific Roundtable, organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies.

Quintos-Deles was joined by MILF chairman Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim and the Malaysian facilitator to the peace process, Tengku Datuk Abdul Ghafar Tengku Mohamed, as part of the panel during the plenary session titled "Will peace hold in Mindanao?".

During the session, Quintos-Deles also addressed delays in implementing the annexes to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), saying that the Philippine government wanted to avoid the mistakes of past administrations.

Murad urged for negotiations on the annexes to the FAB to be concluded as quickly as possible.

Tengku Ghafar remained optimistic that the final agreement between Manila and the MILF was "within sight" despite the region's long history of armed conflict.

Responding to a question from the audience, Tengku Ghafar said Malaysia would not be able to play a similar role in assisting in resolving the conflict involving the Muslim community in Myanmar, owing to the principle of non-interference.

He said Malaysia would still be able to assist through other means. "Malaysia was formally invited to assist in the negotiations process by the Philippines government."

http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/intrusion-won-t-affect-peace-pact-1.294723