Gov't admits to have 'intense' discussion on normalization, power sharing annexes with MILF

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 15): Gov't admits to have 'intense' discussion on normalization, power sharing annexes with MILF

The Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel admitted there will be "crunch time" when discussions on normalization and power sharing annexes start with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"We expect the discussions on the power sharing and normalization annexes to be just as intense. In the normalization annex, this is where crunch time really comes for the MILF because this is the part where they will be talking about -- we will be working on the decommissioning of combatants and weapons," said GPH peace panel Chief Negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer in a press briefing on Monday.

Ferrer said the decommissioning "was something that is not easy to give up for a group that has held on to its arms in order to pursue its cause. It is something that they (MILF) cannot simply do when, in fact, there are so many other armed groups in the area. There are so many other, well, criminal groups, private armed groups, and so on."

She noted there are still contentions on the phasing and the process as to how it will be done, "but the MILF has already committed to this."

Ferrer said the normalization annex will provide for a joint normalization committee which will see through this whole process.

There will also be an independent decommissioning body that will take care of the disposition of the weapons as well as the inventory and programming for the transition of former combatants into ex-combatants.

"It’s going to be part of the comprehensive agreement that alongside the political and economic deliverables will be these deliverables on their part -- a movement from an armed group into a socio-political movement or various socio-political organizations including a political party for the MILF to transition from that kind of a status to one that is fully part of a mainstream politics and society," she said.

With regards to power sharing, Ferrer said there is a provision that would talk about a list of powers that will be called "reserved powers" of the central government.

Such reserved powers include foreign affairs, national defense, coinage and monetary policy.

"We also have two other list, which are quite long. We talk about concurrent powers that will have to redefine competencies and then exclusive powers, powers that are being devolved basically to the Bangsamoro," she noted.

"So all of this, each item there -- there are about 50 items -- each one of them we expect contentious discussion. We have resolved some these 50 items on the list. You know, every now and then, we do need to come back, go back with regards to how we will language the text with reference to this," she added.

Ferrer said that although there may be dissatisfaction remarks that maybe expressed when the discussion on normalization and power sharing annexes start, "the important thing is that both (GPH, MILF) want this process to succeed, both want to come to an agreement; and, therefore, we will find a way to get there."

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&sid=&nid=0&rid=544365