Formal Mindanao peace talks to resume

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 20): Formal Mindanao peace talks to resume

The recent bombings and Nur Misuari’s declaration of Mindanao independence are expected to be discussed in the sidelines of the resumption of formal peace talks between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MLIF) tentatively scheduled for August 22.

Sources privy to the peace talks said while the agenda of the 39th Round of Formal Exploratory Meeting will focus on power sharing and normalization annex for the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro or FAB, the bombings and Misuari’s recent declarations may also be discussed.

The Technical Working Groups (TWGs) of the peace panels of the Philippine government (GPH) and the MILF were expected to sit down in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to go over and try to complete the annex on power sharing and the annex on normalization.

“If the TWGs complete the two annexes, or either of them, in the next few days, then signing of the documents should follow. We can only hope for the best,” the source said.

The FAB, signed on Oct. 15, 2012, and several annexes being finalized would serve as the road map to an MILF-led new political entity (NPE).

The GPH and the MILF had completed and inked the annexes on modalities and transitional arrangements last January and annex on wealth sharing and revenue generation last month.

Another source said the recent series of bombings in Mindanao and August 12 declaration of the independence of Mindanao, Palawan and Sabah by Nur Misuari may figure in the talks’ sidelines.

“I think the two issues will not escape the peace panels’ attention, but only on the sidelines,” the source said.

Seeking anonymity for having no authority to speak, the source said the next formal talks have a tentative Aug. 22 start.

“The schedule is already known to Malaysia, the third party facilitator. But schedules have a way of having a life of its own. In any case, the GPH and MILF panels are ready to go and face off gain in the negotiating table,” the source said.

“I am not sure if the two panels will be able to hammer out a deal on power sharing and normalization,” the source said.

But both panels are highly committed to the cause of peace in Mindanao and achieve a peaceful, negotiated political settlement of the Bangsamoro question and conflict.

Before the recent Ramadan, GPH and MILF chief negotiators Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Mohagher Iqbal achieved a breakthrough in the 38th formal talks and signed the annex on wealth sharing and revenue generation.

 They did it after some 11 months of hammering out an accord on the highly contentious issue of the nearly 17-years-old peace process.

http://mb.com.ph/News/Provincial_News/28056/Formal_Mindanao_peace_talks_to_resume#.UhNzRZfD_Sc