Gov't, MILF: Violence won't deter us

From Rappler (Aug 22): Gov't, MILF: Violence won't deter us

'EVERY BONE OF CONTENTION.' Rebel peace panel chief Mohagher Iqbal

The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday, August 22 returned to the negotiating table for the 39th round of formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Topping the agenda for this round of talks are the last two annexes that will complete the final peace pact – the normalization process and how power would be shared between the envisioned Bangsamoro political entity and the central government.

READ: Last 2 annexes signed 'within the year'

A week after the crucial annex on wealth-sharing was signed, a commercial area in Cagayan de Oro was bombed, killing 8 and injuring more than 40 civilians. Another bombing occurred the following week on a busy street in Cotabato City, killing 8 and injuring at least 30.

Days after the resumption of this round of talks, reports said Moro National Liberation Front founder and chairman Nur Misuari yet again declared independence for Mindanao. The MILF is a breakaway group of the MNLF. Under the Ramos government, the MNLF signed a peace pact that put an end to their rebellion, but the former rebels are now saying some of the provisions of the agreement have not been fulfilled.

Government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer reiterated what Malacañang and the MILF have always said, that such incidents would not derail the peace talks.

"In this round, we will prove that we have not been waylaid by these groups’ destructive, desperate ways," Ferrer said in her opening statement.

Although recognizing the dangers of delaying the peace process further, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the MILF would not settle for anything less.

"While the MILF would like to see this done, we also have to underscore the fact that every issue and every bone of contention in the peace negotiation have to be settled within the framework of justice so as to achieve an enduring peace," Iqbal added.

Malaysian third-party facilitator Tengku Datu Abdul Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed for his part said spoilers "have no place in Mindanao.

Pending issues

In his State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III asked Congress to pass the basic law that will provide the legal mandate for the new Bangsamoro political entity by 2014.

To meet the deadline, lawmakers said it would be ideal if the Transition Commission submits the Basic Law to Congress before the end of this year.

READ: Bangsamoro Basic Law by 2014? Realistic but...

For this round of talks, Ferrer earlier said both sides do not expect to sign any annexes. Instead, they will focus on threshing out the remaining issues in the annexes. Sources from both sides have earlier said they want to finish and sign both annexes at the same time.

The normalization annex is still at the level of the technical working group (TWGs). It contains the difficult issue of decommissioning MILF combatants and other armed groups.

The annexes also include what Iqbal earlier said was the most difficult item they discussed before the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamo was signed in October 2012: the creation of a regional police force.

To make up for lost time, the TWGs of both parties flew to Kuala Lumpur earlier than the rest and started discussions on Tuesday, August 20.

Ferrer earlier said the normalization annex would pose more of a challenge for the MILF.

"In the normalization annex, this is where crunch time really comes for the MILF because this is the part where we will be working on the decommissioning of combatants and weapons, and as you can imagine, that is something that is not easy to give up for a group that has held on to its arms in order to pursue its cause," she said.

She added, "It is something that they cannot simply do when, in fact, there are so many other armed groups in the area," citing criminal groups and private armed groups in addition to the MILF.

Meanwhile, the annex on power-sharing is already on its final stages.

The FAB has identified some of the "reserved powers" for the central government. What the annex on power-sharing will identify are mostly the "concurrent powers" or shared powers between the Bangsamoro region and central government and what would be the "exclusive powers" of the Bangsamoro. 

SUPPORT. Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong joins the 39th round of GPH-MILF talks as an observer. Photo by OPAPP

Huge support

Ferrer said the 39th round of talks was joined by "an unprecedented number of observers."

Three members of the House of Representatives are joining this round of talks as observers. Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong of Lanao del Sur and Cagayan de Oro Rep Rufus Rodriguez graced the opening of the negotiations. North Cotabato Rep Jesus Sacdalan is set to follow.

"We aim for an agreement that leaves no one in the prospective Bangsamoro political entity left behind as far as protection of rights and access to power and wealth are concerned," Ferrer said.

Also in Kuala Lumpur are members of the International Contact Group: deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Turkey in Malaysia Hamat Dougan, UK’s Tom Phipps, Ono-san of Japan, CR’s Kristian Herbolzeimer and Emma Leslie, Dr. Markus of Muhammadiyah, CHD’s Ali Saleem.

Observers from civil society organizations Mary Ann Arnado, Patricia Sarenas and Salic Ibrahim are also joining this round of talks.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov Mujiv Hataman also expressed his support.

"We are here because we put premium on peace. In fact, we made peace and security as one of our three pillars in pursuing the reform agenda in the regional bureaucracy," Hataman said. "We made a covenant, that we will step down in case of a peace deal - and this will always be our standing principle."

Meanwhile, the Transition Commission has already set up its headquarters as both sides anticipate the signing of the final peace agreement soon.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/37058-39th-round-gph-milf-talks-start