GPH, MNLF Peace Accord at 17

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 30): GPH, MNLF Peace Accord at 17

The historic Final Peace Agreement (FPA) between the Philippine government (GPH) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) will be 17 years old on Sept. 2, 2013.

In 1996 at the Malacañang Palace, Ambassador Manuel Yan, then GPH peace panel chairman, and MNLF founding Chairman Nur Misuari signed the FPA. It would take 17 years before it can be implemented, but not until it is thoroughly reviewed by the present stakeholders. 

The peace pact marked the end of the MNLF's over three decades of rebellion against the government, which at the inception was for the independence of Mindanao. 

But dispute on the FPA's implementation arose between the two signatories, prompting the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2007 to call for a tripartite review of its implementation. The review, being facilitated by the Peace Committee for Southern Philippines (OIC-PCSP), has yet to be completed after about six years.

In contrast, the negotiations brokered by the OIC in Indonesia lasted from 1992 to 1996. In this connection, OIC foreign ministers asked OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanuglo to call for a fourth formal tripartite meeting to resolve whatever issues still need to be resolved. They made the call at the 39th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM) in Djibouti on Nov. 15-17, 2012. Dr. Abdurahman Amin, a senior leader of the MNLF, said the three-party meeting is being made through Indonesia, chairman of the PCSP.

"Before the formal meeting, there will be an informal meeting in the Philippines, then the formal talks will most likely be in Indonesia," said Amin.

A check with the OIC, showed that Point No. 10 of the OIC-CFM Djibouti conference Resolution No. 2/33MM on the "Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines" highlighted the pan-Islamic group that "Calls upon the (OIC) Secretary General to hold another session of the tripartite meeting at the earliest to contain any impacts that may result from the Framework Agreement between GPH and MILF) Moro Islamic Liberation Front), save the 1996 Agreement and link it to the Framework Agreement."

Secretary Teresita Deles said GPH confirmed having known about the new tripartite meeting.

"That is our understanding but we are still awaiting official word from Indonesia as 3rd party facilitator of the tripartite implementation review (of the FPA), Indonesia being the chair of OIC-PCSP)" Deles said in a text message.

As this developed, Amin said an MNLF senior leaders' meeting is being organized in Zamboanga City on Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is organizing the Zamboanga meeting, as confirmed by ARMM Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

He said the meeting is called the "convergence and forum for development within MNLF communities. We call it C2C, for camps to communities," he said.

Amin said senior leaders of the MNLF are expected to join the meeting, without regard for any MNLF faction.

http://mb.com.ph/News/National_News/29693/GPH,_MNLF_Peace_Accord_at_17#.UiNSUZfD8kM