MNLF vows continued support to peace pact

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Sep 2): MNLF vows continued support to peace pact

THE top and senior leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have expressed their continued support to the 1996 peace agreement and the tripartite review process.

Their assurance came after a resolution was approved on Sunday at the culmination of the two-day MNLF Senior Leaders Forum (SLF) in Zamboanga City.

During the two-day forum, the leaders discussed important issues and concerns affecting the ongoing peace process between the National Government and the MNLF.

The forum also tackled the Final peace Agreement (FPA) and “its tripartite review whose objective is the attainment of the FPA’s full implementation.”

The peace agreement was signed on September 2, 1996 -- exactly 17 years ago on Monday.

The MNLF senior leaders stated in the resolution: “Now therefore, be it resolved as it is hereby resolved, that we, the senior leaders and commanders of the MNLF who represent the broad masses of our people in the ground and acting on behalf of their general welfare and common good, hereby affirm our sustained support to the 1996 FPA and its tripartite review to achieve the full implementation of the agreement.”

“Resolved further, that the MNLF Senior Leaders Forum is ready to recommend among the leaders to join or constitute the membership of the MNLF peace panel for the resumption of the GRP-MNLF-Organization of Islamic Conference-Peace Committee for the Southern Philippines (OIC-PCSP) tripartite meeting as soon as possible in order to conclude the process to the satisfaction of the concerned parties.

And that we welcome the proposal to achieve a more comprehensive and inclusive political solution to the Bangsamoro problem through convergence of the two peace processes involving the MNLF and the MILF. This proposal may be addressed at the Bangsamoro Coordinating Forum as created and established by the OIC in December 2011 with the full support of the MNLF and the MILF leaderships,” the resolution added.

A copy of the resolution was furnished to President Benigno Aquino III, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp), OIC secretary-general and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) Governor Mujiv Hataman.

Meanwhile, the MNLF senior leaders have agreed to partner with Armm to jointly implement the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan projects (Pamana) in MNLF communities across Mindanao.

The Pamana projects will be implemented by the line agencies of Armm and the MNLF would be the one to identify what projects are needed in a particular MNLF community.

The National Government has allocated a budget of P1.469 billion for the implementation of Pamana projects this year.

The Pamana is the National Government’s program and framework for peace and development. It is implemented in areas affected by conflict and communities covered by existing peace agreements.

Abdul Sahrin, a member of the MNLF Central Committee and one of the senior leaders, said they have formed committees to ensure the proper implementation of the Pamana projects.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2013/09/02/mnlf-vows-continued-support-peace-pact-301062