MNLF: Framework abrogates 1996 peace treaty

From the Philippine Star (Jan 27): MNLF: Framework abrogates 1996 peace treaty

The Moro National Liberation Front said yesterday that the framework agreement signed over the weekend in Malaysia by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) effectively abrogated the 1996 peace treaty with the MNLF.

MNLF spokesman Absalom Cerveza said their group could never accept the annexes of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).

“The Bangsamoro framework is an abrogation of the 1996 final peace agreement with the MNLF. The 1996 peace pact should prevail and not whatever agreement with the MILF,” Cerveza said.

He warned the government that hostilities could break out if things do not turn out well with peace agreement with MILF that was signed Saturday in Kuala Lumpur.

“War is a possibility but it is not a program. It is not in the program but if the situation demands for it, then we cannot help it,” Cerveza said.

But Cerveza said the MNLF is not pushing for war and is instead going to explore the peaceful and political solution to the problem.

MNLF Islamic Council Command chairman Habib Hashim said the MNLF is going to the United Nations to seek the decolonization of Mindanao.

“We are seeking the decolonization of Mindanao which would comprise not only Mindanao but also Palawan and the Spratlys,” Hashim said.

Cerveza said the government is stupid and naïve for entering into a peace negotiation with its rival faction the MILF when it has reneged on its commitment to implement the provisions of the 1996 final peace pact signed in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Hashim said the MNLF would question before the Supreme Court the legality and legitimacy of the expected final peace agreement with the MILF.

“There are now three petitions filed before the Supreme Court to declare the FAB unconstitutional and illegal. There is a chance that the Supreme Court will declare the FAB as unconstitutional and illegal just like what it did to the MOA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain) in 2008,” Cerveza said.

Both Cerveza and Hashim said that the MNLF has already closed its doors on any renegotiation on the 1996 final peace accord.

“No renegotiation, no talks or anything with government,” Cerveza said.

Hashim said the MNLF would never enter into a convergence with the MILF in drawing up the comprehensive peace accord with the latter.

“It is the MILF that should join us and not the other way around. The 1996 peace accord came first before the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro,” Hashim said. Cerveza said “convergence” with the MILF is totally improbable.

Hashim reiterated that the agreement forged by the government and the MILF continues to violate the existing 1996 agreement with the MNLF and the previous accord, the 1976 Tripoli agreement.

“We (MNLF) are dismayed because any agreement they signed violated the existing peace agreement,” Hashim said.

He also explained that they ignored calls to participate in the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) because there is the 1996 final peace agreement which has not been fully implemented by the government.

“Once we participate it will be a violation of our existing agreement because it’s highly unconscionable,” Hashim added.

He said they received reports that about 70 percent of the MILF leaders were dissatisfied with the FAB, which detracted from their original demand of independence.

“Hopefully, the government will not betray the MILF (who agreed on the deal). But there is an exodus of MILF leaders, about 70 percent are going out and most of them are ground commanders,” Hashim said.

He said based on unconfirmed information those who are defecting from the MILF might go back to the MNLF or join Ameril Umbra Kato’s Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF).

Cerveza said the MNLF would accept defecting MILF members.

The MNLF official said the latest agreement forged between the GPH and MILF has not affected the MNLF faction that is calling for independence not only in the area covered by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but the whole of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/01/27/1283435/mnlf-framework-abrogates-1996-peace-treaty