Moro rebels begin changes after peace deal

Posted to ABS-CBN (Apr 2): Moro rebels begin changes after peace deal

Moro rebels are beginning a transformation after the signing last week of a peace agreement with the Philippine government that puts an end to their more-than-40-year-old insurgency.

"The first phase of the transformation is in the mind, the psyche. We have seen that all the leaders and members of the MILF have undergone transformation as far as the psyche is concerned, from pursuing the cause through armed struggle and changing that approach through the democratic process," chief rebel negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said at a press conference.

MILF stands for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, an 11,000-strong force that forged a peace deal with the Philippine government on behalf of Muslims and native residents collectively called Bangsamoro in southwestern and central Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines.

The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which was signed March 27, seeks to establish a semiautonomous Bangsamoro political entity by 2016, a move viewed at ending violence in Mindanao that has claimed 150,000 lives and stunted economic development in the resources-rich region.

MILF Vice Chairman Ghadzali Jaafar told Kyodo News on Wednesday the group's leadership has started preparing themselves and their armed combatants mentally by explaining what the peace process is about and the benefits of having a Bangsamoro government.

"When the Bangsamoro government is there, we don't see the need of arming ourselves anymore. Besides, it will become a problem to the leaders of this government if many firearms remain in the hands of unauthorized people," Jaafar said in a telephone interview.

"So, we are preparing the minds of the entire leadership and especially the armed component, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. And it's starting already."

He added that the BIAF strength is more than the government estimate of 11,000 armed with around 5,000 firearms.

Under the normalization annex of the agreement, the MILF will decommission its armed forces and their firearms will be warehoused. With the government they will also ensure all private armed groups in the area are disarmed.

The parties agreed the MILF weapons will be held under the control of a third party.

"We could imagine how our members feel (about laying down their arms). Although we are very clear that there is no element of surrender and there is destruction of firearms. But in order to have the Bangsamoro government in Mindanao, we have to pay for it, and one of the payments is the decommissioning," Iqbal said. "So, it requires a lot of educating our commanders and fighters in the field. But, I think, we are moving towards the positive direction. They understand that. Our commanders understand very well the wisdom behind this."

For security, a police force will be set up within the Bangsamoro and the Philippine military will retain some installations necessary for national defense and security.

Parallel to the decommissioning is the introduction of socioeconomic development to transform the formerly armed fighters into civilian members of society.

Jaafar expressed confidence the MILF fighters will not hesitate to lay down their arms at the proper time, saying the entire organization always follows the decision of the leadership.

He expects they will eventually go into farming, fishing, trading, government work or the Bangsamoro police force.

As regards its camps, Jaafar said these will be converted into farms for coconut, rice, corn, rubber, coffee and other crops.

But, the logging as a potential source of livelihood is not planned because it is prohibited and the MILF wants "to conserve our forest for future generations."

The normalization annex identified six MILF camps in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato provinces that will be assessed and developed into "peaceful and productive communities."

MILF negotiating panel member Abhoud Syed Lingga said that while it will remain and not disband as an organization, the MILF will become a "social movement," not an armed group.

It is "almost decided to have its own political party" to contest elections for a Bangsamoro government in 2016, he said.

"The Bangsamoro government is under the Philippine government. So, if it is necessary to raise the Philippine flag in offices or in schools, we'll see," Jaafar said.

"But we are still part of the Philippines. We are not creating an independent state. We are still citizens of the Philippines, although our identity is Bangsamoro," Iqbal reiterated.

Asked if he still regards himself a rebel even if he already signed the comprehensive agreement, Iqbal said, "not so much."

"I'm not yet decommissioned. But we are moving towards that situation. We would be participating in the democratic process, especially the election," he said. "By that time, I can say with certainty that I'm no more a rebel pursuing our objectives through the use of arms."

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/04/02/14/moro-rebels-begin-changes-after-peace-deal