“There is no substitute for unity.”
This was the declaration of the MILF delegation to the meeting of the Bangsamoro Coordination Forum (BCF) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last June 12.
The BCF was set up by the MILF and MNLF in May 2010. It was made possible under the prodding and auspices of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
In the meeting, the MILF was represented by a nine-man delegation and the MNLF by an 11-member delegation. Mohagher Iqbal headed the MILF group, while Sheikh Abdulbaki Abubakar led the MNLF delegation. However, Atty. Randolph “Bong” Parcasio signed the joint statement made during the conclusion of the one-day meeting. For what reason, it was internal to the MNLF delegation.
There at least two ways to achieve this unity; one is good but not reachable, and the other is practical and the only possible arrangement under current situation. After all, with changes and the various transformations sweeping across the Bangsamoro, alliances and coalitions are what matter these days. The heyday of a monolithic organization is a thing of the past and no longer holds currency today. People are tired of being dictated on what to do and what not to do. Moreover, both the MILF and MNLF are supposed to be popularly-based organizations and therefore it is their obligation to run their respective organizations by consultation. The people must be involved to run their lives.
The leaders of both organizations should be credited for being frank and straight-forward with each other during the meeting. They know that they can only find meaning to their face-to-face meeting if they are truthful to each other.
However, overall, the greater credit belong to OIC Secretary General HE Iyad Ameen Madani and Ambassador Kaseem El-Masry for the steering the meeting to its rightful conclusion. The Joint Statement was signed by leaders of both the MILF and MILF in front of the OIC Secretary General.
However, the successful conclusion of the meeting was just the beginning of what we desire ahead of us. The need to operationalize the BCF is very urgent and should be done immediately. Leaders of both organizations, if they are true to their commitment, must subordinate personal and organizational interests in favor of the common interests.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/1039-bangsamoro-coordination-forum
The BCF was set up by the MILF and MNLF in May 2010. It was made possible under the prodding and auspices of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
In the meeting, the MILF was represented by a nine-man delegation and the MNLF by an 11-member delegation. Mohagher Iqbal headed the MILF group, while Sheikh Abdulbaki Abubakar led the MNLF delegation. However, Atty. Randolph “Bong” Parcasio signed the joint statement made during the conclusion of the one-day meeting. For what reason, it was internal to the MNLF delegation.
There at least two ways to achieve this unity; one is good but not reachable, and the other is practical and the only possible arrangement under current situation. After all, with changes and the various transformations sweeping across the Bangsamoro, alliances and coalitions are what matter these days. The heyday of a monolithic organization is a thing of the past and no longer holds currency today. People are tired of being dictated on what to do and what not to do. Moreover, both the MILF and MNLF are supposed to be popularly-based organizations and therefore it is their obligation to run their respective organizations by consultation. The people must be involved to run their lives.
The leaders of both organizations should be credited for being frank and straight-forward with each other during the meeting. They know that they can only find meaning to their face-to-face meeting if they are truthful to each other.
However, overall, the greater credit belong to OIC Secretary General HE Iyad Ameen Madani and Ambassador Kaseem El-Masry for the steering the meeting to its rightful conclusion. The Joint Statement was signed by leaders of both the MILF and MILF in front of the OIC Secretary General.
However, the successful conclusion of the meeting was just the beginning of what we desire ahead of us. The need to operationalize the BCF is very urgent and should be done immediately. Leaders of both organizations, if they are true to their commitment, must subordinate personal and organizational interests in favor of the common interests.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/1039-bangsamoro-coordination-forum
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