MILF to turnover 75 weapons, 145 combatants for symbolic decommissioning

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 8): MILF to turnover 75 weapons, 145 combatants for symbolic decommissioning

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be turning over 75 weapons and 145 combatants to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) during the symbolic stage of the decommissioning process anytime this month.

This was disclosed by Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF Peace Panel and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, during the Media Roundtable on the Bangsamoro Basic Law at the Royal Mandaya Hotel Thursday (January 8).

Iqbal said the symbolic turnover will mark the start of the decommissioning of MLF weapons and combatants that will be implemented on a gradual phase and by percentage. On second phase, 30 percent of their weapons and combatants will be decommissioned; then 35 percent and until the final phase (30 percent) when all the last part of the agreements shall have been implemented and complied by both parties.

Iqbal said the symbolic turnover is targeted as-soon-as possible. “Marami pang inaayos (There are still many things being firmed-up),” he said, citing one provision that the decommissioning shall be parallel and commensurate to other agreements of the parties.

He said they are carefully looking at all inter-related provisions for the decommissioning process such as amnesty and pardons of the MILF members; disbandment of private armies; redeployment of government forces which are interlinked with each other.

“We cannot implement overnight,” he said.

Iqbal however clarified that decommissioning does not mean surrender of weapons and combatants, saying, “There is no surrender, no destruction of firearms. We are putting the weapons out of service,” he said.

Iqbal explained they are following the decommissioning model of the Good Friday Agreement of the Irish Republic Army wherein weapons are turned over to a third party. He said a third party will be assigned to safeguard the weapons which will be kept in one place and put to good use later.

He said the IDB will set up a storage or warehouse for this purpose.

According to Iqbal, there will be integration of MILF combatants to government regular forces. If qualified, combatants can be part of the Bangsamoro Police, which will be set up and organized by the Bangsamoro authority. Others can choose to avail of the economic interventions such as engage in livelihood projects.

Six camps have been identified to be converted into productive areas and task forces have already been working on programs and projects for the communities.

Earlier, Lawyer Al Julkifli of the GPH panel, said the IDB led by the Turkish Ambassador to the intergovernmental military alliance North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will convene this month to roll out the decommissioning process.

The IDP is a mix membership of foreign experts from Brunei and Norway and four locals, has already fine-tuned the process of a gradual phase manner of decommissioning.

Decommissioning of weapons and the MILF combatants is part of the normalization process to bring conflict affected areas into a state of normalcy in terms of human security and economic stability while the legislative mill for the approval of the Bangsamoro Basic Law continues.

Julkifli said the first task of the independent body will be to conduct an inventory and validation in order to determine the types and number of weapons of the MILF.

Julkifli said other normalization process or other confidence building measures are underway such as the infusion of livelihood and turning the six previously identified MILF camps into productive civilian communities.

Other legal processes for the amnesty of MILF members and supporters are also rolling out. A group will be conducting a study towards this step. Julkifli said the Transitional Justice is also working on a development study.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=723144