Commissioners of the
Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) led by Chairman Mohagher Iqbal welcomed
Mr. Ola Almgren, the United Nations Country Coordinator and also Resident
Representative of UN Development Program in the Philippines
The
visit of UN official aims to explore and learn the Bangsamoro struggle and the
current situation in the region vis a vis the Bangsamoro Peace Process.
“I
appreciate anything that you can tell me on how you see the situation now,”
Almgren said in his brief speech before the BTC commissioners saying that this
is his first visit to Mindanao and in Cotabato
city in particular.
In response
Iqbal gave an overview of the current situation of the peace process and the
Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in particular.
The chief
negotiator told the UN official that the Bangsamoro struggle has reach
democratic stage after waging arm struggle between 1972 until it signed a
ceasefire agreement with the government in 1997, then the diplomatic stage has
begun.
Iqbal said
that there is still hope for BBL to be passed citing no less than President
Benigno Aquino III and both the leaders of House of Congress had expressed
their commitment for the passage of the BBL at the same time Civil Society
Organizations (CSO’s) and the Catholic Church are backing the enactment of the
proposed bill.
He also
mentioned the 24 ambassadors and head of missions who signed a document
recently declaring support for the BBL.
No less
than former US Secretary
Hillary Clinton said during her visit in the country last year said that the US
“There is
still hope for BBL to pass but there is no assurance.” Iqbal further added.
Iqbal also
said that the problem is “how to manage the people’s frustration if the BBL is
not passed”.
Almgren
asked what would be the priority interventions in normalization and from
development point of view if the BBL is not passed by quoting that “there is no
peace without development” and vice-versa.
MILF Chief
Negotiator emphasized that the Bangsamoro Question is a political in nature and
“the political problem cannot address by socio-economic interventions alone but
it can help.”
“There must
be an intervention to help the people, they have to be part of this to be
pursued.” Iqbal said.
On his
part, Engr. Mohajirin Ali, head of Socio-Economic Component of BTC-JICA Program
cited JICA’s engagement in infrastructure like buildings, livelihood projects,
human resource development, and the crafting of the Bangsamoro Development Plan
(BDP).
Iqbal
stressed that if the BBL is passed by the congress, the normalization process
will run smoothly as agreed by the parties but if it is not passed, then there
will be no normalization to be implemented.
In his last
message, Almgren assures UN supports and that he will continue to learn and
understand the Bangsamoro struggle. He is looking forward for more
conversations with Chairman Iqbal.
The one and
half of hour meeting started with invocation by Commissioner Sheikh Ibrahim Ali
and a message of appreciation and gratitude by Commissioner Talib Benito.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/643-un-official-pays-courtesy-visit-to-btc
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