Friday, June 3, 2016

MILF: Malaysian Facilitator: Constitutional change and normalization are two separate processes

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Jun 3): Malaysian Facilitator: Constitutional change and normalization are two separate processes



The Malaysian Facilitator for the GPH-MILF Peace Process Tengku Dato Ab’ Ghafar Tengku Mohamed said that Federalism and Constitutional Change and decommissioning of forces and implementation of normalization agreement are two separate processes with totally different nature.

During his opening statement during the two-day Special Meeting of the GPH and MILF Peace Panels on May 29 to 30 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tengku Dato Ab' Ghafar described how third-party facilitation stands vis-à-vis the two processes.

He said since the process is already into implementation phase, third party is not involved in ALL aspects of the implementation of the peace process. Basic Law drafting and passage were purely national processes where Bangsamoro Transition Commission drafted the BBL and undertook public outreach and information dissemination. Third parties respect and recognized the sovereign right of the Republic and did not interfere into a national process of legislation drafting and subsequent processes at the House of Representatives and Senate. Drafting and passage of BBL, an enabling law, is an integral part of the GPH-MILF Peace Process and once passed, shall serve as foundation for true autonomy, implantation process of FAB / CAB and sustainable peace and security in the Philippines.
He also said constitution changes are purely internal, home-grown and part of democratic evolution of national politics and based on its local political dynamics, added that Third Party actors cannot interfere in such process.

On the other hand, he emphasized that “Decommissioning and Normalization processes are part of international dimension of GPH-MILF Peace Process where third party players have been given specific roles/responsibilities and are connected to the political benchmarks and development of the peace process.”

Normalization is the process through which communities affected by the decades-long armed conflict can return to a peaceful life and pursue sustainable livelihoods free from fear of violence and crime. It involves the transition of the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) to a peaceful civilian life, which includes putting their weapons beyond use in a graduated and phased process called decommissioning.

An Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) oversees the process of decommissioning of the MILF forces and weapons which was symbolically started on June 16, 2015 with 145 BIAF combatants and 70 firearms.

However, Tengku Dato Ab' Ghafar said that the “15,000 strong MILF force is far from undertaking decommissioning due to non-passage of BBL that was marked as the first and most important political benchmark to begin the process of demilitarization and decommissioning in Bangsamoro.”
Saying that while the MILF welcomed the idea of federalism in the Philippines, Tengku Dato Ab' Ghafar noted that it is the “MILF’s position that mere introduction of federalism will not address the root causes of Mindanao question.”

“MILF has been consistent in recognizing that their demand for autonomy is not purely based on devolution of wealth and resources but to protect Moro identity, tradition, culture and Muslim way of life,” Tengku Dato Ab' Ghafar stressed.

Federalism was a campaign platform of President-elect Duterte and by all indications the incoming government is already setting the stage for constitutional amendments.

In the meeting that could be the last for the two peace panels under the Aquino administration, Tengku Dato Ab' Ghafar reiterated that negotiations are already over and that both parties have to implement their part of the internationally recognized peace agreements.

The GPH – MILF Peace Process has been hailed as offering a unique model of Third parties engagement in various aspects of negotiations. Third Parties have been invited at the pleasure of two parties after a bilateral agreement had been reached. This has resulted in making the GPH-MILF peace process as a multilateral process. In a multilateral process such as this one, parties cannot make unilateral decision about role of third parties.

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php/news/76-international/761-malaysian-facilitator-constitutional-change-and-normalization-are-two-separate-processes

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.