MILF: UNYPAD Reaffirms its Support to GPH-MILF Peace Process under new Administration

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Sep 8): UNYPAD Reaffirms its Support to GPH-MILF Peace Process under new Administration



Cotabato City - The United Youth for Peace and Development(UNYPAD), Inc. convened its provincial chairmen, regional coordinators and national committees for a “Special Meeting” which was held last Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at UNYPAD National Office. The aim was to collectively discuss how it can strengthen its support in pushing the GPH-MILF peace process forward so as to finally put into closure the bloodlettings in Mindanao.

Interviewed by luwaran.com, Tu Alfonso, UNYPAD Vice President for Internal Affairs, said that the role of youth in pushing the peace process forward is indispensable. He discoursed that the UNYPAD collectively decided to muster its strength in support to present administration’s steps in relation to addressing the structural cause of the conflict in Mindanao through redressing historical injustices committed against the Bangsamoro. 

“Youth occupy the major segment of the society and they possess essential knowledge and skills, which are very instrumental in our efforts to bring the GPH-MILF peace process, in particular, to its positive end,” he stressed.

Alfonso called on all peace loving young individuals in the country to consolidate their rank and use their energy to support the government and MILF (and other Moro fronts) peace efforts to prevent the possible eruption of wars in the Mindanao and other parts of the country.

“We can’t afford to see again our people to languish in the evacuation centers,” he added.

Asked about the acceptability of the watered down BBL scenario after Duterte pronounced that he will pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) minus constitutional infirmities, Yusoph Lumambas, UNYPAD Secretary General, said: “I trust our President. He knows that it is not resolving the Bangsamoro question through addressing historical injustices when he is passing a BBL that is not acceptable to the Bangsamoro.”

“The government should seize this moment that the Bangsamoro original aspiration for independence has already lowered to only meaningful autonomy, which makes the Philippines and its people intact and undivided,” Lumambas pointed out.

He disclosed that federalism being advanced by present administration was given bigger space in the discussion.

“We see federalism an opportunity for the accommodation of the BBL should it succeed as it requires amendment of the constitution, he said.

“But one should know is that federalism has been seen a solution to the national sociopolitical and economic woes of the country, not necessarily a solution the Bangsamoro Right to self-determination. That is why the BBL has to be passed first before federalization,” Lumambas clarified.
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