From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12):
GPH, MILF 34th exploratory talks open
in Kuala Lumpur
The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) on Wednesday resumed their 34th formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur
that will tackle the most contentious issues of the peace process with the end
in view of resolving the long-drawn armed conflict in Mindanao.
Expected to be discussed thoroughly during the negotiations will be power and
wealth sharing.
In her opening statement, newly named GPH chief negotiator Miriam
Coronel-Ferrer said “the government is ready to give all the support necessary
to jumpstart the process.”
This is the first time that Ferrer sits as GPH chair after former GPH chief
peace negotiator Marvic Leonen vacated the post after the latter was appointed
as associate justice of the Supreme Court by President Benigno S. Aquino III
recently.
Ferrer submitted her credentials to the Malaysian government as host of the
negotiations, through third-party Facilitator, Tengku Datu Abdul Ghafar bin
Tengku Mohamed.
She also provided a certified copy of her appointment paper to Mohager Iqbal,
MILF chief negotiator.
Ferrer said she is formally joining at opening “the 34th Exploratory Talks,
the 15th formal meeting under the incumbent administration, today on 12-12-12.”
“I do this now in a different capacity from the past times that we have come
to Kuala Lumpur. Today, I come as the new chair of the Government Panel for
Talks with the MILF -- so designated to this position of responsibility by the
President of the Republic of the Philippines Benigno S. Aquino III,” she said. “We have returned here in Kuala Lumpur with high hopes. After the fateful
32nd Exploratory Talks last October 1-7 when we completed the Framework
Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and the 33rdround where we auspiciously convened
for the first time our Technical Working Group on Normalization, we have come
back to Kuala Lumpur with fortitude to resume our work,” Ferrer stressed.
She also said that “we have returned confident of the wide public support
back home for a process that has concluded one phase and began another.” Ferrer pointed out that the wide range of government offices involved in
various meetings in Kuala Lumpur and in the Philippines “indicates the high
level of support the peace process with the MILF enjoys in the whole government
under PNOY’s leadership.”
“It reflects the firm determination of the bureaucracy, through the crucial
coordinative and kulit-ative role of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process Teresita Quintos Deles, to finish the work. That is, to finish it well,
with eyes wide open to the difficulties that then and now have confounded the
negotiations, and with arms ready to embrace innovative solutions and practical
approaches,” she said.
Ferrer disclosed that the government’s technical working group on
power-sharing is ready to complete with their MILF counterparts the text that
will make up the Annex on Power-sharing.
Upi Mayor Ramon Piang, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Political
Affairs Undersecretary Chito Gascon and OPAPP Undersecretary Joe Lorena shall be
navigating once more with their counterparts the three lists of allocation of
powers.According to Ferrer, they will do this knowing that:
the categories are not airtight nor strictly defined; and
that all aspects of exercise of power are ideally practiced under the
governing principles of cooperation, parity of esteem, autonomy and
subsidiarity, check-and-balance, the need to harmonize and to meet norms and
standards, and ultimately the shared goal of ensuring the safety, welfare and
the needs of the parts and the whole, especially in the face of natural
disasters and dangers to national survival due to unusual weather disturbances
brought about by climate change and the wanton exploitation of God’s or Allah’s
gifts to humankind.
“In previous meetings, the Government’s Technical Working Group on
Wealth-sharing had shared with their MILF counterparts all the relevant data
that reflect the challenges to the reconstruction and financial sustainability
of the future Bangsamoro,” she said.
Ferrer said that another ticklish matter to be discussed is “the
decommissioning of combatants and weapons we understand very well is normally
what any armed revolutionary group fears to tread.” “There is fear of being left defenseless in a landscape populated by so many
other armed groups and individuals,” she said.
Ferrer said “there is uncertainty of combatants and their families of what
future awaits them under a new phase where different skills, trainings and
orientation would be needed; where protection shall be weaned away from reliance
on the barrel of the gun toward faith in what the power of communal efforts,
nonviolence and resiliency can achieve for individuals, families, communities
and the Bangsamoro at large.”
“There is insecurity that the reforms anticipated would be stalled; that the
political commitments fall behind the road map that both parties have plotted;
that even good intentions would be waylaid by insidious agents of the
unacceptable status quo,” the new GPH chair said.
Ferrer point out that It took a mature social movement like the MILF:
To learn from experiences around the world that ultimately, the choice of
peace would mean putting beyond use the need for arms and the use of political
violence to achieve political ends.
To strategically envision the transformation of an armed movement into a
socio-political force able to mobilize communities for social and economic
development.
To have the courage to take the risk to navigate previously abhorred,
unchartered terrain such as the legislature, governance and election. To be able
to stand up, act, implement and compete fair and square over ideas, programs
under the precept: May the best man, woman or party win.
“This courage and maturity, government will meet with reciprocity. Our
processes may be bogged down sometimes by the bureaucratic maze that involves
any paper work or the system of check-and-balance that are imposed on us and
with due diligence, that we also impose on ourselves,” Ferrer said,
“But we should not be discouraged by seeming insurmountable,” she said.
At the same time, the GPH panel hand carried a special gift with them.
“We were not aware what this gift was all about. Our office was just asked to
pick up a package at the Palace with the instruction to bring it to Kuala Lumpur
during this round,” Ferrer said.
It is a gift for Mrs. Murad from no other than the President’s sister, Kris
Aquino and requested Iqbal “to deliver, in behalf of Ms. Aquino, to the family
of MILF chair, Ebrahim “Kagi” Murad, this framed and autographed photo of Ms.
Aquino with an entourage of MILF women. Ms. Aquino had thoughtfully remembered
her charming encounter with the MILF ladies at the signing of the Framework
Agreement in Malacanang last October 15.”
“We have also added other photos as souvenir for chairman Murad,” she said.
Ferrer also said that “to the hardworking members of the Malaysian
secretariat under Madame Che Kasna, and to the illustrious members of the
International Contact Group who have kept the faith with us every step of the
way: our traveling companions from the governments of UK, Japan, Turkey and
Saudi Arabia; from the INGOs, CR, The Asia Foundation, CHD and Muhammadiyah.”
Joining the GPH panel members in addition to former Agriculture Secretary
Senen Bacani, Undersecretary/Presidential Adviser for Muslim Concerns Bai Yasmin
Busran Lao,and MSU Professor Dr Hamid Barra “we have asked the Chair of the
National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, lawyer and professor of Islamic
jurisprudence at the University of the Philippines, and former commissioner of
the Commission on Elections, Secretary Mehol Sadain, to join the panel while the
appointment papers for the 5th Panel member are being processed in Malacanang.”
The GPH team that has worked tirelessly with the different agencies the last
three weeks include Senior Police Adviser Police Chief Superintendent Noel de
los Reyes, and GPH’s chair of the CCCH, Brig. Gen. Jose Gilberto Roa. Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, commanding general of the Philippine Army, and
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya will join the GPH panel on
Thursday.
On the other hand, Ferrer said, National Economic Development Authority
Region 12 Director Lourdes “Babes” Lim, the Department of Finance’s Bureau of
Tax Director, Trinidad “Ning” Rodriguez and Assistant Secretary of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Anselmo Abungan are ready to
continue collaboration on drafting a working text that will lay down the
parameters for short to long-term economic sustainability of the future
Bangsamoro.
“Given the development needs and fiscal realities in the region, achieving a
good measure of economic viability and fiscal autonomy for the long haul cannot
but happen in a gradual and phased manner. The Government is ready to give all
the support necessary to jumpstart the process,” Ferrer added.
She said the GPH Technical Working Group on Normalization looks forward to
coordinate with their counterparts.
The group is led by Deputy Director General of the National Security Council,
Zenonida “Zen” Brosas.
The other members are: Colonel Francisco Ariel Felisidario, representing
Senior Military Adviser of the GPH General Crescencio Ferrer; and alternate
members from the OPAPP, Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo and incoming Assistant
SecretaryJennifer “Apple” Oreta.
“Among Tausugs, there is a saying: “In maksud mahunit, makawa landu in
halga.” As translated by Usec Joe Lorena, “Ang bagay na kinuha ng mahirap,
marami ang makikinabang.” In English, from something achieved the hard way, many
will benefit,” Ferrer said.
“Let us not lose heart, forgetting the forest, as we walk through the trees,”
she added.
“In the same spirit of reciprocity, we anticipate the difficulties that the
MILF will have to face similar to other vibrant organizations that went through
a paradigm shift before,” she said.
Ferrer warned that “there will be recalcitrants inside: mga pasaway sa
organizational command at disiplina ng mga pinuno ng MILF. There will be
malcontents to the gradual and evolutionary approach that we have taken.”
“Outside, there will be one too many agitators,those who will invoke
religion, ethnicity, nationality, constitutionality and so on, NOT in the
sincere desire to contribute to peaceful, progressive and inclusive reform, but
to provoke violent dissent or to advance personal interests,” she said.
“All these humps and bumps, roadblocks, diversions, pitfalls we will be able
to overcome if we remain honest and committed to the partnership, a partnership
that is not only between the Government and the MILF, but for our peoples. May
our trust and friendship grow,glow…go forth and multiply by three dozens, from
today 12-12-12,” Ferrer concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=479394
