MILF focuses on peace process than to oppose or favor increase US forces in PHL

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25): MILF focuses on peace process than to oppose or favor increase US forces in PHL

Officials of Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF)are not affected by the plans of Manila and the United States to increase American forces in the country as it has something to make itself busy with - the Mindanao peace process.

Asked for comments about impending additional US forces in the country as territorial dispute with China remains a contentious issue Philippines is facing, Ghadzali Jaafar, speaking for the MILF as political affairs chief, said the GPH-MILF peace process in southern Philippines is taking a different path and objectives with that of the US and Philippine governments.

"Our concern is more of the peace process, its gains and its future," Jaafar said in a national radio interview."We would rather have a hands-off policy in the issue of the GPH-US talks in increase military presence in the country."

The panels of chief government negotiator Prof. Miriam Ferrer-Coronel and her counterpart in the MILF, Mohaqher Iqbal, are currently in Malaysia trying to finish the annex on power sharing of the soon to be established Bangsamoro government. A framework agreement had been signed in last October, three months after Philippine President Aquino met personally with MILF chieftain Al Haj Murad in Japan.

The new autonomous political entity will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which both Malacanang and the MILF described as "failed experiment."

Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman of ARMM on Friday reiterated his support to the peace initiatives of the Aquino administration and expressed willingness to step aside to pave the way for the new political unit in Mindanao.

"ARMM leaders are moving forward to fulfill our mandate, as elected officials, while supporting the ongoing peace talks between the government and the MILF,” Hataman said, adding that officials elected in May 2013 polls were in agreement they will all step down to welcome the new political entity that will replace ARMM.

According to Hataman said regional officials from appointed cabinet secretaries to the elected regional assemblymen are as ready to step down peacefully.

"ARMM has always put enough premiums to the peace process. In fact, we made `peace and security’ as one of our pillars in pursuing much-needed reforms in the regional bureaucracy," Hataman told reporters.

ARMM is composed of the Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

But while all are supportive of the peace process, the GPH and MILF are dealing with three major threat groups - the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the Jemaah Islamiyah-linked local terrorists and Nur Misuari, chair of a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front, who declared independence of Mindanao recently.

But Coronel and Iqbal were as optimistic of the success of the talks. Both said a well-entrenched political autonomy for Muslims in southern Philippines will erase efforts to derail the attainment of peace in Mindanao.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=558516