Lawmaker optimistic on MNLF-MILF talks

From Business World (Jun 13): Lawmaker optimistic on MNLF-MILF talks

A lawmaker is confident that the dialogue between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) will yield positive results for the advancement of the peace process in Mindanao.

Sulu Representative Tupay T. Loong (1st District), in a telephone interview with BusinessWorld, expressed hope for peace between the two separatist groups so that the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) is a lasting one.

“We are hoping that the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) will use their influence so that there will be reconciliation between the MILF and the MNLF,” said Mr. Loong, who is also chairman of the House Committee on Muslim Affairs.

The dialogue, initiated by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is set to take place Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

The groups will be represented by MNLF Secretary General for Foreign Affairs Abdulbaki Abubakr and MILF Chief Peace Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

Meanwhile, MNLF Spokesperson Emmanual Fontanilla said the group is willing to go through with the dialogue but will push for independence of all of Mindanao.

“We are not averse to the idea of a unity talk. However, we insist that the subject will be about the independence [of Mindanao] through peaceful means, under the auspices of the United Nations, through right of self-determination,” Mr. Fontanilla said in a text message.

MILF Political Affairs Vice-Chairman Ghazali Jaafar, however, was mum about what definitive and concrete results may come from the brokered dialogue, but he clarified that the MILF still hopes to work with the MNLF.

“We really don’t know what will happen. Ang mahalaga is for our representatives na maipaliwanag yung position ng MILF (What’s important is that our representatives can explain the MILF’s position). Yes, we are expecting that we could work with them [MNLF],” Mr. Jafaar said through telephone.

The Philippine government made some headway in the peace process when it signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) with the MILF on March 17.

However, Congress has not yet passed the law needed to formalize the creation of a new political entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Lawmaker-optimistic-on-MNLF-MILF-talks&id=89146