Government peace panel chairman Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said the creation of the task force is part of government and MILF efforts to hasten the return to civilian life of MILF combatants. File photo
The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have signed an agreement creating a task force for decommissioned combatants and their communities.
Government peace panel chairman Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said the creation of the task force is part of government and MILF efforts to hasten the return to civilian life of MILF combatants.
Ferrer said the new task force is mandated to “undertake all efforts related to socio-economic and development programs” and “assist the panels identify and implement socio-economic priorities and development projects” for decommissioned MILF combatants and their communities.
She said the agreement is in line with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) as well as by the terms of reference of the joint normalization committee.
Under the CAB, MILF forces would undertake a gradual decommissioning program wherein their weapons would be put beyond use and combatants return to normal, productive civilian lives.
The decommissioning process should be commensurate to the process of instituting the Bangsamoro government, addressing other security concerns such as private armed groups and transforming MILF camps acknowledged by the government in 1998 into productive, civilian communities.
The government and MILF panels also agreed to renew the mandate of the civilian protection component (CPC) of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) as well as the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) for two years and nine months, respectively.
The IMT is mandated to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF.
The CPC monitors, verifies and reports non-compliance of the two parties to their basic undertaking to protect civilians and communities.
The AHJAG functions as a coordinating body prior to the conduct of law enforcement operations by government forces.
“So much work remains to be done to build peace on the ground. We cannot afford to lose more time and resources before the peace dividends are felt in the communities,” Ferrer said.
The new task force will also undertake special socio-economic and development programs for the decommissioned women auxiliary forces of the MILF.
It will coordinate with government agencies, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders in monitoring and supporting the transition of the decommissioned combatants and programs for their communities, the internally displaced and other vulnerable sectors.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/03/1461658/government-milf-create-decommissioning-task-force
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.