Peace talks moving forward, say PH gov’t, MILF negotiators

DAVAO CITY — “We have moved forward.”

This was the common declaration of both chief negotiators of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after a three-day full-panel meeting in Kuala Lumpur last week.

“I agree with my (MILF) counterpart that we have moved forward,” Marvic Leonen, chief government negotiator in talks with the MILF, was quoted in a news release of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

“The exchange between the two parties… has been frank, cordial and very professional,” Leonen added.

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF peace panel chair, in a statement noted that “the talks have moved forward” although he acknowledged that there is still a long way to go.

“(The) hard and prolonged discussions… are just a tip of the iceberg,” he said.

As the three-day talks in Kuala Lumpur wind up, the parties announced that from Dec. 5 to 7, they continued “discussions on the substantive points for purposes of crafting a framework agreement.”

The parties resumed talks after a three-month hiatus arising from perceived gaps between their respective formulations of a political settlement.

The OPAPP release also quoted Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed as saying that with the recent developments in the talks, he has been “see(ing) some light (and) progress towards achieving real and lasting peace.”

“It is only the unwillingness or insincerity of either of the two parties to solve these problems that can deter them from succeeding,” Iqbal said during the opening rites.

He noted that the issues in the negotiations have been put on the table, hence, hastening the process of crafting a political settlement.

“Nothing is hidden anymore from both sides,” said Iqbal.

The joint communiqué of the parties issued Dec. 7 at the end of recent formal talks was unusually short.

The communiqué said the next talks have been scheduled for January 2012 “for the continuation of discussions on the substantive issues” of the peace negotiations.

This schedule cuts short by a month the distance between each meeting and those involved say this signals that the negotiation for an agreeable peace formula is picking up speed.

The government panel earlier expressed its preference to have the negotiations concluded by the first quarter of of 2012, or about a year after the administration of President Aquino began peace talks with the MILF.

The short communiqué also shows that the panels have been mainly focused on crafting a formula for political settlement and not so much on side issues unlike in the past.

At least two of the four previous meetings of the panels have spent considerable time discussing the breaking away of MILF field commander Ameril Umra Kato.

Iqbal reiterated that the MILF “has no option to secede by agreeing to settle for real self-governance in the Bangsamoro state, which is still within the larger Philippine state.”

“…Government must put real premium to this by seriously putting forward a proposal that truly plays justice to this goodwill and sacrifice of the MILF,” Iqbal stressed.

“It is time the government stop thinking of solving the conflict in Mindanao by attempting to integrate the Moros into the national body politic,” Iqbal said.

“The Moro aspiration for a separate identity and territorial autonomy are as strong as ever. This will not die down; it will consolidate and harden as years pile up,” he added.

The MILF has stood by its earlier stance that granting greater powers to the Bangsamoro people through political autonomy is “a formula of peace and unity in this country.”

“We have laid our cards on the table,” said Leonen.

“We agree with the MILF that any partnership should be sought at the soonest possible time to real autonomy,” Leonen pointed out.

He added that government’s proposed peace formula with the MILF is “inspired by the Islamic virtue of Amanah qilafah or trust, stewardship and accountability.”