MILF consultant seeks clarification of gov’t counter-offer to ‘substate’
DAVAO City, Philippines—A consultant to the negotiating panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said Tuesday the government should define the scope of its peace proposal.
Lawyer Raiza Jajurie noted that the government proposal, which she said was basically an enhanced autonomy through a reformed Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, did not even define a permanent political setup.
“It would seem that the government uses ARMM as the starting point but it is not clear what it is offering as a longer-term political arrangement,” Jajurie told the Inquirer by phone.
“This leaves me wondering if there is any intent to move further from autonomy,” she added.
Jajurie said that even at this time, it is important to know what schemes the government was contemplating and when these would be implemented.
Government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen said what was important for now was that there was common ground to resolve the long-running Bangsamoro problem.
In his opening statement at the Kuala Lumpur talks on Monday, Leonen said “both (sides) were eager to see the benefits of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace within the next few years.”
“The common objective is to find some fundamental and workable agreement that can pave the way to meeting the just aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. This will not only augur well for conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, but will reverberate to the entire country,” Leonen said.
Leonen said it was expected that the MILF would seek clarification of the government’s proposal but that would be discussed when the panels meet again.
He said the government’s proposal contained three major components: a political settlement or a peace accord with the MILF, massive economic development in Mindanao, and cultural-historical acknowledgement.
Meanwhile, the 28 Boholanos who set out Sunday from Zamboanga City on a 452-kilometer run to Cotabato City, continued to rally Mindanaoans to support the peace process.
On Monday, they entered the town of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay, where they were “warmly welcomed by people in every place we passed or make a stopover in,” said Augusto Miclat Jr., director of the International Initiatives for Dialogue (IID).
The Boholnos, who call themselves Bisdak or Bisayang Dako Alang sa Kalinaw, were expected to reach Cotabato City next week.
“The violence and war in Mindanao are also being felt by our neighbors in Visayas,” said Judito Cabusao, IID program director.
“I am deeply touched by the way our Visayan neighbors felt for us; we are very happy and it only shows that like them, we only have one dream and that is lasting peace for everyone,” Jayo Senturias, principal of Lower Tungawan Elementary School, said.
Retired Master Sergeant Ronilo Oson, who hails from Tagbilaran City, said he joined the run because he wanted to send out the message that nobody wins in a war.
