MILF: Big business threatens peace
MANILA, Philippines—Officials with big business interests in Mindanao could torpedo a peace agreement to end decades of Muslim separatist rebellion, the chief rebel peace negotiator said on Thursday.
Mohagher Iqbal, vice chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said there were people and groups espousing a “negative attitude” toward the Malaysian-brokered peace talks, which resumed under President Benigno Aquino III in February.
“But the real people or groups who can make and unmake this peace journey are those wielding power, authority and wealth—and most of them are in government,” Iqbal said. “In short, the most powerful and well-entrenched ‘spoilers,’ if I may use the word, are mostly in the government.”
He said they are the decision-makers whose vested interests in mining, plantations, logging, banking, trading and other large enterprises on the resource-rich Mindanao would be “radically affected or altered if there is a change in the status quo.”
Teresita Deles, the presidential adviser on the peace process, said “worrying about spoilers” is a “valid concern” for the rebels but everyone who has a stake in the settlement of the conflict should be given the benefit of the doubt that they are working for peace.
“The history of peace making in the world has shown that people giving up power and wealth on behalf of a higher goal is possible and has happened,” she told The Associated Press. “I do believe that people can rise above their personal or narrow interests.”
She added that a peace settlement would improve the climate for business development and make political decision-making easier for government officials.
Iqbal said the MILF’s peace proposal includes a 75-25 sharing of the resources of Mindanao which is rich in marine, forest, and mineral wealth.
The MILF last year dropped their demand for independence and said they were pushing for the creation of a “substate” similar to a federal state that will not wield power over foreign affairs, national defense, currency and postal services.
Iqbal said only about 30 percent of Mindanao and nearby islands would be included in the minority Muslim region.
Christian settlers have become the majority in the south following waves of migration after World War II.
Iqbal said the MILF had dropped the plan to seek secession after Malaysia threatened to stop facilitating the peace talks.
Iqbal said the MILF had planned to introduce an option to secede in its proposed agreement with the government, modelled on the peace deal in southern Sudan.
“The Malaysians twisted our arm into dropping that clause, threatening to abandon the peace talks,” Iqbal told members of the Makati Business Club during a dialogue in Manila.
“Clearly, we are not seeking an independent state, but something that the Moros can effectively govern themselves with little interference from the central government.” <strong><em>AP, Reuters</strong></em>
