MILF still evaluating gov’t counter-proposal

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines –iThe leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is assessing the government’s offer of enhanced autonomy in what is currently the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and expects to arrive at a consensus “as soon as possible,” MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim said Friday.

At the same time, Ebrahim assured the public that the peace talks were still on and would continue even if the government’s counter-proposal to their demand for a Moro “sub-state” fell short of what the rebels envisioned short of secession.

In a statement posted on the rebel group’s website, Ebrahim said the MILF central committee met early this week to discuss the government proposal but has not yet arrived at a consensus.

“The MILF will make a consensus and collective decision on this as soon as possible,” he said.

Ebrahim said that while the MILF was not happy with the government’s proposal, “the negotiation is still on.”

“There is no declaration by either party that the talks had already collapsed and it will continue,” he said.

Ebrahim restated the MILF position that no agreement would be signed with the Aquino government unless the issue of self-governance and the right to self-determination were addressed.

But even then “there must be a continuity of the [peace] process because the negotiation is between the MILF and the government and not between personalities or particular administration. We are negotiating with the government of the Philippines,” he added.

Teresita Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, said Ebrahim’s statement on the continuity of the talks was a positive sign the rebel group was not backing away from the negotiating table.

“We are relying on the fact that he had said the talks had not been terminated,” Deles said by phone.