No injustice to non-Moros in proposed new autonomous setup—MILF

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front pledges that the Bangsamoro self-governance setup it seeks to be established in Mindanao will not be unjust to non-Moros.

“A just undertaking, pursuing legitimate and civilized methods will always result in just outcome,” MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told civil society leaders during a recent dialogue here.

Based on its draft peace agreement, the MILF is seeking to create a Bangsamoro sub-state within the context of the Philippine republic.

Its core territorial expanse will be that of the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao plus six Lanao del Norte towns whose voters opted to be part of the autonomous region in 1989. Also, adjacent barangays (villages) with predominantly Moro populations are included, subject to the residents’ consent as expressed in a plebiscite for that purpose.

“(The sub-state) is a proposal to solve a historic injustice committed against our people which, as a matter of principle and assurance, will not result in committing another injustice to others,” said Iqbal.

Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, MILF peace panel member, pointed to several provisions in their draft agreement that enshrine the rights of non-Moros who find themselves in the Bangsamoro sub-state.

For instance, the indigenous peoples “should enjoy special rights against discriminatory standards,” said Lingga.

The MILF’s draft also specifies that “eligibility for public office, public service and enjoyment of all rights and duties shall be based on citizenship and not on religion, beliefs or customs.”

Personal and family relations will be governed by the respective laws, religious customs and traditions of persons concerned, according to the MILF proposal.

Lingga said that all religious entities are guaranteed rights to own property and maintain institutions and assets intended for worship, education or charity.

“And I would like to allay fears about the Bangsamoro government possessing confiscatory powers over properties. Rather, we would like to assure you that it will recognize and respect vested property rights,” Lingga said.

When it started negotiating with government for recognition of a Bangsamoro ancestral domain in 2004, the MILF agreed to drop its bid for independence.

Iqbal noted that the group has also dropped from its demands the inclusion of “an option to secede.”

“It is very much doable if this administration has the political will to make it happen,” Iqbal said.

Iqbal added that the MILF draft is “dynamic and living, not closed to better ideas or views.”

“If you find any provision thereof that is harmful to your legitimate interests, please tell us so we can make the necessary actions,” Iqbal said.

He said he hoped the government’s formula for resolving the Bangsamoro question will be “closer enough” to their proposal to reflect its sincerity in addressing substantive issues of the conflict.

During the April exploratory talks, the government committed to formulate its version of a political settlement in time for the panels’ meeting on June 27-28.

Last Monday’s dialogue with civil society was the 14th held by the MILF since March. The government panel also held its 31st consultation last week in Tawi-tawi.

In Iligan City, chancellor Sukarno Tanggol of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) expressed hope that such dialogues will spell success for the Mindanao peace process.

“Past processes were approximate failures. These start with high hopes, towards the end, we see frustration or despair,” Tanggol said.

“Whether real or not, we hope that lack of consultation will not be a hindrance for making peace,” he added, referring to the Supreme Court decision declaring an earlier Memorandum of Understanding on Ancestral Domain as unconstitutional.

With the people now better informed, Tanggol said he expected that “passion, ignorance will not cloud our decision” on how to go about the peace process.