Peace panel hails transition group

THE creation of a transition commission for the establishment of a provisional government for a new political entity is considered a “modest” breakthrough in the recently concluded peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Malaysia on Wednesday.

In a statement, Maulana Alonto, member of the MILF peace panel, said the commission will serve as preparation for transition authority that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) in addressing grievances and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people and other indigenous people in Mindanao.

The panel is optimistic to achieve a peace settlement of the armed conflict before the year ends during the conclusion of the 29th exploratory peace talks on Wednesday.

In a joint statement issued by the GPH and MILF, “both panels expressed confidence in achieving a realization of a new political entity as contained in the April 2012 GPH-MILF Decision Points on Principles.”

Alonto said power sharing and the issues and concerns of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Moro political detainees were discussed by both panels and agreed to meet again before July ends.

Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF negotiating panel, described the recent concluded talk as tough and “exhaustive.”

Also present during the peace talk were members of the International Contact Group (ICG) from the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, Turkey and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), The Asia Foundation, Conciliation Resources (CR) and Muhammadiyah. (Abigail Chee Kee Malalis)