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Saturday, May 10, 2003
MILF says Arroyo to blame for Dureza exit
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
THE head of the government peace panel resigned Friday, citing fading prospects for peace with the country's top Moro separatist group.
This came with apprehensions from several business communities saying the road to peace and development "just got longer" Friday with chief negotiator Jesus Dureza throwing in the towel.
Dureza also the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao described the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as "floundering."
He said the government needed someone who could devote more time to the job of chairman.
"Problema gyud ang atong peace negotiations sa MILF mao kinahanglan ug naay tao nga mag-atubang niini full time," he said. (Our peace talks with the MILF is now a problem we need some one who will handle this full time.)
President Arroyo on Tuesday called off a series of preliminary talks with the MILF originally set to start this week in Kuala Lumpur after the guerillas attacked Siocon town in western Mindanao, leaving 28 people dead.
The MILF has also been blamed for other deadly bombings and raids of civilian targets since March and many of their leaders have been charged with the crimes.
Final trigger
Dureza told Sun.Star there are indeed several factions of the MILF who are "giving us a major headache."
He complained that this "headache" is too much for him to handle being chief negotiatior and at the same time chairman of the Mindanao Economic and Development Council (Medco).
In an ABS-CBN interview, Dureza said the MILF was on "war mode" and hinted that some factions of the MILF were getting stronger in pushing for more violence.
In that same interview this PA said the MILF leadership "does not have the real command and control system" to restrain the forces on the ground.
"Siocon was the final trigger," which prompted Manila to call off further efforts to reopen the talks, said Dureza.
Two MILF top officers were mixed in their reactions over the resignation of Dureza.
Eid Kabalu said Dureza's move to quit is a welcome development for the MILF.
"Galit na galit kami sa kanya, kang (Defense Secretary Angelo) Reyes at (6th Infantry Division commanding General Heneroso) Senga...yes, talagang wala na siyang mukha na iharap sa amin (We are very angry at him, Reyes and Senga...yes, he has lost face with us)," he said.
Floundering
But former chief negotiator for the MILF panel and now vice-chairman for political affairs Atty. Ghadzali Jaafar told Sun.Star that he was shocked and saddened by Dureza throwing down the towel.
He said this as he recounted how it was Dureza who encourages the MILF peace panel to never give up on the peace talks.
"Nanghihinayang ako na nag-resign siya kasi naniniwala ako na si Dureza is a man of peace," he said. (I regret him resigning on his post as for me Dureza is a man of peace.)
"Palagi kami nag-uusap lalo na pag-meron kaming problema sa MILF sinasabihan niya kami na 'wag susuko kasi pagsusuko kami tuloy-tuloy na mawawalan ng pag-asa na ma-attain ang isang peaceful solution ang problema sa Mindanao," he said. (We always talk to each other especially if we have problems in the MILF he tells us not to give up as if we do the pursuit of a peaceful solution to the problems of Mindanao will never be attained.)
Jaafar said this as he doesn't share Dureza's opinion that the peace talks is "floundering."
Jaafar said they are only waiting for the government to make the first step as they were the ones who violated the ceasefire agreement by taking the offensive in Pikit, Cotabato.
Due process
Kabalu vehemently denied any truth on Dureza's statement that MILF top officers don't exactly have any hold on their men particularly those on the field.
"As we have said before we have given our field commanders autonomy," he explained.
Kabalu said Dureza's resignation doesn't matter much to the peace negotiations as "it is the Philippine government we are talking to not Dureza."
He alleged that the former government chief negotiator "sabotaged" the exploratory talks with them and the government in Malaysia last March 28 and 29.
This by adding and changing some terms in the agreements which were made to be the basis for the next talks.
Kabalu cited how Dureza "twisted" several major issues inked in Malaysia by both panels by adding words and changing some termininologies.
"He placed 'best efforts' to the provision that military will immediately pull-out from Buliok complex...laki nga (its a huge) difference," he said.
He added that Dureza also added some words on "recall of warrant of arrests" with "up to due process."
Lack of urgency
Kabalu said it was made clear that the warrants of arrests were to be withdrawn immediately and unconditionally.
He said they cried foul to this as it appeared that Dureza's 'modifications' were permitted by all parties considering that the agreement was already signed by the Malaysian government and the MILF representatives.
But Jaafar said he is not personally blaming this on Dureza as he believes the latter was "influenced" by President Arroyo.
He said this as he insinuated that there were also "close friends" of Arroyo who went with Dureza during that exploratory talks.
"I don't blame PA (Dureza) for the changing of notes. It was Arroyo who is behind it being the president who did it. Anyway we are leaving that to the hands of the Malaysian government who is currently investigating it," he said.
Those who were with Dureza in Malaysia were special concerns adviser Norberto Gonzales and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman.
MILF sources said Arroyo and Reyes's demands were in Dureza's assessment "too much", further compelling him to move out of the panel.
They said Dureza considered the talks "futile" with the impositions made by the President and the defense secretary.
Meanwhile, a businessman who requested anonymity took exception to how Arroyo said in national interviews that she is not in a hurry to chose Dureza's successor as the second peace talks have been cancelled.
"The lack of urgency in Arroyo to chose a new chief negotiator might mean peace talks will be shelved for a longer period," his text message to Sun.Star reads.
The MILF sources said they don't have any hold in who the government will choose to replace Dureza. They didn't also reveal who they would have favored to do so.
(May 10, 2003 issue)
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