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Thursday, September 07, 2006
Moro group not expecting much from peace talks
By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) does not hold high hopes from the peace process as they advised their members to be objective in their expectations on the ongoing negotiations with the government.
Ghazali Jaafar, MILF deputy chair for political affairs, told political and military cadres of the MILF Central Committee that over-expectation and underestimation of the process are both mistaken ideas.
Jaafar addressed the cadres in one of the series of seminars conducted by the MILF Central Committee four days ago.
Jaafar, a veteran of the MILF-led struggle for more than 33 years, is the former chair of the MILF Peace Panel before the all-out-war waged by Estrada in 2000.
Jaafar said, "Negotiation is a tricky undertaking that can create both high expectations and frustrations for people who are not experienced with this process."
Objective outlook
The correct attitude, he said, is to look at peace process objectively by determining its concrete gains or positive developments including correct reading of the other side's mind and attitude towards peace talks, especially how it abides by the terms and conditions of the agreements the parties signed.
Jaafar said it is bad to consider the peace process as useless because the government will always renege of its obligations.
But, he said it is more damaging to the MILF and in general the struggle of the Bangsamoro people when believed that there will be liberation soon.
Texts are reportedly circulating around Mindanao, which says that by September there will be peace because the MILF and government negotiators will sign a final agreement to solve the conflict.
Some unscrupulous individuals allegedly launched a rumor campaign asking people to come out and order military uniforms and secures identification cards as MILF members.
"You cannot get jobs or claim your wages as MILF workers the moment the MILF achieves their victory," these people tell the mostly innocent or unschooled sympathizers or supporters of the MILF.
With this, the MILF launched a counter-information campaign to correct this wrong impression that is misleading the people.
Misinformed civilians have reportedly ordered military uniforms in preparation for the "D Day."
13th exploratory talks
The 13th Exploratory Talks was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from September 4 and 5.
The MILF and government met last May 2 to 4, but failed to resolve outstanding issues on ancestral domain particularly on the subject of territory.
The two-day peace meeting in Kuala Lumpur has no specific agenda, according to a source, but more of an assessment, by both parties with the facilitation of the Malaysian government, why the peace process is not moving faster as expected.
Secretary Afable Jr. headed the government panel, while Mohagher Iqbal led the MILF delegation.
Other members of the government delegation are retired Lieutenant General Rodolfo Garcia, Professor Rudy Rodil, Governor Datu Pax Mangudadatu, and Sylvia Paraguya.
Iqbal on the other hand was accompanied by lawyers Lanang Ali, Michael Mastura, Musib Buat, with Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel Secretariat, and two others.
As of Wednesday, no update has been received on the gains of the recent exploratory talks.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 7, 2006 issue)
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