Monday, June 11, 2007 MILF satisfied with peace forum By Ben O. Tesiorna
A Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) spokesman expressed satisfaction with the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team-sponsored peace forum held Saturday in Cotabato City saying it was successful and productive.
Though he was not present, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said feedbacks he received from his comrades say the affair was a success.
The peace forum was held at the Pacific Heights Hotel with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) particularly below middle level ground commanders, who are young, assertive and largely unaware of the nuances of the peace process and the ceasefire in attendance.
The young officers were invited to deepen their understanding of the two issues.
The MILF on the other hand sent members of its ceasefire committee and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) most of whom are also military commanders.
Observers from the international community particularly the European Union, Japan, the United States, Malaysia, and Canada were also invited to observe the forum.
Resource speakers were Father Bert Layson, Ustadz Abdulkadir Abdullah, lawyer Abdul Dataya, Brig. Gen. Edgardo Gurrea, and government chief negotiator Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr.
Layson and Abdullah spoke on the religious perspectives of the peace process of Christianity and Islam, respectively.
Dataya and Gurrea discussed the role of AHJAG and ceasefire, respectively.
