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Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Ermita in US to relay peace effort developments
By She Caguimbal-Torres and Annica Marin
PRESIDENT Arroyo sent presidential adviser on the peace process Eduardo Ermita to the United States to immediately report on the latest development in the peace efforts with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Ermita left Sunday night or hours after receiving a written statement signed by MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim stating the group's renouncement of terrorism and denying of any involvement in the terrorist attacks in Mindanao. He is expected to return on the 1st week of July.
"He went to the US upon instructions of the President to brief the US Institute (of Peace). It's a body there that is closely monitoring the status of the peace talks (with the MILF)," said Ignacio Bunye, presidential spokesman.
Bunye said the trip was necessary especially after US President W. Bush himself had expressed keen interest in promoting peace in Mindanao and even volunteered to act as intermediary to immediately restart the formal negotiations.
The US also pledged to assist development in Mindanao through financing and developmental programs if the MILF would finally sign an agreement with the Philippine government.
Bunye clarified that Ermita, chairman of the government panel negotiating with the MILF, is in the US to brief and update American authorities on the developments in Mindanao and the MILF and not to get instructions stressing that "We don't take orders from them (US)".
When asked why the government opted to send someone to the US instead of merely briefing US ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone who could relay the information to his superiors, he said it was a judgment call.
"Secretary Ermita, being head of the peace process, feels that it is necessary that the trip be made and there was a specific instruction from the President. It's just a matter of really letting them hear what is the correct picture, see the correct picture," he added.
Bunye said Malaysia would still be the lead third party facilitator in the talks with the MILF and "the US, if ever will just play a supplemental or complementary role and focus more on the development aspects".
He said the talks, once it resumes, is likely to be held in Kuala Lumpur and the two panel would be headed by Ermita and, if the government would have its way, by the MILF chairman. Presidential Adviser on strategic concerns Renato De Villa said Monday night that they see no "legal" problems in allowing Hashim to join the panel despite the warrant of arrest issued against him.
He said though the government had already received word, through presidential adviser on special concerns Norberto Gonzales, that Hashim has agreed to head the MILF panel "we (still) need something formal similar to what Chairman Salamat did when he actually signed under authority of the central committee the renunciation of terrorism and the renunciation of ties with terrorist organizations."
Bunye added that the government has yet to decide on when to declare a ceasefire and determine if the situation in the battlefield already warrants such a declaration.
President Arroyo in a statement said she acknowledges the clamor for a ceasefire particularly from those affected by conflicts but she must also take note of "the cry for justice among the victims of terrorism".
"It is the job of government to keep an even keel and balance out these imperatives. The government is preparing a blueprint for stabilizing the situation on the ground, effecting the speedy return of evacuees to their homes and fast-tracking the peace negotiations. I shall take my options pragmatically as I meet them, with the overall national interest in mind," she said.
Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon Tuesday said the US government can now make good its promise to provide diplomatic and economic assistance as earlier stated by President George Bush.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel said the peace process between the Moro rebels and the government will move at a faster pace if the US will come in as a peace broker or mediator.
Drilon recalled that during President Arroyo's state visit to the United States, President Bush promised that the US government was willing to help in the resumption of the peace talks with the MILF and the development of Mindanao.
"The Philippine government may now call on the pledge of President Bush, that the US government is willing to provide diplomatic and economic assistance to Mindanao provided that the MILF renounce terrorism as an instrument of achieving its goals," Drilon said.
He added that the government should take advantage of the declaration of Salamat and pave the way for the peace process as well as the economic development in Mindanao.
Senator Pimentel also said that the US, given its track record in mediating armed conflicts in various parts of the world and its enormous resources as the only remaining superpower, is in the best position to help the government and the MILF in hammering out a final peace agreement.
He added that US participation in the search for peace in Mindanao is consistent with its policy and commitment to safeguard democracy and promote peace and security anywhere in the world.
"Maybe in the previous years, the brokers for peace merely used firewood. It is time that we shifted to electricity and use electric shock, as it were, to jolt the parties into agreeing that this time around, we must establish just and lasting peace in Mindanao," Pimentel said.
In earlier reports, Salamat denied the MILF is connected with any international terrorist group like the Jemaah Islamiyah.
(June 25, 2003 issue)
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