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Monday, July 24, 2006
Gov't says Japan will meddle in Mindanao peace process
MALACAÑANG on Sunday said Japan is joining the International Monitoring Team (IMT) that is overseeing the peace negotiation between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
This was among the decisions reached during a meeting in Malacañang between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the Japanese Government wants to "engage more actively" in the Mindanao peace process by sending an official who will play a "leading role in the economic and social development area."
Bunye, who is also the Presidential spokesman, said the official, who does not have a military background, will be backed up by a team composed of officials from the Japanese Embassy, Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), and other Japanese agencies.
"The membership for the very first time of a non-OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) country in the IMT is very significant. We believe this will lend further impetus to the peace process," he said.
"The President was very elated by these decisions and they are all the more significant because they came on the anniversary of the 50th year of our relationship with Japan," he added.
Bunye said the Japanese Government also agreed to provide disaster relief and management assistance in terms of capability building and announced the grant of a US$3.5 million capability-building fund.
Presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said the capacity building fund will finance programs of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Bangsamoro Development Agency. He said it was just the initial amount.
Dureza welcomed Japan's inclusion in the IMT, saying there were already prior consultations done with the MILF and IMT members Malaysia, Brunei and Libya.
The press secretary said Japan's participation was due to a joint request between the Philippine Government and the MILF. He said it will serve as an "inducement for the early finalization of peace agreement."
He said the Japanese team would be arriving "very soon", considering that the peace process is in its final stages. He said Japan would be able to help in "a big way" in terms of social and economic developments because it has projects and programs lined up in conflict-affected areas.
"Its a universal desire to have peace and stability in the region, Mindanao being a big part of the Philippines and the Philippines being a major player in the region. (It) will definitely be advantageous to everybody to have a stable peace and order in Mindanao," he said. (JMR/Sunnex)
(July 24, 2006 issue)
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