Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Arroyo asks Sweden, UK to mediate in peace talks with MILF
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seeking the help of Sweden and the United Kingdom in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in a bid to fast-track the negotiations.
Arroyo, during Tuesday’s informal media interaction at the Well Being Spa here, said the Brunei government is also offering scholarship for MILF members and their families to enable them to “learn to moderate Islam.”
She cited the experiences of Sweden and the UK in peace negotiations particularly of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who played a big part in their talks with Northern Ireland and the Swedish government in the handling of the “disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation (DDR)” aspect of a talk.
“Actually Blair is willing to come to help us because he (played) a very strong part in the negotiations of Northern Ireland, although Sweden is helping us on the DDR side,” she said.
Sweden in 2005 came up with the initiative on DDR which aims to “contribute to a secure and stable environment in which an overall peace process and transition can be sustained.”
The President said an invitation to Blair, whom she personally met during her visit to London in December 2007, still has to be extended to enable him to come to the country.
There had been a lull in the talks between the Philippine government and the MILF since the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on August 4 halting the planned signing of memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD).
Because of the TRO, MILF rebels had launched attacks in the provinces of North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Saranggani including burning of houses and buildings, kidnapping, and murder.
According to Arroyo, these atrocities lead to a change in the basic premise of the peace efforts where the government would now focus the talks “from armed groups to the community” through public consultations.
She said the government in cooperation with civil society groups like the Bishops Ulama Conference (BUC) would hold public consultations to get the sentiments of different stakeholders especially those that would be directly affected by future peace agreements.
She stressed that the MILF should have the similar dialogues.
On suggestions to consider lawmakers as advisors to the peace talks, deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said “any help to achieve peace is always welcomed.”
The President also clarified that she is not setting the disarmament of MILF members as a precondition to the peace talks, but she wants the two panels to start tackling the DDR particularly the disarmament aspect when the negotiation resumes instead of discussing it in the end part of the talks.
“It’s not a precondition, but part of the outcome of the talks. Part of the comprehensive agreement,” she said.
Arroyo also said that the surrender of MILF commanders Ameril Umbra Kato alias Kato and Abdullah Saber Macapaar alias Bravo is also not a condition but it is a sign of good faith if they would do so.
She said it is the duty of the law enforcers to pursue the two rebel leaders after engaging in criminal acts. She stressed that these MILF commanders are historically recalcitrant that have caused trouble before and during the peace talks and likely to continue causing problem in case a final peace agreement is signed between the government and the MILF.
Meanwhile, a prelate said BUC members should not be allowed to participate in the discussions on the MOA-AD due to their association with the government.
“There is this perception that the BUC is partisan. The one who should lead in the debates should not be associated with an institution whose credibility is bankrupt,” said Fr. Eliseo Mercado, lead convenor of the National Peace Council.
“Everybody knows and even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) knows that the BUC is funded, supported and being treated in fine restaurants by the government or the Office of the President on the Peace Process (Opapp),” he added.
According to Mercado, there is really a need for a non-partisan group to lead in the discussions.
He suggested that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Protestants, and the Ulamas be tapped for such an endeavor. (JMR/MSN/Sunnex)
