|
Sunday, September 17, 2006
MILF, international group urged to be optimistic of talks
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Government peace negotiator Silvestre Afable Jr. appealed to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the international community to keep their hopes high on the ongoing peace negotiations.
Afable denied the statement of the MILF posted on their website, www.luwaran.com, saying the "Philippine government is treating the present peace negotiations as a counterinsurgency strategy rather than a search for basic political solutions to the Bangsamoro problem".
"We have presented constitutional options on the negotiating table consistent with socio-demographic realities and equitable development that will ensure just and durable peace. This is pragmatic peace building in the 21st century and not the outmoded counterinsurgency model of the cold war," Afable said in a statement.
"We have supported concrete proposals for MILF leadership development, the preservation of the Islamic heritage, firm control of resources, and economic independence within the ancestral domain all these are on the record," he added.
Afable said the MILF is however demanding for an "extra-constitutional solution to the issue of territory" which, he said, is not possible to negotiate under the present terms of reference of the government peace panel.
"Discussions of a constitutional nature can be done with the framers once the opportunity presents itself in the future," Afable said.
During the 13th exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur last September 6, the government peace panel was offering the MILF areas other than the present jurisdiction of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) subject to the passing of a favorable legislation by Congress.
The MILF flatly rejected the offer, saying it cannot accept something, which is conditional. The MILF preferred a "package offer" saying making it constitutional is an internal matter to the government, which the MILF is not a party thus, the standoff.
Afable, however, assured the public that the "GRP Panel will continue to propose options for consideration until a meeting of minds can be reconnected after this impasse".
He also appealed to Malaysia, Brunei and Libya to keep the International Monitoring Team in place as an "expression of faith in the peace we all yearn for".
Datuk Othman bin Abdu Razak, the Malaysian facilitator, earlier said, "there is no point continuing the talks if the government peace panel has no mandate to commit" especially on the strand on territory of ancestral domain.
Malaysian authorities reportedly threatened to pull out the International Monitoring Team in Mindanao if the talks cannot move forward.
Afable also called on the international community including the World Bank, The European Union, Japan, Sweden, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States to work side by side with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) "to keep hope burning in the hearts of the people".
"All stakeholders for peace must stand guard against those who may exploit the situation to foment conflict. I ask the Bangsamoro and all our people to remain steadfast in our common dream," Afable said.
(September 17, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Cebu's nurses join CA lawsuit