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Sunday, July 01, 2007
Moro rebels junk Arroyo’s amnesty offer
DAVAO CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front flatly rejected the amnesty offer being planned by the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to all "enemies of the State" before she steps down in 2010.
But even before all those considered as “enemies of the state” could react, Malacañang admitted Saturday, a day after making the announcement, its amnesty program for rebels is still sorely lacking at this time.
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Calling the amnesty plan as a "recycled policy statement," Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF committee on information, said though the government might have the best intention but to the "principled and ideologue" the idea is not acceptable.
Musa said like any genuine revolutionaries of various persuasions the MILF never consider what they are doing as something that is wrong that ought to be given amnesty.
He added that pardoning members of the MILF is not a solution to the problem in Mindanao but would instead be prolonging the process by addressing the personal aspect of it rather than the “main issue”.
"This is a recycled policy from Marcos that never succeeded to heal the problem in Mindanao," Musa said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Friday that “somewhere towards the end there will be amnesty, but there's no instruction yet from the President.”
"In due time the amnesty proclamation will be considered by the President," Ermita said during a joint press conference with the European Union (EU) ambassador and delegates from the European Commission.
He said a general amnesty was “a major part of the peace process ... because after all what is the peace process but silencing the guns and having reconciliation among protagonists?”
Ermita it will only be "a matter of time" before the President adopts an amnesty program.
He, however, said amnesty will be granted once stalled peace negotiations with Moro Islamic Liberation Front and National Democratic Front resume.
The amnesty, Ermita said, would only not cover the NPA and the MILF but also the political leaders such as newly elected senators Gregorio Honasan and Antonio Trillanes IV.
On the other hand, Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol said in its present form, the amnesty program may not be effective in dealing with the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
“We will review again the effectiveness of amnesty to the NPA. They were given amnesty before but they did not take advantage of that,” Apostol said.
He hinted “alternative” mechanisms to grant amnesty to the NPA and leftist groups but did not elaborate.
Apostol said the government’s amnesty program will definitely exclude the Abu Sayyaf, which the government considers a terrorist group.
“That’s impossible, no way. There is no sense granting them amnesty when they are using violent means to meet their struggle,” he said.
On the other hand, Apostol said they expect to start implementing the amnesty program “within the next few months” while they iron out the details.
Apostol said the review will likely focus on dealing with the NPA and leftist groups, noting that the communists had always argued that it is not covered because it never applied for amnesty.
“There is really a need for review on this matter. We are studying alternatives,” he said. (Ben O. Tesiorna of Sun.Star Davao/JMR/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (July 01, 2007 issue)
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