|
Monday, January 14, 2008
Security adviser upbeat on peace talks with MILF
DAVAO CITY -- National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said the government's peace negotiation with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is still moving.
The military, on the other hand, remains optimistic on the peace negotiations, which hit a snag last month on the issue of ancestral domain.
Sun.Star Network Online's coverage of the Sinulog 2008 Festival
In an interview in Davao City Saturday, Gonzales said they are now holding back channel talks with the MILF to thresh out the current impasse in the RP-MILF peace talks.
He said that for the talks to prosper, the two panels must agree that everything muse be done "within the Constitution."
"If what they're asking is outside the Constitution, then we cannot give it to them," Gonzales said.
Consultation
He said in as much as it wanted to finally ink an agreement with the MILF before 2010, the government, however, could not accommodate demands that would mean sacrificing the integrity of the Constitution.
"Halimbawa, gusto ng MILF isali ang Sultan Kudarat sa area nila but we have first to consult the people if they wanted that. That is what the Constitution mandates," Gonzales said.
Despite the impasse, Gonzales said the "attitude of wanting to agree" between the two panels is still high and he is not over the present state of the talks.
"Di pa tapos ang usapan, yan ang status ng peace talks ngayon," Gonzales said.
On some government officials warning of possible renewal of armed offensives by the government against the MILF if the impasse continues, Gonzales said the "bias of both the government and the MILF is towards peace and not war."
"I don't think that war, as an option, is being discussed at all," he said.
Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., for his part, noted that there were less skirmishes between government and MILF forces last year.
The MILF's bailiwick is Central Mindanao but it has forces in Basilan.
"For the MILF, we have seen for the year 2007 less atrocities...In fact what has prevailed is an environment of cooperation and willingness to develop more areas especially in the conflict affected areas," said Esperon.
The Arroyo administration pursued the peace negotiations with the MILF after the talks bogged down when former president Joseph Estrada ordered an all-out war against the group in 2000. The offensive led to the seizure of dozens of MILF camps, including their headquarters in Camp Abubakar.
"We are confident that positive developments will come out from the peace process," Esperon said. (BOT/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (January 14, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Military downplays chances of new coup attempt