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Friday, August 22, 2008
Arroyo changes focus of peace talks
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday said her administration is still committed to pursue peace as they are not waging a war against the Muslim community.
"These recent developments in the south lead to a change in the basic premise of our peace efforts. The focus of our talks shall shift from armed groups to the community. The parameters governing our negotiations shall be a balance between constitutionality and public sentiment," she said.
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Arroyo said the objective of our peace process shall be the end of all forms of armed rebellion in the country.
“Translated, this shall mean a national rejection of the armed model as a means of achieving political and societal change, and reaffirming our commitment to democracy. Our engagements with all armed groups shall be about disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation or DDR,” she added.
She also asked the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership to account for the actions of their men who launched a series of attacks on government troops and civilians in the provinces of North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.
The rogue MILF rebels were headed by Ameril Umbra Kato and Abdullah “Bravo” Macapaar.
According to Arroyo, negotiations shall now focus on dialogues with the communities or "government conducting authentic conversations or dialogues with the people."
It also means that all armed groups must "account for all of their actions not only to the government but most especially to the people."
"The force of arms does not entitle any armed group to represent the people. DDR is about the people and government telling armed groups to give up armed struggle. Change shall be defined primarily by the people and the government," Arroyo said.
The pronouncement of the President came on the heels of her administration's decision to forgo the signing of a proposed memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD).
Different sectors have expressed opposition on the signing of the homeland deal as it is allegedly being undertaken without ample consultations and there are provisions included which are deem to be unconstitutional.
The government decided “not to sign” the MOA-AD and subject it to "further negotiations" to be able to include inputs that would result from the consultations to be led by the Bishops Ulama Conference and the comments made by several Supreme Court justices.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita admitted that there were some "flaws" in the MOA.
Chief government negotiator with the MILF Rodolfo Garcia, on the other hand, said that there were some provisions that were too vague and open for different interpretations, which could be phrased more clearly.
For her part, Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said it was a "painful" step that the government must take to be able to "come to a new agreement with the MILF."
Fajardo said the administration particularly the President is "sensitive to public sentiments and she is also committed to upholding the Constitution."
"Thus, she will seek a new agreement within the boundaries of law set within the Constitution. The President will not allow adventurism by MILF forces to pressure the government to sign any agreement even if it is for peace," she added.
The executive branch, said Fajardo, will work with its partners in government including the local government units and members of the legislature who are free to express their position on the peace efforts.
She said the Legislative Executive-Development and Advisory Council (Ledac) would be a venue for exhaustive discussion and agreement on how to go forward and realize Arroyo's commitment to forge a lasting peace agreement with the MILF. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (August 22, 2008 issue)
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