Malaysian PM dismayed over GRP-MILF peace process
by JAY RUIZ, ABS-CBN News | 09/15/2008 4:24 PM
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Fresh from his trip to Malaysia, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Hermogenes Esperon laid down several conditions before peace talks can resume between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Esperon said on Monday that there should be an improvement in the situation on the ground before the government would compose a new set of peace panel members and resume peace negotiations with the MILF.
Among the conditions set by the government are:
- the government should be able to secure the people, secure the area, particularly in Central Mindanao;
- the MILF leadership should regain control over their men;
- the MILF should surrender recalcitrant commanders like Commanders Umbra Kato and Bravo;
- the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) becomes a major reference in the negotiations and that Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation or DDR should be a front-loaded item in the agenda;
- dialogue and consultation with all stakeholders involved.
In a speech during the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process' 15th Anniversary celebration, Esperon said the non-signing of the MOA-AD should not be seen as a loss but rather as a big step forward in the process of trying to achieve peace in Mindanao.
He said that many lessons should now be learned from the non-signing of the MOA-AD. In spite of what happened, he said there is still hope that they can finish what they started.
Before ending his speech, he again vowed that he and his office will never give up on peace, stressing that a political negotiated settlement is the only solution to the conflict in Mindanao.
After the event, Esperon spoke to reporters and gave an update on his trip to Malaysia.
He said that during their meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and other senior leaders of Malaysia helping out in the peace process, the Malaysian leader expressed his disappointment over the stalled peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.
He also expressed sadness over the thousands of evacuees and deaths due to the military operation in some parts of Mindanao.
Esperon however said that the Malaysians fully understood the Philippine government's actions in Mindanao after he and his team explained to Malaysian leaders that the military action is limited only to rogue MILF leaders who caused chaos and destruction as a protest against the non-signing of the MOA-AD.
Despite what happened, the Malaysians expressed their continued commitment in helping the peace process once it resumes.
Malaysia is the third-party facilitator in the talks between the government and the MILF.
President Arroyo sent Esperon to Malaysia last week to explain to the Malaysians why her government will no longer sign the MOA-AD after some MILF commanders went on a rampage in some parts of the south following the Supreme Court's August 4 decision to halt the signing of the ancestral domain deal.
Esperon also said that the peace negotiators take their cue and guidance from the President when it comes to their actions in the peace negotiation.
This runs contrary to the statement of Solicitor-General Agnes Devanadera that the President has not read the full contents of the MOA-AD.
Meanwhile, despite the continued skirmishes with lawless MILF groups, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains hopeful that the peace talks will resume because this is the only way to attain a lasting peace in mindanao.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, however, said the government will enforce the law and that the MILF should show sincerity that it really wants to pursue peace.
At least 10 encounters between the government troops and lawless MILF groups were reported over the weekend. At least one soldier was killed in action while the MILF suffered at least nine casualties.
