SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao, 28 May — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday expressed its readiness and willingness to resume formal negotiations with the government.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said this is in accordance with the conditions agreed upon by the two parties in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 24, 2001.
Kabalu issued the statement in response to the government proposal made through Secretary Eduardo Ermita — President Gloria Arroyo’s adviser on the peace process — recommending the resumption of the peace negotiations after a series of “backdoor” talks.
Among the conditions, Kabalu said, is the holding of peace talks outside of the Philippines and in a member-country of the Organization of the Islamic conference (OIC). Talks should also be mediated or facilitated by an OIC member.
Formal peace talks were suspended in October but President Arroyo pushed for low-level talks and “back channel” negotiations, which the MILF leadership had also welcomed.
As a result of the informal talks, the two parties signed two interim agreements meant to build up confidence in the peace process.
One of the agreements called for a joint campaign by government and MILF forces against kidnap-for-ransom gangs, “lost commands” and other criminal syndicates in places in Mindanao where there is MILF presence.
Another agreement provides for a joint implementation of rehabilitation programs in areas affected by fighting between the two sides during the Estrada administration.
The agreements have caused an uproar, with critics accusing Arroyo’s “backdoor” negotiators of a “sellout.”
Critics claimed that the two agreements would effectively return MILF camps captured by government forces during Estrada’s “all-out war.”
Arroyo’s negotiators, MILF as well as private sector observers led by Christian peace advocates in Cotabato have clarified that the return of camps were not the purpose of the agreements, but rather to weed out the area of criminals and to help in the economic upliftment of affected civilians.
Yesterday, President Gloria Arroyo shut the doors on possible renegotiation of the two “interim” agreements, saying its provisions are not disadvantageous to the government.
“What we have now is only an interim agreement. We can make the amendments in the final agreement. I have already said my way of interpreting it and I will carry it out that way. What is important is how we would implement its provisions ...,” she said on radio. Arroyo insisted the government would take the lead role in carrying out the agreements’ terms including rehabilitation of communities destroyed by the fightings.
“The government will take the lead role. This is not a bilateral agreement where both parties are equal,” she said.
Arroyo also dismissed criticisms the pact would give police powers to MILF members to allow them to apprehend kidnap-for-ransom gangs and other criminal elements.
“Nowhere in the agreement did the phrase ‘we are giving the MILF police authority’ appear. The problem arises because of their interpretation. All their criticisms come from their own conjectures. The implementing authority is the government of the Philippines. I will say how the agreements would be implemented,” she said.
MILF spokesman Kabalu said the group welcomes the resumption of formal talks if only to show their willingness to resolve the Mindanao conflict through a peaceful political settlement acceptable to the so-called “stakeholders” in Mindanao.
