ZAMBOANGA CITY, 23 March 2006 — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country’s largest Muslim separatist rebel group negotiating peace with Manila, is likely to share sovereign powers with the Philippine government in Mindanao and talks are underway to put up the so-called Bangsamoro government, the group’s spokesman said yesterday.
Eid Kabalu said peace negotiators are discussing how the Muslims will run the new government, and both considering new formulas based on model countries such as Sudan, Palestine, East Timor, Northern Ireland, and Bougainville.
“Talks are going on about the proposal for a shared government and shared sovereignty between the Bangsamoro people and the Philippine government. The results of this proposal will depend entirely on the outcome of the peace negotiations,” he said. “Once the new Bangsamoro government is finally set up, then the five-province Muslim autonomous region will be dissolved.”
The MILF is also proposing that the Muslims be given an option to choose in a referendum whether they want Mindanao to be an independent state or not. The MILF resumed peace talks yesterday with Philippine government negotiators in Malaysia, which is brokering the peace process.
Kabalu said peace negotiators discussed issues pertaining to the Muslim ancestral domain. “We are still awaiting results of the talks, there will be a joint communiqué telling us what have been reached or agreed upon by the peace panels in Malaysia,” he told the Arab News.
Ancestral domain refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland. In September negotiators signed several agreements centered on the ancestral domain — its concept, territories and resources, and how the MILF shall govern these places.
He said a formal agreement on the ancestral domain is expected to be signed anytime soon, and negotiations on other aspects necessary for a just and lasting solution to the Muslim secessionist problems in Mindanao would be tackled.
“We are sincere and optimistic, just as the Philippine government wanted a long and lasting peace in Mindanao,” Kabalu said.
Ghazali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, said the Muslims in Mindanao are ready to govern their own homeland once the peace accord is signed.
“We are empowering our people so that they are more prepared to assume the reins of governance. This is our main thrust today in our current consultations, seminars and trainings with our regional and local officials and members,” Jaafar, former MILF chief peace negotiator, said in report posted yesterday on the MILF website.
The site also quoted Silvestre C. Afable, the government’s chief negotiator, as saying during last year’s MILF plenum in Maguindanao province that the Arroyo administration is ready to give the Muslims their homeland.
The MILF said government and rebel peace negotiators have already agreed on several crucial issues, including the coverage of the ancestral domain in the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, and other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes.
At least 18 ethnic tribes are known to inhabit Mindanao. These are the T’boli, B’laan, Ata, Bagobo, Banwaon, Bukidnon, Dibabawon, Higaunon, Kalagan, Mamanwa, Mandaya, Mangguwangan, Manobo, Mansaka, Subanen, Tagakaolo, Teduray and the Ubo.
