Gov’t gearing up for tripartite meet with MNLF
The second tripartite meeting will be held in the Indonesian Embassy in
The 11-year-old truce is now the subject of an extensive tripartite review due to perceived weaknesses of some of its provisions.
The three parties involved in the initiative will meet to discuss efforts of the MNLF and the government in assessing five key issues – education, Shari’a, political representation, regional security force, and natural resources – set as parameters for the enhancement of the 1996 peace pact.
The second tripartite meeting will be preceded by the creation of five GRP-MNLF joint working groups tasked to come out with in-depth assessment of the issues and concerns that affected the implementation of the 11-year-old truce.
On the other hand, jailed MNLF founder Nur Misuari wanted the meeting to continue in
Misuari, detained for leading a failed rebellion in Sulu in November 2001, made a statement expressing his opposition to holding the second tripartite meeting in
Misuari was not able to attend the first meeting held in Jeddah after the Saudi government failed to send a “sovereign guarantee” to return Misuari to the
Some MNLF leaders in
Misuari’s legal counsel, Randolph Parcasio, said they are still waiting for the reply of the OIC to Misuari’s request to continue the talks in Jeddah.
While the MNLF is currently reviewing its peace pact with the government, its rival group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), is currently negotiating a peace deal.
The government has said a peace agreement with the MILF could be signed this year, but both sides are still at an impasse over the boundaries of a proposed Muslim territory.
The MILF has refused to recognize the peace agreement between the MNLF and the GRP which paved the way for the integration of some 8,000 Muslim guerrillas into the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The MILF also refused to recognize the creation of the ARMM as the solution to the Moro people’s “quest” for self-rule.
Meanwhile, a ranking military official said the disarmament of the MILF should take place before any peace negotiations are conducted.
AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero said the conflict would not end as long as there are armed groups, including the MILF, who continue to possess loose guns.
Romero said that it has been shown in the past that the armed conflict in war-torn areas in
“Our lessons with the MNLF tell us that the problem would not be solved if there are loose firearms still circulating in the area,” he said.
Romero said this proposal was given to the GRP when the AFP was called to give inputs.
“It was a verbal proposal that we gave in one of the informal discussions on the peace process,” he said.
Romero said bringing in livelihood projects as a means of providing an alternative to war should complement the disarmament of MILF rebels.
“This would help them become productive citizens. Instead of using their guns, they would concentrate on making their lives better,” Romero said.
Pending the peace accord between the government and the MILF, the AFP has reported that there had been 35 rebels slain in clashes with the military in 2007.
In its annual accomplishment report, the AFP said there were a total of 97 “isolated” clashes between soldiers and MILF rebels for 2007, which also resulted in the capture of five, the apprehension of three and the surrender of 52 Moro guerrillas.
The report said the armed engagements also resulted in the seizure of 18 high-powered firearms from the MILF.
Despite these “isolated incidents,” the AFP said the mainstream MILF continues to adhere to the peace process, though there had been disagreements over certain issues that left the peace negotiations still pending. – With James Mananghaya
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