Japan willing to help in government-MILF peace talks

MANILA, Philippines - Japan has accepted the Philippines’ invitation to become a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) for the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“I have the honor to inform Your Excellencies that the Government of Japan accepts your invitation for Japan to become a member of the International Contact Group pursuant to the Framework Agreement on the Formation of the International Contact Group for the GRP-MILF Peace Process signed on Sept. 15, 2009, and on the basis of the Terms of Reference for the ICG,” Japanese ambassador to Manila Makoto Katsura said in a letter to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special Concerns and GRP Peace Panel chief Rafael Seguis and MILF chief for Information and negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

Under the Terms of Reference (TOR), the term ICG covers both states and NGOs that have formally joined the group. This contrasts with other groups (such as the EU and OIC) that might join its activities without being formal members. The term “Parties” refers to GRP and MILF, and “Facilitator” refers to the Malaysian facilitation team.

The role of the ICG is complementary to the existing facilitation mechanism and peace process architecture.

The ICG’s role is in accordance with the Framework Agreement which is ad-hoc in nature and issue-specific in its engagement.

The ICG may give impartial advice to either or both parties and may accept tasking from the Facilitator, GRP or MILF as appropriate. The ICG as a group may issue public statements as appropriate, in writing and decided by a consensus of ICG members.

When a final peace agreement is reached, the ICG, Facilitator and Parties should review the nature of the ICG’s role and membership.

The MILF announced in September it would make formal the invitation for the Japanese Government to join the ICG following established procedures for the ICG participation in the GRP-MILF process.

MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, in a recent meeting with Japanese Embassy Political Minister in Manila Hitoshi Ozawa in Maguindanao, issued the invitation for Japan to be a member of the peace process’ ICG.

Ozawa welcomed the invitation and reiterated the commitment of Japan to support the peace process in Mindanao, particularly between the government and MILF.

He added that Japan is very keen to play roles other than providing development assistance through the Japanese Embassy, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and International Monitoring Team.

The Framework Agreement on the Formation of the ICG for the GRP-MILF peace process, forged last Sept. 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will top the peace process’ agenda.

The ICG agreement was signed by Iqbal for the MILF, Seguis for the government and Datuk Othman Bin Abdul Razak as Malaysia Third Party Facilitator.

According to the Framework Agreement, the ICG will consist of interested countries accompanying the peace process, preferably drawn from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the European Union (EU) as well as accredited international non-government organizations (INGOs) and eminent persons, who shall provide the proper leverage that will sustain the interest of the principal parties necessary in mustering success for the GRP-MILF peace process.

MILF chair Al Haj Murad cited the importance of Japan’s development assistance to the peace process and its active participation with the International Monitoring Team which monitored the implementation of the ceasefire and development aspect of the peace process from 2006 to 2008.