Gov’t willing to translate peace agreement in several languages

MANILA, Philippines - The government assured yesterday all stakeholders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that it is willing to translate the framework agreement into several languages to make it more comprehensible to all concerned.

“We will ask Dean Marvic Leonen as to what we can do about it. I’ve heard about the plan to translate. That’s something that certainly we would help with. If it will be useful in understanding the framework agreement, why not?” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said when asked about a report that the MILF had funding problems regarding the project.

Lacierda said that there are nuances in the terminology used in the framework agreement that need elaboration so that the message could be easily understood. 

He hinted at providing logistical support for the translations and perhaps the printing of materials. 

He said the government panel, headed by Leonen as chief government negotiator, and the MILF are now discussing details of the three remaining issues in the annexes – wealth and power sharing, and normalization. 

Yesterday’s resumption of talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was the first-ever since the signing of the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro last month.

Both panels have formed their respected technical working groups (TWG) tasked to discuss the issues.

Leonen said the work of the TWGs in threshing out the annexes on power sharing, wealth sharing and normalization would be easier, given the positive reception to the framework.

The annexes will be part of the GPH (government of the Philippines)-MILF Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which both parties expect to forge before yearend.

MILF negotiating panel chair Mohagher Iqbal also expressed confidence that the task of threshing out the annexes “rests on the technical working groups.”

For his part, Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed cautioned both panels that “the world is watching” as he echoed the observation of Leonen that the signing of the framework agreement generated massive popular support from the international community.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles had earlier said that the ongoing 33rd round of talks in Kuala Lumpur was expected to be “difficult as both parties will be fleshing out the annexes on power sharing, wealth sharing and normalization.”

Meanwhile, a reliable source said President Aquino will be coming up this week with an executive order designating the 15 members of the Transition Commission that will draft the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro region in Mindanao. 

Eight members will come from the MILF while seven will come from the government. 

The source said Malacañang is trying to beat the deadline for the appointment of the 15th justice of the Supreme Court, in which Leonen is reportedly the “personal choice” of Aquino. 

Leonen hinted earlier that he may accept the appointment but may delay his assumption into office in the high tribunal, perhaps only after he has managed to iron out all the kinks in the negotiations for the establishment of an independent Muslim region.   

As this developed, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari has turned down a last-minute request for a meeting from Malacañang on the eve of his departure to attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers in Djibouti, Africa.

The meeting was reportedly in connection with the offer of the government peace panel to include the MNLF in the transition committee for the implementation of the recently concluded framework accord forged with the MILF. – With Perseus Echeminada, Edith Regalado, Jose Rodel Clapano, Cecille Suerte Felipe