MILF normalization deal eyed in January

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government peace panel member Senen Bacani expects the normalization annex to be signed when exploratory talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) resume in Malaysia in January.

Speaking to journalists here Wednesday, Bacani said the government and MILF have agreed to complete the fourth and last annex providing for the normalization and decommissioning of MILF forces before the final agreement is signed.

“Based on the joint statement at the closing of the exploratory talks last Dec. 8 that saw the approval of the power sharing annex, the two panels will try to finish the normalization annex in January 2014,” he said.

Bacani did not categorically describe how contentious the discussion was on the annex on normalization and decommissioning as compared to the last three annexes that have been forged, but gave assurance that the technical working group has ironed out all the details of the fourth annex.

A consensus has been reached on a number of points, with small details left in terms of phasing and benchmark that can be used for the process of decommissioning and normalization, he added.

Government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said the benchmark is needed to have a systematic decommissioning and normalization of the MILF combatants with socio-economic components.

A bigger campaign is in store for the legalization of weapons not just for MILF combatants, but also for those who want to legalize the possession of firearms, she added.

Ferrer said the campaign for firearms legalization will be for all, not just the MILF members, with the passing of a new firearms control law. They will be applying varied approaches in the decommissioning of firearms, she added.

Ferrer said the so-called crew-serve weapons will be prohibited and will be collected for safekeeping until such time these will be destroyed.

Long and short firearms of the MILF combatants will be registered as part of procedures and those not registered will be confiscated, she said.

An amnesty will be granted to MILF combatants as is the case in the regular process, she added.