Int’l community hails peace progress

MANILA, Philippines - The European Union and foreign governments welcomed the conclusion of negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for a peace agreement and encouraged quick and full implementation by all parties.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vice-president of the commission, said “sustainable peace in Mindanao requires an inclusive approach and all stakeholders, including the Moro National Liberation Front, need to demonstrate their goodwill for long lasting results.”

She said the signing of the Annex on Normalization marks the end of a long and difficult process of peace negotiations.

She said that the EU, as a member of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and major development partner in Mindanao since 1990, would continue to fully support the implementation of the process.

The EU commended the contribution of the Malaysian facilitator of the peace talks, Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed, as well as the members of the International Contact Group (ICG), to the successful conclusion of the peace negotiations.

US Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated the Philippines and the MILF for concluding negotiations toward an historic, comprehensive peace agreement.

“This agreement offers the promise of peace, security, and economic prosperity now and for future generations in Mindanao,” Kerry said in a statement.

Washington also commended the Malaysian government, facilitator of the talks, and the ICG, for their constructive role in helping resolve a decades-long conflict.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the successful conclusion of negotiations between the government and the MILF for a comprehensive peace agreement is a significant step towards lasting peace and development for Mindanao.

As member of the ICG, Hague said the United Kingdom witnessed the leadership and commitment of President Aquino and the courage and sincerity of the MILF leadership.

Japan, which has extended its support to the peace process for years, is hopeful that the parties concerned will continue their efforts to steadily implement the transition process including the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority toward the realization of the Bangsamoro government.

The independent Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) welcomed the agreement reached on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur with the conclusion of the Annex on Normalization, the fourth and final Annex to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed in October 2012.

The TPMT was set up by the government and the MILF to monitor the implementation of the peace agreement, as provided for in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).

The task of the TPMT is to observe and report on the implementation of all signed agreements.

TPMT chair Alistair MacDonald welcomed the conclusion of the Annex on Normalization, saying it is the path towards sustainable peace in Mindanao.

Switzerland welcomed the signing of the final peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

The Swiss embassy described it as a milestone towards a long-lasting peace in the Southern Philippines.

Guarded optimism

Senators have hailed with guarded optimism the recent positive developments on annexes to the Bangsamoro framework agreement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Teofisto Guingona III and Aquilino Pimentel III remain optimistic that the agreement will pass scrutiny of Congress as well as civil society groups.

Drilon reiterated that the Senate is “more than prepared to work on legislation capacitating the peace accords,” which would end four decades of armed conflict in central Mindanao.

Drilon said the Senate “looks forward to seeing and finally scrutinizing the proposed Bangsamoro law that will institute the necessary reforms called for in the Agreement,” and that the law will be given utmost priority in the Senate.

Trillanes hopes that the disarmament of the MILF forces would not create more problems for the government.

“There will still be a need for plebiscite for the Bangsamoro bill, then we need to create the transition commission. We have questions such as how to implement the disarmament, we need to monitor all these steps,” he said.

Guingona, chairman of the Senate committee on peace, unification, and reconciliation, said the environment of peace and stability has become even more crucial especially at a time when natural calamities hit several areas in Mindanao.

“More important, this brings us closer to the aspiration for genuine peace and development for the Bangsamoro,” Guingona said.

Pimentel also vowed to study every provision in the four annexes so he can be an informed source on the complex issues.

He pointed out the annex on normalization was an indication of the MILF’s sincerity in sealing a peace pact with the government.

Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles said the signing of the normalization annex would pave the way for the signing of the final agreement.

“This is indeed a long-awaited moment that is a gift to our people at the start of a new year of renewed hope and commitment,” she said in a statement shortly after the GPH and MILF peace panels signed the document.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman hailed the peace panels for successfully signing the Annex on Normalization, the last of four annexes in the peace negotiations that will finally pave the way to the completion of the comprehensive peace agreement.

“We commend the panels for persevering and braving the needed sacrifices and heeding the clamor of the great majority of Filipinos for a peaceful resolution to the decades-old conflict in Mindanao,” he said.

“2014 is going to be a year of peace for Mindanao. With the signing of the last and final annex of the FAB on Normalization, the comprehensive peace agreement is practically achieved. Kudos to the peace panels,” according to Mary Ann Arnado, secretary-general of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC).

Arnado thanked the men and women in and out of the negotiations for the wonderful development in the peace process.

Patricia Sarenas, chair of the Mindanao Coalition of Development (MINCODE), a coalition of 12 networks of non-government organizations and people’s organizations in Mindanao, said her group would continue to support the next steps towards the creation of the Bangsamoro government. – With Roel Pareño, Christina Mendez