EU, US assure support for Mindanao peace process

COTABATO CITY – Representatives of the European Union and the US government took turns assuring the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of their continuing support to the Mindanao peace process in separate meetings held in Shariff Kabunsuan province.

Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza, whose office has various socio-economic programs complementing the ongoing talks between the government and the MILF, said EU representatives, led by Alistar McDonald, told officials of the rebel group this week that they are interested in helping hasten the peace process through humanitarian projects.

The EU, composed of 27 states, is known for its advocacy for human security and the socio-economic and political empowerment of indigenous groups.

Meanwhile, representatives of the US government met with MILF officials a day after their dialogue with dignitaries from the EU.

Led by Paul Jones of the US Embassy in Manila, the American dignitaries also assured the MILF of continuing support aimed at complementing efforts to improve conditions in poor areas in the south.

Dureza said the EU and the US government coordinated with Malacañang first prior to the meetings with MILF officials.

Peace talks between the government and the MILF commenced on Jan. 7, 1997 but gained momentum only in 2003 with the participation of Malaysia as third party negotiator.

The US government, through the United States Agency for International Development, has been implementing socio-economic projects, including strategic infrastructure, such as post-harvest facilities, ports, and farm-to-market roads, to accelerate the economic growth in areas where members of the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) reside.

"The peace process in Mindanao is now a showcase of international peace-building cooperation," Dureza said.

The US government has also been funding policy formulation initiatives, through non-government organizations, on various political and administrative concerns besetting poor Moro communities in a bid to maximize cross-section involvement in the Mindanao peace process.

The government of Canada, which has been funding local government capability-building programs in Mindanao since the early 1990s, had signified intention to send a representative to the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT), which helps supervise the enforcement of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the Armed Forces.

The IMT is composed of policemen and soldiers from Malaysia, Libya and Brunei, and a rehabilitation expert from the Japanese government, Nagaishi Masufumi.