2014 or never for peace deal, MILF says

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Wednesday said this year would be crucial for the peace talks even as it remains confident that all issues would be resolved by negotiators.

In an editorial posted on its website luwaran.com, MILF said the establishment of a Bangsamoro government in 2016 would hinge on the decisions to be made by negotiators this year.

“This is the year for the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front to make hard and eventful decisions, which are political milestones in their talks that would ensure the establishment of the Bangsamoro government in 2016,” MILF said.

“Failure to do so will make the future gloomy,” it added.

MILF said both panels should sign the comprehensive peace agreement within the first quarter to enable the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to finish the final draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

The draft will then be submitted to President Aquino, who will certify it as urgent to provide lawmakers enough time to pass it into law.

“This should not be later than May this year,” MILF said.

“By 2015 the atmosphere will change radically; the fever of the 2016 presidential election will begin to spread its divisive and paralyzing effects. Expect switching of party affiliations and heightened bickering among politicians,” it added.

MILF believes the Bangsamoro issue would be affected by these political developments even if it is a non-partisan matter.

The Bangsamoro Basic Law, MILF said, should be ratified by people in Bangsamoro territory by yearend or early 2015 to make way for the establishment of the transition authority.

The MILF, nevertheless, is upbeat on the prospects of the negotiation, which is scheduled to resume this month.

“In spite of the still rough road ahead, we are still very hopeful and upbeat that the two parties will finally settle all the remaining issues in the negotiating table,” the group said.

“Two sincere, willing, and committed partners, like the Aquino administration and the MILF, will always find ways to overcome any issue that stands on their way.”

The government and the MILF have signed the transitional arrangements as well as the annexes on wealth and power-sharing.

Issues up for discussion are the Bangsamoro waters, the annex on normalization and the final peace agreement.