Gov’t, MILF agree to resume peace talks by yearend
“The peace process is firmly back on track toward the holding of the formal talks before the end of the year, thereby concluding negotiations on ancestral domain,” the MILF-GRP said in a joint statement yesterday.
The agreement between the two panels was reached after a two-day “special meeting” in
The meeting ended “on a high note with both sides expressing deep satisfaction over the successful resolution of major issues to overcome the impasse,” the statement said.
The latest executive session will be followed by another round of exploratory talks next month before the formal talks resume before the year ends.
The two parties acknowledged the support of the Malaysian government for brokering the long-stalled peace process.
Talks ended in a bitter impasse in September last year, on disagreement over the territories the MILF claim as ancestral domain in Mindanao, where they have been waging a separatist rebellion since 1978.
Low-level and informal talks among the negotiators have continued, however, since February, although sporadic clashes on the ground erupted.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the breakthrough on the peace negotiations would mean an improved security situation in the south.
“This good development will also appease sectors in
“We ought to congratulate the GRP and MILF panels for their accomplishment in breaking the impasse on the ancestral domain issue,” Dureza added.
He said the two panels discussed certain modalities on the geographical composition of the ancestral domain, which the MILF wanted to include in its proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) governing mechanism.
“It’s a product of work by both sides showing sincerity that in spite of the difficulties in the talks, we want to find a breakthrough, and in the end, (there) will be a final settlement,” he said.
He said the Malaysian facilitators will set the exact date of the new talks in November.
The talks are hosted by
Dureza, citing protocol procedures, however, declined to reveal the initial consensus reached by GRP chief negotiator Rodolfo Garcia and MILF’s Mohaqer Iqbal.
Dureza though expressed hopes that both panels will also discuss diplomatic solutions to the nagging security problems in some areas covered by the ceasefire.
The MILF signed a truce with the government in 2003, paving the way for formal negotiations with the government.
Several issues, however, cropped up, including the recent ambush of 14 Marines in Basilan last July where the MILF had admitted its involvement. Ten of the soldiers were beheaded.
The military later blamed the decapitations on the Abu Sayyaf, which also operates in Basilan.
Military officials have often accused the MILF of providing sanctuary to the Abu Sayyaf and the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah. The MILF has denied such links.
In a related development, Dureza announced that the long-delayed tripartite meeting among the GRP, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) will finally push through on Nov. 6 to 8 in
Dureza said the tripartite meeting will review and assess the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF.
The MNLF claimed several provisions in the peace agreement have not been implemented properly.
The government, however, said it has complied with its part of the agreement and stressed a review of the peace accord is important to point out other issues that need to be resolved.
Among them include the question of whether to allow former MNLF chairman Nur Misuari, who is facing charges of rebellion, to attend the tripartite meeting in Jeddah.
Representatives of the OIC Committee of the Eight will make the assessment on the implementation of the 1986 peace agreement. – With Roel Pareño, John Unson, AP, AFP
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