When will the formal peace talks between the government and the MILF resume? This is a question our people have been waiting to be answered since the bilateral ceasefire was re-declared last July 2003. Since then, media reports had announced that the talks will perennially resume “next month”, until we were overtaken by a new year and the presidential elections.
When will the formal peace talks between the government and the MILF resume? This is a question our people have been waiting to be answered since the bilateral ceasefire was re-declared last July 2003. Since then, media reports had announced that the talks will perennially resume “next month”, until we were overtaken by a new year and the presidential elections.
Even then, we congratulate the government and the MILF for finally complying with the conditions for the peace talks to formally resume, conditions, which were agreed on in the February 2004 exploratory meeting. These conditions include the dropping of the criminal charges against top MILF officials as suspects in the Davao twin bombings, the completion of the phased redeployment of AFP troops from Buliok, and deployment of the international ceasefire monitoring team. We welcome the Malaysian-led advance team, which is now in Mindanao. Their presences are indeed harbingers of sustained peace.
Recognizing all of these positive developments on one hand, we however also want to stress that these cannot substitute for formal peace negotiations. The ceasefire is holding, but we cannot deny the threat posed by the skirmishes since August between government and MILF troops in General Salipada K. Pendatun, Dapiawan, Datu Piang, Linantangan, Mamasapano and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. These too can be harbingers of a renewed outbreak of full-scale war.
Indeed the efforts of the Joint GRP-MILF CCCH to monitor and implement the ceasefire agreement in the conflict areas are laudable and deserve our highest commendation. The strong CCCH presence in the conflict-areas was able to de-escalate the violence. Without quick intervention by the CCCH, these skirmishes could have caused the full collapse of the ceasefire.
But the CCCH panels are only limited to stopping the outbreak of armed fighting. The formal peace talks will boost the efforts of ceasefire monitoring and the current implementation of the signed interim agreements on relief, rehabilitation and developments. Formal talks are also important to settle the issue of ancestral domains and pave the way for a comprehensive and lasting political settlement of the Mindanao conflict.
What is causing the delay in the resumption of the talks? The last formal talks was in October 2001, almost a long three years ago. The talks have progressed only through exploratory and back-chanelling negotiations, not through any official panel activity.
As Mindanaoans and peace advocates, we strongly urge the Philippine Government, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Government of Malaysia to resume the GRP-MILF peace talks at the soonest time possible. We appeal to the Malaysian government to nudge the parties to fast-track the resumption now that the conditions have already been complied with. A further delay in the negotiation would be denying Mindanao its long sought peace.
For inquiries please contact:
Mindanao Peaceweavers Secretariat
Phone: (63) (82) 299-2574 to 75
Fax: (63) (82) 299-2052
Email: maryann@iidnet.org
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