To preserve the gains of the peace negotiations, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) calls on the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to exhaust all means possible to break their current impasse. We appeal to both the Peace Panels to stretch the limits of their ability, patience and wisdom to enable them to overcome the current obstacles and open the windows for renewed confidence and goodwill. We urge you to re-imagine your tasks, your responsibilities and your avowed common dream for a peaceful and prosperous Mindanao. You owe it to the people of Mindanao, to the millions of women, men and children whose hopes for peace and development you have entrusted in your hands.
To preserve the gains of the peace negotiations, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) calls on the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to exhaust all means possible to break their current impasse. We appeal to both the Peace Panels to stretch the limits of their ability, patience and wisdom to enable them to overcome the current obstacles and open the windows for renewed confidence and goodwill. We urge you to re-imagine your tasks, your responsibilities and your avowed common dream for a peaceful and prosperous Mindanao. You owe it to the people of Mindanao, to the millions of women, men and children whose hopes for peace and development you have entrusted in your hands.
The impasse in the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has deeply bothered the MPC and our partners and allies considering the unimaginable consequences that it portends. The standoff has all the more alarmed us as it brings with it a lot of worrying signals. Having experienced the scourge of the series of wars in Mindanao curiously showing a pattern of a three-year cycle, in 1997, 2000 and 2003, we shudder at the thought of another war in 2006 as an inevitable consequence in any deadlock of the peace negotiations. We fear that this situation could easily be exploited by extremist groups and hawks even those lurling from outside of both the government panel and MILF – especially now that the 2007 election is in the offing.
The MPC believes that the invaluable gains of the 10-year peace negotiations, especially the dramatic improvement of the ceasefire implementation are more than enough reasons for the peace panels to continue its work even as it may entail more time at the negotiating table. We urge you not to give up on this most crucial stage of the negotiation. Consult your principals and constituency if you may, return to your respective blueprints if you must, redefine your positions if you have to– while you freeze the unsheating of the sword of war.
As stakeholders in Mindanao, we lend our unqualified support and prayers to the peace panels. We propose the creation of an Independent Commission that can study and analyze the issues surrounding the deadlock and propose possible measures towards a breakthrough however minute it will be. We are anyway a major part of both your avowed constituency. We offer this humble effort as we reiterate our long-standing call for a more transparent and inclusive peace process which will allow all peoples, nations and tribes in Mindanao to participate more actively in the final peaceful and just resolution of the conflict being waged in our name.
Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC)
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