By TYRONE A. VELEZ
Davao Today
Davao City – Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal appeared mum over the issue of Sabah claim and the continued US military presence in Sulu.
This as he asked civil society groups and peace advocates to support the transitory period and “journey” towards finalizing their peace agreement and crafting of a law to create a new Bangsamoro autonomous region.
Speaking before a Mindanao peace summit that gathered around 200 participants on Tuesday, Iqbal, who also heads the Bangsamoro Transition Council (BTC) said the Sabah claim is a “bilateral issue” between the Philippine and the Malaysian governments that “should be addressed through a dialog.”
As regards to US military presence, Iqbal said “the MILF is not party to the deal that forged it” and left the issue unanswered.
US troops in Moro areas have been slammed by peace advocates as a form of direct intervention in the country’s internal affairs.
Meanwhile, Iqbal recognized the civil society groups’ role as opinion makers and bridge towards the pubic to stay abreast of the peace talks.
“The civil society organizations are indispensable. Through the CSO we can immerse with the people so that they can support and be on board the peace process,” Iqbal said.
Iqbal further noted that transition periods are the most sensitive part in any negotiations.
“In all conflict resolutions, transition is always the most sensitive part of the whole process. It can make or unmake the very goals of the peace process, and that is to resolve the conflict, normalize the situation and empower the people in pursuant of the peace agreement.”
He said with such situation, both panels recognize CSOs who can explain the need to ratify the Bangsamoro Basic Law in 2015.
“We need the people especially on the decisive moment when the Bangsamoro Basic Law be presented for ratification,” he added.
Like a superman Peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF have reached an agreement to craft the Bangsamoro political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The negotiations took to that direction in mid-2012, and last January the last of the four annexes was signed, paving way for the creation of the BTC to oversee the creation of the Bangsamoro government.
The15-member transition council is headed by Iqbal and is composed of seven government appointees and eight-MILF appointees.
Iqbal described the task of the BTC as a “superman, with big responsibilities” from crafting the organic act and other
administrative laws to ensure a system of governance is in place by 2016.
The BTC head said the MILF wanted more time for the transition but President Aquino set a one-year time frame to set up the Bangsamoro.
“The MILF wanted a longer transition, because it is this period that the building of the institution would happen. but they allowed the BTC for one year,” Iqbal said.
“But Aquino said time is of the essence, and we cannot say no and we accepted the challenge,” he said.
Iqbal enumerated that the BTC has to craft the Bangsamoro local government code, administrative code, and an election code.
But the BTC is meeting a deadline of drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law by March 31.
He said the BTC had spoken to both House and Senate Leaders who committed to pass the final version of the BBL by the end of the year, and a plebiscite will be held by early 2015.
Recommendations, challenges Iqbal also welcomed recommendations and proposals given by delegates
of the summit that outlined policies they hope the Bangsamoro can address.
The various proposals, which the delegates said came from consultations in provinces in Mindanao, included agenda on human
rights protection, women empowerment, peace and order, trade and employment.
The consultations were held in Central Mindanao, North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, and the Sulu and Tawi-Tawi islands (Sulta) among others.
Iqbal said the recommendations would be brought to a study committee that would consolidate the reports for the BTC.
The BTC chair also approved a recommendation from the Davao Jaycees to incorporate environment protection and responsible mining in the Bangsamoro economic program.
He also said they would study other economic activities such as the historic trade activities in the Sulta.
Iqbal also clarified that the abolition of the ARMM would be gradual, starting with the elective positions first, then appointive positions and finally the administrative positions. He said the BTC will still have to discuss how to absorb the employees under the ARMM.
Continuing the FPA Iqbal also clarified questions that the MILF’s Bangsamoro agreement is a different agreement than the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
“Our view is to look on the gains We never thought of the MNLF agreement as a failure. We recognize the 1976 Tripoli Agreement and the 1996 Final Peace Agreement, as part of our continuing agreement,” he said.
Iqbal explained that the Bangsamoro agreement was working to iron out “flaws” on the previous MNLF accord.
“It was a good agreement but it has flaws. One, the preamble abandoned the RSD. And there is the finality clause that caused difference in opinion between the government and (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari. But
for us, we also push to let the FPA be fully implemented,” he explained.
Iqbal said the MILF have remained in communication with Misuari and another faction the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Force (BIFF) which recently broke from the MILF, although chances for uniting for the agreement have not been discussed.
BIFF spokesperson Abu Misri stated in a separate statement that they are open for separate talks with the government for the establishment of an Independent Bangsamoro Islamic State. (Tyrone Velez/davaotoday.com)
Bangsamoro, BTC, davao, gph, GPH-MILF peace talks, milf, Mohagher Iqbal, philippines, sabah
