New govt, MILF Q&A talks still deadlocked

Peace negotiators of both the Philippine government and secessionist Islamic rebels met anew in Malaysia on Thursday for a question-and-answer session, with both sides having contrasting positions about the outcome. While the government panel said it is optimistic about the result of the one-day session, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said both sides remained "poles apart." “There were no negotiations but only a question-and-answer session which was cordial and frank," government chief negotiator Rafael Seguis said in an article on the Department of Foreign Affairs website (www.dfa.gov.ph). “The questions were direct and we got clarification on matters we wanted to know more about." But the MILF, in an article on its own website (www.luwaran.net), said Friday the talks remained deadlocked, with Thursday's question-and-answer session. "After the traditional opening remarks from the Parties especially by Datuk Othman bin Abdurazak, the Malaysian country facilitator, the two parties remained poles apart in their positions contained in their respective draft on the comprehensive compact, which embodies the negotiated political solution to the centuries-old Moro question in Mindanao," the MILF said. “We were practically grilled for day-long," the MILF quoted a member of its peace panel as saying. The MILF said the government stuck to its "reformist approach" of resolving this problem through executive orders, legislative measures, and the promise to undertake constitutional changes. Both sides expect to hold the next round of talks in the coming weeks. The next meeting will involve clarification this time on the proposed draft of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. Seguis claimed the session ended on an optimistic note as the government is now "well-clarified" on the concepts and provisions in the MILF's latest draft document. Seguis said the MILF presented its draft Declaration of Principles on Interim Governance Arrangements, an 11-page extract of its proposed Comprehensive Compact. The MILF is proposing a transition arrangement that will convert the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) into a "self-governance setup." He added that the GRP Panel has agreed to submit its counterproposal to the MILF draft. Despite time constraints, both sides agreed that a significant interim agreement can still be realistically pursued, Seguis said. "The GRP panel's sincerity is never diminished by the limited time we are given... We remain committed to understanding whatever you have to say, inasmuch as we hope the MILF Panel would be committed to understand our ideas as well," he said in his opening statement. Present in the ongoing talks in Malaysia were Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel; Datuk Othman bin Abd Razak, Chief Facilitator; members of the GRP Peace Negotiating Panel, notably Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and former Congressman Roger Adamat; members of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel; and members of the International Contact Group (ICG). Prior to the talks in Kuala Lumpur this week, the International Monitoring Team (IMT) was formally redeployed last Sunday after more than a year of non-operation. "This is indeed an enormous impetus to the peace process, for the presence of the IMT reminds us of the necessity and the inevitability of thrusting the talks forward," Seguis said. “In this regard, I thank the governments of Malaysia, Brunei, Japan and Libya for sending their IMT contingents and manifesting their commitment to the peace process.This bodes well for the other states and international organizations invited to be part of the IMT," Seguis said. He also thanked Datuk Othman bin Abd Razak who continues to play an invaluable role in enhancing the dialogue and ensuring the engagement of the two panels, and the ICG for their willingness to play a positive part in the formal and informal processes of the negotiations. "We are now here to seek clarification from you as to the aspects of your drafts... Clarification only would be the purpose of this meeting and the next. The positions of both sides having been clarified, we hope that in the end we will come up with an agreement that is clear, beneficial, and — this is a special concern of the GRP Panel — able to withstand any and all legal or constitutional hurdles, or hostilities, that may be thrown against it," he added. But Seguis reiterated the GRP Panel's negotiating stance proceeds from a deserved respect and deference to the Constitution. He added that the MILF acknowledged that constitutional processes should be followed with respect to proposed provisions which would require Constitutional amendments. After the question-and-answer session, both sides held separate dialogues with the members of the ICG. In the meantime, the MILF said it consistently argued for a negotiated settlement with the parties. The MILF is pushing for a settlement that will involve the "reconfiguration of the relationships between Filipinos and Moros necessitating processes or measures in compliance with their commitments or obligations." But the MILF said Thursday's session focused mainly on the MILF new draft designed to be signed as interim agreement to preserve the gains of the peace process, among other matters, and from which the next Filipino administration will pick up and continue the peace process. MILF negotiators explained their new seven-page draft, which is an excerpt from its 38-page draft on comprehensive compact presented to the GRP Peace Panel. Copies of the MILF position were furnished to all members of the International Contact Group (ICG) during the 17th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks last January 27 and 28. "After the presentation, the GRP Peace Panel was asked by the facilitator to ask questions, which they did starting from around 10 a.m. and continued to the afternoon," the MILF said. Members of the ICG also asked questions after the facilitator relaxed the rules in view of the ICG status as observer during meetings of the parties. It has become a norm that the ICG could also ask for special session with the parties jointly or separately, as what they did in previous meetings. After the meeting, the MILF quoted government peace panel chairman Rafael Seguis and Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman as saying, “Now we understand the MILF view or perspective." The government peace delegation included Seguis, Pangandaman, Dr. Ronald Adamat, Atty. Mariano Sarmiento, Atty. James Kho, Ryan Mark Sullivan, Zoilo Velasco, and Jennie Laruan. The MILF five-member delegation led by Mohagher Iqbal included Atty. Michael Mastura; Maulana Alonto; Antonio Kinoc; and Jun Mantawil. Members of the ICG both representing states and international non-government organizations (INGOs) included Ambassador Boyd McCleary and Christopher Wright, United Kingdom; Hitoshi Ozawa and Kei Ischikawa, and Naoki Hikota of Japan; Yasin Temizkan of Turkey; David Gorman of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue; Dr. Steven Rood and Herizal Hazri of the Asia Foundation; and Sudibyo Markus and Rudi Sukandar of Muhammadiyah of Indonesia. Absent from the ICG–INGOs were representatives from the London-based Conciliation Resources. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV