MILF, Norwegian officials meet in Maguindanao

Peace efforts between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) got another boost this week with a meeting between Norwegian officials and the secessionist group in Mindanao. The MILF said three Norwegian officials met with high MILF officials in Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat town Thursday, regarding Norway's entry into the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT). An article posted Friday on the MILF website said the visitors included Nina Hjellegjerde, head of Standby Rosters-Norwegian Refugee Council, Department of Emergency Response; Geir Johansen of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Department of Emergency Response; and Christine Knudsen, First Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy in Manila. Representing the MILF were chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal; Sammy Al-Mansoor, Chief of Staff of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF); peace panel member Datu Michael Mastura; MILF central committee members Sheikh Mohammad Muntassir, Abu Ubaida, Maestro Celes, and Muhammad Ameen; and Mike Pasigan and Muhajirin Ali, members of the MILF Peace Panel Secretariat. The MILF said the meeting lasted for one-and-a-half hours, after which the visitors motored to Awang Airport to catch their flight to Manila. Norway had accepted the invitation of the Philippine government and MILF Peace Panels to join the IMT. Its ambassador in Manila, Knut Solem, had visited the MILF at Darapanan to clarify two things — whether their facilitation of peace talks between government and the National Democratic Front would not contradict their role in the IMT; and their particular role in the IMT. Four components The MILF suggested that they handle and coordinate the civilian protection component of the IMT. Norway eventually chose security by sending "non-uniformed" peace monitors with military background. The four components of the IMT are security, socio-economic, civilian protection, and humanitarian, rehabilitation and development (HRD). The European Union had accepted a role to coordinate the HRD. A term of reference for this task was signed in Kuala Lumpur last June 3. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental organization that provides assistance, protection and durable solutions to refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide. It promotes and protects the rights of people who have been forced to flee their countries, or their homes within their countries. The NRC is the only Norwegian organization that specializes in international efforts aimed at this target group. Peace talks between the MILF and government were stalled in 2008 following the Supreme Court's junking of a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD). Both sides have since undertaken efforts to resume formal peace negotiations. Last week, government and Moro rebel negotiators agreed to continue the talks aimed at ending the decades-long separatist rebellion in the country's troubled south after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo steps down later this month. [See: Govt, MILF to continue peace talks under next admin] — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV