Govt negotiator: MILF dropping independence option our biggest achievement

Convincing the secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to drop its demand for independence is the biggest achievement of the Arroyo government as far as dealing with the conflict in Mindanao is concerned. Rafael Seguis, head of the government panel talking peace with the MILF, said having the MILF drop such a demand since the peace talks started in 1997 was no small feat. “It is significant that during our stint, the MILF has dropped the option of independence, and that it is not negotiating for independence but for the highest form of autonomy," Seguis said in an article posted Monday on the website of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. Seguis, an undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), expressed hopes that the incoming administration of President-elect Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III "will continue to build upon the gains of the present and previous negotiations and will not start from ground zero." He lauded the statement of Aquino in September 2009 that the first thing he would do for Mindanao "has to be on the peace aspect." He also said Aquino was on the right foot when he chose veteran peace advocate Teresita Deles to replace Annabelle Abaya as OPAPP head. Deles occupied the same post during the Arroyo administration. "It is our fervent hope that the next administration will continue to talk vigorously with the MILF. As much as possible, we want to avoid the pattern of ‘talking and fighting’ in the past," Seguis said, referring to the violence that erupted between government forces and the MILF in the summer of 2000 and the fighting in 2008 following the non-signing of the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). After the 2008 fighting, formal negotiations resumed in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 8 last year after a series of back-channeling efforts by government and the MILF. "The road to peace is not easy; there is no simple formula here since peace is a complex challenge," Seguis said. Seguis thanked all peace panel members from the government and MILF, past and present, as well as the facilitators and members of the International Monitoring Team, the Civilian Protection Component and others “who never wavered in the peace process" in spite of the obstacles that took place during the negotiations. “I would also like to highlight the contribution of our peace movers in the conflict-affected areas, their boldness and persistence to combat the culture of violence is unparalleled and their commitment to promote the culture of peace is laudable," he said. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV