MILF 'temporarily' deactivates peace panel

While waiting for the Aquino administration to compose its peace negotiating team, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has temporarily deactivated its peace panel. An article posted on the MILF website said the secessionist group's central committee arrived at the decision during a special meeting as early as June 23. "Functions of the MILF Peace Panel related to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the ceasefire will be handled or coordinated by the MILF Peace Panel Secretariat headed by Jun Mantawil, with Mike Pasigan and Muhajirin Ali, as members," MILF secretariat head Muhammad Ameen said in the MILF article. He added the fourth member of the peace panel secretariat, Ondel Meling, is still bedridden and too weak to report for duty. Ameen said the entire panel will be reactivated as soon as President Benigno Aquino III decides to formally continue the peace talks and appoints a peace panel. During the campaign period, Aquino repeatedly declared that he will ensure dialogues with all stakeholders in the peace process to ensure that there will not be a repeat of the violent incidents that resulted after the Arroyo administration botched its memorandum of agreement with the MILF expanding the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled the MOA-AD unconstitutional and directed the Arroyo government to conduct public consultations with respect to the peace negotiations in accordance with the right to information. Aquino has named Teresita Deles as presidential adviser on the peace process, a position she held during her stint in the Arroyo administration. The Aquino administration, however, has yet to announce when talks with the MILF and the National Democratic Front (NDF) will resume. MILF panel composition In the MILF article, Ameen was quoted as saying that it still depends entirely on the MILF leadership whether to change all or just replace some members. The present peace panel chaired by Mohagher Iqbal has as members lawyers Datu Michael Mastura and Lanang Ali, Maulana Bobby Alonto, and lawyer Musib Buat. "Ali and Buat, who underwent heart bypass operations, were temporarily and alternately replaced by Abdullah Camlian, Datu Antonio Kinoc, and Dr. Habib Macaayong in recent months," the MILF said. Iqbal is the longest serving MILF chief negotiator, appointed to the job and replaced chairman Al-Haj Murad on July 29, 2003. Ali has been in the MILF peace group from 1997 to 2000. Mantawil has also been chairperson of the MILF Peace Panel Secretariat since January 1997. MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar served as MILF chief peace negotiator for less than two years and was succeeded by Alim Abdulazis Mimbantas, then the vice chairman for internal affairs, for about two years. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV