MILF to pursue talks despite 'rejection' of gov't proposal

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Friday vowed to continue with the peace negotiations despite its panel's rejection of the government's framework proposal for the Bangsamoro autonomy. MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad also dismissed speculations that talks with the government have broken down, even as he hinted dismay over the developments in the peace process. Murad said the government’s response to their proposed Comprehensive Compact Agreement, which calls for the establishment of a Bangsamoro sub-state in Mindanao, means starting from scratch. During last week’s round of talks in Kuala Lumpur, government negotiators offered massive economic development, a political settlement that supposedly includes the enhancement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and cultural-historical acknowledgement. “What is the use of the more than 14 years of negotiations between the government and MILF if we are to start again from zero?" Murad said in a statement posted on the MILF website. Also, Murad said developments in the peace process run contrary to what he and President Aquino agreed during their Aug. 4 meeting in Tokyo, Japan, which is to fast track the peace negotiations. "As what we have agreed with President Noynoy Aquino, we are going to fast track the negotiations. But we see the proposal of the government as contrary to what we have agreed on to fast track the negotiations because it is detached to what the two parties had agreed upon," he said. The MILF Central Committee, chaired by Murad, started on August 29 its deliberations on the government offer. MILF’s chief negotiator, Mohagher Iqbal, had recommended to the MILF body to reject the government proposal. "The MILF will make a consensus and collective decision on this as soon as possible," he said. Murad sought to downplay speculations that the MILF had already rejected the government offer. "We did not reject the government proposal. But it was not discussed because after careful look on it by our peace panel during the last meeting Malaysia, they saw no points of discussion," said Murad. He said the MILF peace panel believes that the government offer has no connection with the previous agreements and consensus reached by MILF and government negotiators during the past 14 years of negotiations. Murad said the negotiations will continue. “The negotiation is still on. There is no declaration by either party that the talks had already collapse and it will continue," he said. "Even if we reject the proposal then the government can still make another proposal... We are confident that the government realized that this is the best way to move forward the peace process," he added. Nevertheless, he said the MILF will not sign a peace agreement which is contrary to the aspiration of the Bangsamoro people for self-governance and right to self-determination. “The MILF proposal is for a sub-state for the Bansgamoro which is a smaller state under the Philippine State," he said. Earlier, chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen said the current divide allows for ample room for agreement on issues as the talks progress and cautioned against quick judgment on government’s sincerity based on comparisons between its autonomy offer and the overtly declared sub-state aspirations of the MILF. — LBG, GMA News