A Philippine Army soldier mans his gun near a base of Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
MAGUINDANAO (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 4, 2011) – Peace talks between Filipino peace negotiators and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels ended with no major agreement, but both sides committed to hasten the talks aimed at ending decades of bloody fighting in Mindanao.
The talks, held in Kuala Lumpur, discussed recent fighting between military and rebel forces in Mindanao, and government accusations that MILF commanders are involved in kidnappings for ransom and terrorism.
“The negotiators of the two parties emerged from the meeting room with both sides announcing modest gains that could be nurtured to move forward the peace process towards a political settlement of the Moro Question and the armed conflict that haunted Philippine administrations since independence in 1946,” the MILF said.
It said the both groups agreed to discuss substantive agenda on the next round of peace talks, probably before the end of this month. Peace negotiators also leveled off on each other's concepts, and identified common grounds and differences that would further hasten the talks.
Both sides also called for a joint investigation into the deadly clash in Basilan’s Al-Barka town that left 19 soldiers and five rebels dead on October 18. The probe will also be participated by the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG).
Peace negotiators said they would await recommendations of the investigating teams relating to the review of the ceasefire mechanisms.
The MILF also reiterated its cooperation with Philippine authorities for the “interdiction of kidnap for ransom groups, criminal groups/syndicates, and so-called lost commands pursuant to the Joint Communiqué of AHJAG,” it said.
Those who attended the talks were government chief peace negotiator Marvic Leonen and members of his panel Prof. Miriam Ferrer, Senen Bacani, and its secretariat Iona Jalijali and Johaira Wahab.
And the MILF peace panel was headed by Mohagher Iqbal, Michael Mastura, Maulana Alonto, Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga and its secretariat Jun Mantawil, Mike Pasigan and Mohajirin Ali.
The MILF peace negotiators also met with members of the International Contact Group - David Gorman, of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue; Dr. Steven Rood, of The Asia Foundation; Dr. Markus Sudibyo, of Muhammadiyah; Emma Leslie, of Conciliation Resources; Yasin Temizkan, of the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur; and British Embassy and Japanese Embassy officials in Malaysia - and briefed them about the progress of the talks.
The MILF, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, is fighting for self-determination in Mindanao, home to about 4 million Muslims and over 19 million Christians and indigenous tribes.
The rebel group demanded for the establishment of a Muslim sub-state, but Manila rejected this and instead offers a wider autonomy which shall be voted upon by Filipinos, and the government proposal was also trashed by the MILF. (Mindanao Examiner)
The talks, held in Kuala Lumpur, discussed recent fighting between military and rebel forces in Mindanao, and government accusations that MILF commanders are involved in kidnappings for ransom and terrorism.
“The negotiators of the two parties emerged from the meeting room with both sides announcing modest gains that could be nurtured to move forward the peace process towards a political settlement of the Moro Question and the armed conflict that haunted Philippine administrations since independence in 1946,” the MILF said.
It said the both groups agreed to discuss substantive agenda on the next round of peace talks, probably before the end of this month. Peace negotiators also leveled off on each other's concepts, and identified common grounds and differences that would further hasten the talks.
Both sides also called for a joint investigation into the deadly clash in Basilan’s Al-Barka town that left 19 soldiers and five rebels dead on October 18. The probe will also be participated by the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG).
Peace negotiators said they would await recommendations of the investigating teams relating to the review of the ceasefire mechanisms.
The MILF also reiterated its cooperation with Philippine authorities for the “interdiction of kidnap for ransom groups, criminal groups/syndicates, and so-called lost commands pursuant to the Joint Communiqué of AHJAG,” it said.
Those who attended the talks were government chief peace negotiator Marvic Leonen and members of his panel Prof. Miriam Ferrer, Senen Bacani, and its secretariat Iona Jalijali and Johaira Wahab.
And the MILF peace panel was headed by Mohagher Iqbal, Michael Mastura, Maulana Alonto, Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga and its secretariat Jun Mantawil, Mike Pasigan and Mohajirin Ali.
The MILF peace negotiators also met with members of the International Contact Group - David Gorman, of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue; Dr. Steven Rood, of The Asia Foundation; Dr. Markus Sudibyo, of Muhammadiyah; Emma Leslie, of Conciliation Resources; Yasin Temizkan, of the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur; and British Embassy and Japanese Embassy officials in Malaysia - and briefed them about the progress of the talks.
The MILF, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, is fighting for self-determination in Mindanao, home to about 4 million Muslims and over 19 million Christians and indigenous tribes.
The rebel group demanded for the establishment of a Muslim sub-state, but Manila rejected this and instead offers a wider autonomy which shall be voted upon by Filipinos, and the government proposal was also trashed by the MILF. (Mindanao Examiner)
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