Security forces guard the southern Philippines where many Muslims hail the peace talks between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (Zamboanga Journal)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 15 Feb) -- Muslims in the southern Philippines hailed the government peace talks with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and praised the agreement reached by both sides the on ancestral domain.
"It is a big breakthrough, the issues on the ancestral domain have long been the root of the Muslim insurgency problems in Mindanao, and now government and rebel peace negotiators have finally resolved this," a respected Muslim leader Ustadz Shariff Julabbi told the Zamboanga Journal.
He said the agreement on the ancestral domain reached by the government and rebel negotiators last week is one step closer to sealing a peace deal that would bring stability in the strife-torn, but mineral-rich region.
Peace negotiators reached an agreement last week on the ancestral domain and the rebel group said it is near in signing a deal that will finally put an end to the more than three decades of bloody fighting in Mindanao.
Ancestral domain refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland.
Eid Kabalu, the MILF spokesman, said government and rebel peace negotiators have agreed on several crucial issues, including the coverage of the ancestral domain in the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.
And other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes.
"It is a big breakthrough, the issues on the ancestral domain have long been the root of the Muslim insurgency problems in Mindanao, and now government and rebel peace negotiators have finally resolved this," a respected Muslim leader Ustadz Shariff Julabbi told the Zamboanga Journal.
He said the agreement on the ancestral domain reached by the government and rebel negotiators last week is one step closer to sealing a peace deal that would bring stability in the strife-torn, but mineral-rich region.
Peace negotiators reached an agreement last week on the ancestral domain and the rebel group said it is near in signing a deal that will finally put an end to the more than three decades of bloody fighting in Mindanao.
Ancestral domain refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland.
Eid Kabalu, the MILF spokesman, said government and rebel peace negotiators have agreed on several crucial issues, including the coverage of the ancestral domain in the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.
And other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes.
"We are almost there, peace is just around the corner and it is only a matter of time before a peace agreement is signed by both the peace panels. We have fulfilled the peace process," Kabalu said.
Manila said it expects to sign a peace accord with the MILF before the year ends.
Kabalu said the MILF is willing to compromise if only to arrive at an acceptable, reasonable and comprehensive agreement that would include not only the Muslims, but all 18 ethnic tribal groups in Mindanao.
Kabalu said once an agreement is reached on how the MILF can govern these areas, government and rebel peace negotiators would finally discuss the political settlement of the country's longest-running Muslim insurgency problem.
"Peace negotiators have wrapped up all previous issues and concerns on the Muslim ancestral domain and put everything into one compact agreement which will be signed probably by next month and that will finally put an end into the decades old problems of the Bangsamoro people and we are now near in finally realizing the elusive peace in Mindanao," Kabalu said.
Manila said it expects to sign a peace accord with the MILF before the year ends.
Kabalu said the MILF is willing to compromise if only to arrive at an acceptable, reasonable and comprehensive agreement that would include not only the Muslims, but all 18 ethnic tribal groups in Mindanao.
Kabalu said once an agreement is reached on how the MILF can govern these areas, government and rebel peace negotiators would finally discuss the political settlement of the country's longest-running Muslim insurgency problem.
"Peace negotiators have wrapped up all previous issues and concerns on the Muslim ancestral domain and put everything into one compact agreement which will be signed probably by next month and that will finally put an end into the decades old problems of the Bangsamoro people and we are now near in finally realizing the elusive peace in Mindanao," Kabalu said.
President Gloria Arroyo said early this year that 80% of the peace talks have been completed and that permanent peace in Mindanao is within reach.
But Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat previously denounced the agreement signed by the government and rebel peace negotiators that would give a homeland to the MILF.
He said the government signed a secret deal with the rebels that would allow them to establish an Islamic state across Mindanao under the guise of the so-called Muslim ancestral domain. "This is a complete sellout and we will not allow Mindanao to be dismembered, and we must act swiftly before it is too late," Lobregat said.
But Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat previously denounced the agreement signed by the government and rebel peace negotiators that would give a homeland to the MILF.
He said the government signed a secret deal with the rebels that would allow them to establish an Islamic state across Mindanao under the guise of the so-called Muslim ancestral domain. "This is a complete sellout and we will not allow Mindanao to be dismembered, and we must act swiftly before it is too late," Lobregat said.
Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, of the Muslim autonomous region, said any agreement between the government and rebel peace negotiators should follow a constitutional process.
"Many Christians and Muslims own vast tracts of lands in Mindanao and these just cannot be taken away or placed under the so-called ancestral domain," he said.
Many Muslims said they are supporting the government peace process and hailed the agreement on the ancestral domain.
"That is very good because Muslims really owned the land in Mindanao and were only taken away by Christian settlers and wealthy landlords," said Muslim villager Abdullah Usman Hani in Zamboanga City.
But the agreement will surely bring more troubles than peace because landlords said they will not allow the government to take their lands and give it away to the Muslims.
"That cannot be, we will fight for our rights and we will not allow anyone to take away the lands we inherited from our forefathers. There will be troubles for sure and the others will also do the same," said the 45-year old farmer Pedro Santiago.
Kabalu said allayed fears by many Christians, saying, the government and MILF peace panels will form a committee to finalize the areas covered by the ancestral domain.
"That cannot be, we will fight for our rights and we will not allow anyone to take away the lands we inherited from our forefathers. There will be troubles for sure and the others will also do the same," said the 45-year old farmer Pedro Santiago.
Kabalu said allayed fears by many Christians, saying, the government and MILF peace panels will form a committee to finalize the areas covered by the ancestral domain.
The MILF has repeatedly praised Mrs. Arroyo and Malaysia's Prime Minister
Muhammad Ahmad Badawi and the 60-member International Monitoring Team, headed by Major General Dato' Pahlawan Soheimi bin Abbas, for their support to the peace talks.
Muhammad Ahmad Badawi and the 60-member International Monitoring Team, headed by Major General Dato' Pahlawan Soheimi bin Abbas, for their support to the peace talks.
Mrs. Arroyo opened peace negotiations with the MILF in 2001 and Malaysia, an influential member of the Organization of Islamic Conference, is helping broker the talks in en effort to bring stability to the region.
Aleem Abdul Aziz Minbantas, MILF deputy chief for military affairs, cited Mrs. Arroyo's sincere efforts to bring peace in Mindanao.
"The peace talks between the government and the MILF have been yielding positive breakthroughs, which indicate the high prospect of peacefully solving the centuries-old conflict in Mindanao," he said previously.
He attributed the positive developments of the peace negotiations to the strong commitment of the MILF and Arroyo government in ending the hostilities in Mindanao.
"Realizing a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the centuries-old conflict in southern Philippines will not only benefit the Bangsamoro people, but also the entirety of the Filipino people and the neighboring countries in the Asian region," Minbantas said.
Aleem Abdul Aziz Minbantas, MILF deputy chief for military affairs, cited Mrs. Arroyo's sincere efforts to bring peace in Mindanao.
"The peace talks between the government and the MILF have been yielding positive breakthroughs, which indicate the high prospect of peacefully solving the centuries-old conflict in Mindanao," he said previously.
He attributed the positive developments of the peace negotiations to the strong commitment of the MILF and Arroyo government in ending the hostilities in Mindanao.
"Realizing a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the centuries-old conflict in southern Philippines will not only benefit the Bangsamoro people, but also the entirety of the Filipino people and the neighboring countries in the Asian region," Minbantas said.
Even the Murad Ebrahim, the MILF chieftain, said his group is willing to end hostilities in Mindanao and is sincere in the talks with the government.
"Peace is almost at hand. After decades of unrelenting struggle, our flickering hope for a just and comprehensive political solution to the Bangsamoro problem is rekindled. Our legitimate aspiration for a rightful place in our society has once again assumed its proper shape."
"Peace is almost at hand. After decades of unrelenting struggle, our flickering hope for a just and comprehensive political solution to the Bangsamoro problem is rekindled. Our legitimate aspiration for a rightful place in our society has once again assumed its proper shape."
"Our life-long dream to establish and develop our homeland as a permanent legacy to the next generation of Bangsamoro people, and the generation after that, which they can call their own, will soon — insha' Allah (God willing) — become a reality," Ebrahim told about 2 million supporters during a plenum in Maguindanao last year.
The MILF has been fighting for independence since it split with the Moro National Liberation in 1978.
Last month, the MILF bared a comprehensive plan to help the government -- once a peace agreement is signed -- in the rehabilitation and development of war-torn areas in Mindanao
It said it would strengthen the agricultural industry and work closely with tourism operators in an effort to attract more local and foreign visitors, and boost trade activities by promoting the mineral-rich region.
The Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), put up by the MILF and the government in 2002, will oversee the whole implementation of the ambitious plan.
It was the first time the MILF has spoken about its plan that eventually would benefit Mindanao, the country's second largest island previously under the Sultanate of Sulu and Borneo . And these are only some of what the rebels will undertake as soon as the MILF and government peace negotiators signed a formal agreement.
Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator, previously said his group is hoping to sign a comprehensive agreement with the government and finally put an end to the hostilities in Mindanao.
"The prospect of peace has become more realistic this year as the two parties, despite some controversies, are zeroing in on a negotiated political settlement as the only civilized and practical solution to end this conflict," he said.
Many Muslim countries, including the United States and the European Union, Canada and Australia have pledged to help in the development of Mindanao once the peace agreement is signed.
The Australian Agency for International Development has already contributed over $17 million in peace and development projects in Mindanao the past seven years.
Many Muslim countries, including the United States and the European Union, Canada and Australia have pledged to help in the development of Mindanao once the peace agreement is signed.
The Australian Agency for International Development has already contributed over $17 million in peace and development projects in Mindanao the past seven years.
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