Mindanao: government and Islamic rebels close to a definitive peace deal
Zamboanga (AsiaNews) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government are close to signing a memorandum of understanding that will lead to the conclusion of the peace process in the Muslim-majority region of Mindanao, after almost 40 years of violence. The signing of a first memorandum of understanding is expected in the coming days in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) where since yesterday negotiations have been underway between Islamic rebels and representatives of the Aquino government. The eventual agreement will lead to the creation of an autonomous entity in Mindanao by 2015.
Government negotiator Marvic Leonen opened the talks stressing that "MILF and the government have developed a series of key points which in the coming months will initiate a real peace process for the region". "Now", he added, "it is time to show our commitment to the people and to implement the promises made in recent years". Also Mohagher Iqbal, MILF spokesman and negotiator, expressed a "cautious optimism", stressing that "the negotiations for the start of a real peace process are now on the home stretch". "We cannot afford to get it wrong", the Islamic leader added, "in case of failure the armed movements and parties interested in preserving power and not in peace, will gain the upper hand". For Iqbal, however, it still too early to ask for a total disarmament of the MILF. The final turnover of their arms will come only after the final approval of the autonomy.
Fr. Angel Calvo, a Claretian missionary for 40 years in the Philippines and a member of the Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace in Zamboanga, confirms the optimism that shines through from the Philippine media: "There are great expectations concerning the outcome of the meeting. The climate is one of great confidence". In recent weeks the leaders of the separatist movement have helped contain the protests against the blasphemous film about Muhammad, asking the Muslim population to protest peacefully and to remove violent individuals.
The priest explains that the real breakthrough came in April when the MILF delegates agreed to take a step back from their demands of independence from Manila, accepting a new kind of autonomy for the Muslim-majority region. "These days", he explains, "the delegates are analyzing the various technical aspects of this new entity. Under scrutiny are the guarantee of fundamental rights for all communities, the separation of powers and the arrangements for the election of representatives". "The new fact", he added, "is the constant comparison of each request with the Philippine Constitution." This is to avoid speculation by the parties opposed to the Muslims' autonomy and by the more radical Islamic leaders.
In 2008 the Arroyo government had come very close to a final agreement with the Islamic rebels, but the new autonomous entity in Mindanao was judged unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, giving way to a wave of violence with more than 100 dead and 175,000 displaced persons. Fr. Calvo points out that several Muslim leaders are pushing for a strengthening of the role of sharia in the provinces with a strong Islamic majority. The government, the Moro rebels and representatives of the Catholic Church wish instead to base the merged entity on the definition of the fundamental rights that protect all inhabitants of Mindanao, including Christians and the indigenous Lumads. (S.C.)
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