Noynoy’s statement on Moro Question noted well, but the ‘devil’ is in details
2010-07-28

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has generally appreciated the part of President Noynoy Aguino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) that relates to the GRP-MILF peace process, but remained very cautious in making sweeping conclusion that genuine and just peace settlement is in the corner.

“We cannot question intention,” said Lawyer Lanang Ali, the longest serving member of the MILF Peace Panel, “but he told www.luwaran.com that the “devils in negotiations is in the details.”

“Sometimes, words are used to conceal what is in the hearts of men,” he added, but he acknowledged that Noynoy, like former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is enjoying early high trust rating among Moros of Mindanao.

In his SONA, Noynoy touched on the twin insurgencies in the country and for which he had this say on the GRP-MILF Peace Talks (English translation by this website):

"Dalawa ang hinaharap nating suliranin sa usapin ng kapayapaan: ang situwasyon sa Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pag-aaklas ng CPP-NPA-NDF. (We are facing two problems regarding the peace processes: the situation in Mindanao and the continuing struggle of the CPP-NPA-NDF).

Tungkol sa situwasyon sa Mindanao: Hindi po nagbabago ang ating pananaw. Mararating lamang ang kapayapaan at katahimikan kung mag-uusap ang lahat ng apektado: Moro, Lumad, at Kristiyano. Inatasan na natin si Dean Marvic Leonen na mangasiwa sa ginagawa nating pakikipag-usap sa MILF. (Regarding the situation in Mindanao: Our view has not changed. We can only have peace and tranquility if everyone of those affected will talk with each other: Moro, Lumad, Christians. I have already instructed Dean Marvic Leonen to take charge in our talks with the MILF.

Iiwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon, kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng Mindanao. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa mga dudang may kulay ng pulitika ang proseso, at hindi ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tanging interes. (We will refrain from erring again like what the previous administration had done when the people of Mindanao were just disturbed. We cannot play blind to these uncertainty and process which have political colors, not for the real interests of the people).

Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan.” (We recognize the steps taken by the MILF in disciplining their ranks. We expect the negotiations to reopen after Ramadan).

Meanwhile, Datu Antonio Kinoc, who sometimes served as alternate member of the MILF Peace Panel, representing the indigenous tribes of Mindanao, had this comment on the SONA: “It is very soft and merely repeated the old cliché that in order to solve the problem, “people-to-people” talking to each other is encouraged.

He also criticized Noynoy’s use of the phraseology “situwasyon sa Mindanao” which he described as a much tamed terminology and did not mean at all like what is happening in any other place.

He said the problem in Mindanao is sovereignty-based conflict that requires sincere, hard, and objective solution.

“More importantly, political will is the key to solving this conflict,” he stressed.

Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF Peace Panel (deactivated), when asked to comment on the SONA, merely recalled that whoever became president of the Philippines from Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had kind words for the peace process.

“We hope President Noynoy will make the difference,” he added, without elaborating.

website:http://www.luwaran.net/index/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1482:noynoys-statement-on-moro-question-noted-well-but-the-devil-is-in-details&catid=81:moro-news&Itemid=372

Author: Luwaran
Source: Luwaran.net
Date Published : 2010-07-27

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