Govt: MNLF, MILF must work together

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – As the Zamboanga siege continues, the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the last 2 annexes needed for a final peace agreement.
Angela Casauay reports from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

It’s the brutal irony of the current Mindanao peace process under the Aquino administration.
As the government and the MILF thresh out the final details on the annexes on Bangsamoro power-sharing and normalization, security forces are locked in a 9–day standoff with the MILF’s rival group.
Seen as a move to dilute the gains of the talks, the MNLF troops attacked Zamboanga the day the MILF and the government resumed talks here in Kuala Lumpur.

MIRIAM CORONEL-FERRER
GOV’T PEACE PANEL CHAIR
The mood is somber because we constantly update ourselves with what’s going on Zamboanga and the rest of Mindanao and we are aware that the situation, there are several incidents that are not very good news.

The government is under fire for allegedly sidelining other interest groups as it forges a peace pact with the MILF.
A faction of the MNLF earlier slammed the government’s supposed ‘divide and rule tactics’ in Muslim Mindanao.
But the government maintains it has not abandoned the peace pact with the MNLF.
Government was hoping the MNLF and the MILF peace processes will ‘converge’.

MEHOL SADAIN
NCMF SECRETARY, PEACE PANEL MEMBER
The past negotiation with the MNLF is part of the continuing change process. And eventually the aim is to draw them in, provided they are willing to come in, so eventually the governance will be by the entirel Bangsamoro. You have to remember that in 2016, assuming there’s going to be a new election ratified by a plebiscite the election will be open to everybody in the Bangsamoro, not just the MILF.

Government says the peace talks will not just benefit one group but the entire Bangsamoro.

MIRIAM CORONEL-FERRER
GOV’T PEACE PANEL CHAIR
What the government can not agree to or promise is that everything can be delivered to Misuari because at the end of the day that is probably his main interest.

Government adds, it’s also up to the rival groups to take the initiative to come together.

MEHOL SADAIN
NCMF CHAIR, PEACE PANEL MEMBER
It is not however within our power to force them to get together because that has to be arranged between the two of them and I think even the OIC has pushed for this and there are a number of CSOs that has pushed them along this line.

For now, the government will continue to engage both sides – in separate tables but towards the same goal.
The Aquino administration wants to finish the transition towards the Bangsamoro before he steps down from office in 2016.
As the government races against time to sign a final peace pact with MILF, it is also racing against time to resolve the situation in Zamboanga.
Could this just be the toughest test for Aquino’s peace policy?
Angela Casauay, Rappler, Kuala Lumpur. – Rappler.com