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MANILA, Philippines – Following the announcement that the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), had reached a framework agreement on Sunday, October 7, the international community expressed their support for the peace deal.
“This agreement is a testament to the commitment of all sides for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the southern Philippines. The next steps will be to ensure that the framework agreement is fully implemented,” the US State Department said in a statement.
From London, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary William Hague also issued a statement saying the agreement has the potential to bring peace and finally end the long-running conflict if implemented in 2016. Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr agreed with Hague saying the announcement offered hope that the 28-year conflict in Mindanao could be nearing its end.
As a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) — a group of foreign states and international non-governmental organizations that is tasked to assist in the peace process between the GPH and the MILF — Hague said the UK saw first-hand the leadership of both the government and the rebels, and their commitment to finding an acceptable agreement.
Japan, another member of the ICG, also said in a statement that it “heartily welcomes” the framework agreement, which it calls “an important first step toward the realization” of peace.
Like the UK, Japan also praised the efforts of both sides, as well as the role of Malaysia as a facilitator in the talks. The ICG too released a separate statement hailing Aquino and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad for their “courage and determination.”
On Sunday, President Benigno Aquino III announced that the government and the MILF — which has sought independence from the rest of the country — had reached an agreement on a plan to end a separatist insurgency that started in the 1970s.
The agreement aims to establish a new semi-autonomous Muslim area called ‘Bangsamoro’ in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, which the MILF regards as its ancestral homeland.
Won’t be easy
While optimistic about the agreement, both Japan and the UK recognized that the framework is only the beginning. Obstacles to the agreement include a final approval of the deal by a plebiscite, and an agreement on the extent of the territory to be included in Bangsamoro, among others.
Japan acknowledged that “more difficulties must be overcome to reach the final agreement,” urging both parties to implement the contents of the framework agreement.
British Ambassador Stephen Lillie added that challenges loom before peace will be actualized, a lesson it learned from the UK’s experience in negotiating and implementing a peace agreement in Northern Ireland.
“One of the most relevant lessons at this point is to recognize that even after an agreement it won’t all be plain sailing, and there will still be challenges. But with commitment and hard work these will be far outweighed by the benefits of peace, as our own experience since the Good Friday Agreement was signed 14 years ago shows,” she said.
Both nations emphasized they are ready to continue supporting both sides as needed.
“We stand ready to provide further assistance if such a role would be valuable to the parties,” the statement from the British Embassy said.
Japan added it will continue to dispatch its experts on development to the International Monitoring Team, help in the implementation of economic cooperation projects in former conflict-affected areas, and stay active in the ICG on the peace talks.
Aside from Japan and the UK, the ICG, organized through an agreement between the two parties in 2009, boasts the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and international NGOs the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Conciliation Resources, Muhammadiyah and The Asia Foundation as its members. – Rappler.com
Read the full text of President Noynoy Aquino’s speech: Agreement paves way for enduring peace in Mindanao
Read the full text of the Framework Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the establishment of the new autonomous political entity, Bangsamoro, that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
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