Breaking news:
Esperon has just issued a statement from KL:
“A breakthrough has been achieved in the issue of ancestral domain in Kuala Lumpur at 8:15 PM tonite with teh signing of a joint communique between the GRP panel headed by Chair Rodolfo Garcia and the MILF panel under Chair Iqbal.
“With this positive development and the negotiations, the signing of the framework agreement on ancestral domain is tentatively set early August this year.”
From Inquirer:
ZAMBOANGA –– Peace talks between the Philippine government and Muslim separatist rebels collapsed after Manila tried to go back on an earlier agreement, rebel spokesmen said Saturday.
The separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) charged that government efforts to back down on a draft agreement, recognizing the MILF’s “ancestral domain” in the southern Philippines, had led to the breakdown, preventing the resumption of formal negotiations.
Chief MILF negotiator Mohaqer Iqbal said “the talks collapsed because the government was undoing settled issues on ancestral domain.”
This forced the cancellation of a meeting to resume formal talks on August 5, Iqbal said in a statement issued from Kuala Lumpur, where informal negotiations were being held.
Sources from the government and the MILF told Reuters on Saturday that Manila’s negotiators tried on Friday to delay the referendum on enlarging a previous Muslim homeland until after a political agreement was reached.
That would have reneged on a previous commitment to hold the vote six months after a deal on territory was signed, originally scheduled for August 5.
Continuing peace process
Malacañang would not confirm this except to say that the “peace process is a continuing effort.”
“In the latest talks in Kuala Lumpur over the last few days to finalize the draft agreement, there remain some differences,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said in a text message Saturday.
But he said that while the “meeting did not immediately bring about progress in the ancestral domain issue, I am sure that the parties will continue to look for ways to hurdle the difficulties and move the process forward.”
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said in Mindanao that the government had earlier agreed on a draft agreement on ancestral domain but it has backtracked now.
He said “this is the choice of the government, to go back to the issue of ancestral domain.”
“The MILF cannot be blamed on this,” he said.
“They should consider the consequences of their actions,” Kabalu said, warning that the MILF leadership could not always control hardliners among the guerrillas.
Moro homeland
Formal peace talks with the 12,000-member guerrilla group which signed a ceasefire with Manila in 2003, have stalled for months due to disagreements over what authority the MILF would exercise over areas they claim as their ancestral homeland.
The MILF has been insisting on the inclusion of at least 1,000 villages in the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity but as to where these villages are located has been kept secret.
Both sides had hoped to wrap up the talks on an ancestral homeland this week in Kuala Lumpur ahead of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s annual state of the nation address on Monday.
About a week ago, government and MILF representatives reached a deal on the controversial “ancestral domain” issue that both sides said would lead to a resumption of formal negotiations.
More work needed
But Dureza said on Friday that a draft agreement with the MILF still needed a lot more work.
He also warned that any agreement would not be automatically implemented but would have to be enacted by law or by constitutional amendments.
Analysts say opposition among powerful Christian and Muslim families in the south and government hawks to a formal peace deal with the MILF and Arroyo’s reliance on their support mean Manila’s negotiating strategy is wobbly and easily thrown off course.
“Government has to get its act together,” said Camilo Montesa, policy adviser at the Institute for Autonomy and Governance at Notre Dame University on the southern island of Mindanao.
“It must have a more comprehensive and coherent strategy on how to deal with the Muslim problem in the south and do away with its more tactical approach on the peace negotiations.”
Not a total collapse
Rodolfo Garcia, a retired army general and Manila’s chief negotiator, said on Saturday the negotiations remained open, describing it as an “impasse not a total collapse”.
“We can still save it,” he told Reuters.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Auxiliary Bishop of Cotabato, was similarly optimistic.
“Let’s not be prophets of doom, the collapse is temporary,” he said.
Based on statements he has been reading, Begaforo said the breakdown pertained only to the date of the next talks and not the entire negotiations.
“It’s the date that was postponed… no hurry. Things might be for the good of all. More time to look at the documents. Both parties can give it a second look,” he said.
Bagaforo said the quest for lasting peace should continue for better life for all in Mindanao.
“Ergo, let’s not kill it with all our threats but revive again with our support and encouragement,” he said.
Ending violence
While a deal on ancestral lands was no guarantee a final settlement to one of Southeast Asia’s most intractable conflicts was in the offing, it was an important step along the way to ending violence that has killed 120,000 people since the late 1960s.
Real progress appeared to have been made when Arroyo this week supported postponing August 11 elections in the Muslim south because progress in talks with the 11,000-member MILF made a new political setup a possibility.
Some lawmakers in Manila were opposed to the postponement and complained that they did not know what had been agreed with the MILF. They said Congress was not consulted on the issue.
“Some of these people were allies of the President and their opinions and sentiments may have somewhat affected government’s position,” Montesa, a lawyer, told Reuters.
Cementing the MILF, which has been observing a fragile truce with the government since 2003, into a political structure in the south would unleash a wave of investment into the resource-rich island of Mindanao and boost the entire country.
The two sides have been talking, on and off, since 1997.
With reports from Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, INQUIRER.net; Edwin Fernandez and Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao
Gloria Garutay never keeps her words. This woman does not know the meaning of the “palabra de honor.” Why can they not put that into their heads?
The flip-flop Pandack O’mama, the atras-abante pekeng presidente has no upper hand in this peace talks.
The peace process is a “continuing process”, EK said. Utot ninyo…Gloria can NOT hack it, period!
MILF’s version of the collapse:
Peace talks collapse; gov’t wants old settled issues reopened
The two-day 16th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks ended last night at 7:20 with members of the MILF peace panel walking out from the executive session in protest over government peace panel’s “changing position” on Category A on strand territory on ancestral domain aspect.
“We have conceded much and nothing in return from the government,” said MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, adding that “under these circumstances, the MILF sees illogical and unreasonable to continue with the talks.”
MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal and Atty. Datu Michael Mastura left the session hall, without saying a word thereafter. After informing their group of what had happened and after offering their Maghrib prayers, they hurriedly left for their hotel in three vehicles.
The meeting was originally slated for one day. It was only intended to finalize the text of the draft memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD), after the two Parties settled the remaining three sticky issues during their special meeting in Kuala Lumpur on July 16. But it was extended for another day, after the government peace panel headed by Secretary Rodolfo Garcia wanted at least two old settled issues reopened, which the MILF peace panel at the outset objected to, arguing that “everything has been settled already after the last special meeting.”
With the intervention of the Malaysian facilitator, the MILF agreed in due deference to the need to close the ancestral domain issue. Datuk Othman, the facilitator, reminded both sides of the need for ample time to prepare for the formal signing of the MOA-AD scheduled on August 5. Besides, there is an urgency to get the formal talks started on the agenda of the Comprehensive Compact addressing the political settlement of the Bangsamoro Problem.
The second day session opened at 3:00 pm upon the request of the government peace panel, informing the other party that the Cabinet Security Cluster-E was holding a special meeting to discuss the issue of plebiscite on the Category A on territory. The government wanted a longer period for the conduct of the plebiscite to be reckoned on the signing of the Comprehensive Compact. The MILF agreed to extend the period from six months to one year reckoning it “on the signing of the MOA-AD”, as originally fixed in the original signed document. After each Party made a justification of their respective positions, the facilitator called for a break to enable them to huddle among themselves and to consult with their principals.
After more than an hour or so, the negotiating Panels were called back to resume session, and each Party was asked to present their new formulation on the matter. The government peace panel was called first, but merely restated their original formulation and made no further elucidation, saying they have presented their case so clearly already thereby warranting no additional explanation. The MILF reiterated their earlier proposition justifying their position. “How can we explain to our people and our commanders in the field the attitude of the government,” the MILF chief negotiator is quoted to say, adding “when the GRP panel keeps on tinkering or changing what has already been settled in signed documents?”
The dramatic end came during the executive session called for by the facilitator. In attendance, aside from Datuk Othman bin Abdulrazak and Madame Hasanah binti Abdulhamid, were Secretary Garcia and Atty. Sedfrey Candelaria on the government side, and Mohagher Iqbal and Atty. Datu Michael Mastura, on the MILF side.
In the final draft of the MILF, they acceded to the request of the government to reckon the conduct of plebiscite to the signing of the Comprehensive Compact, instead of the clause “after the signing of the MOA-AD.” The draft copy was handed to the government through the Malaysian facilitator. The government also handed to the MILF through the facilitator their new draft on the conduct of plebiscite. Examining it briefly, the MILF side noticed that “the original version was watered down and worst the new draft omitted the timeframe of six months.” It was at this instance that the MILF decided to leave the executive session. Later, they informed the facilitator that they were headed for their hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Secretary Garcia headed government peace panel. He was accompanied by Prof. Rudy Rodil, Atty. Leah Armamento, Atty. Sedfrey Candelaria, Sec. Nasser Pangandamen and Director Mark Ryan Sullivan. The MILF peace panel delegation was composed of Mohagher Iqbal, Atty. Lanang Ali, Atty. Datu Michael Mastura, Bobby Alonto, Atty. Musib Buat, Jun Mantawil, Abdullah Camlian, Mike Pasigan, Amor Pendaliday, and Muhajirin Ali.
Gloria Pidal Mafia government’s Cabinet Security Cluster-E is running the show in Mindanao peace process. They are Eduardo Ermita, Ronaldo Puno, Raul Gonzalez and Norberto Gonzales. They are not sincere in dealing with MILF’s Moro homeland. Defense chief Gilbert Teodoro opposed the inclusion of some towns in Palawan in the future Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE), because his uncle, Danding Cojuangco, has a pearl farm in one of the islets in Balabak. What now Assperon? First round lang KO na.
Sa dami ng ipamimigay ni Gloria na territories sa MILF (refer to July 18 thread) ay natakot ang bruha. Nabasa kasi ang post ni Ellen na it may become the “tipping point” for people to finally wake up that could end her. Iyan ang mahirap sa blog na ito, monitored ng EK at dito kumukuha ng magiging reactions nila.
Ewan naman sa MILF kung bakit naniniwala kay Gloria. Nagsasayang lang sila ng panahon, nilalaro lang din sila.
I smell something fishy here. Who would benefit the most it the fighting in Mindanao flares up again? Moslem rebels in the south, NPAs in the north, coup plotters in NCR, rice issues, bombing in the bastusang pambansa, kulang na lang communist infiltrated rallies and the people will beg for it…
Defense chief Gilbert Teodoro opposed the inclusion of some towns in Palawan in the future Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE), because his uncle, Danding Cojuangco, has a pearl farm in one of the islets in Balabak. – Ka Diego
Ganun ba?! So, the peace process depends on vested interests of ‘kasangga’. Bakit nga ba isinama pa ang Palawan and other territories? Nagpapapogi lang si Gloria sa MILF at the same time ay niloloko lang niya ang mga ito.
Isn’t it possible to have only one armed forces in the country? Do we really have to have all these “other” armies? At times, I believe only Erap was serious about this sovereignty issue…
Jug,
Will work both ways…martial law for EK that might be successful in propping her for life, or the “tipping” point for the united kapinuyan to finally take Gloria out!
Can’t predict the denouement, ginugulo lahat ni Gloria!
chi,
I’m betting on the “tipping point” as this time around the pinoys know better and it might be the evidence everybody is looking for of her incompetence and should be fired.
And the opposition kuno like Chiz Ezcudero would rather have Gloria in two more years than act. Pathetic talaga!
“At times, I believe only Erap was serious about this sovereignty issue…” – Jug
When it comes to this issue, I have no doubt that Erap really loves Pinas and he does not want a division/subdivision of the countries. Oo nga naman, LUZVIMINDA!
Jug,
That’s also my take, kaya umatras si Gloria.
country…
Big Boss Danding Cojuangco is powerful and influential man. He must protect his own private interests at all cost.
Chi,
With all the tricks the creepy couple are doing, suspetsa ko talaga, kunyari lang iyong ibibigay kuno sa mga Moslems iyong mga lupang kinakamkam nila. In the end, sa kanila din mapupunta ang mga ancestral domain kuno nila. Landgrabbing ang labas sa totoo lang.
Hindi naman bobo si Nur Misuari and company para mabilog ni Bobita. Scholar (graduate program) ng Asian Center ng UP iyan si Nur Misuari when I was a student there. Kaya huwag mang-insulto si Bobita dahil walang sinabi ang pekeng dunong niya. Kundi pa nga nagbayad sa kung sinong UP president daw, hindi makakapasok sa UP iyan at hindi mabibigyan ng PhD.
I mean, why beg for peace with perceived enemies? You offer peace but on your terms being the sovereign right? If I remember it right, these issue would have been over with with the overrunning of Abubakar years ago. Unless there’s some wheeling and dealing again, or the MILF know something we don’t, this administration is perfectly capable of being merciless towards their enemies, why this “impasse” with the MILF? Its a rebellion, they were very good at quelling “rebellions” earlier?
Iyong Sabah sa totoo lang, kasalanan ng tatay ni Bobita kung bakit napunta sa Malaysia. O ngayon, iyong mga pilipino doon, sinisipa na ayaw pa ring umalis. Dahit sa totoo lang, ayaw din silang pabalikin sa Pilipinas ng bugaw who sells her countrymen in overseas cheap labor markets. Ipinagmalaki pa iyong mga trabahong ninanakaw sa natives ng mga bansang pinagtatapunan sa mga pilipino. Yuck!
Jug,
If the Philippine government is good and has not neglected the Moslems in the South, do you think they would want to be free and separate from the Philippines? I don’t think so, especially during the early years of the Philippine Republic after the US granted it its independence and with reparations money to be paid to the Philippines more than big enough to be far better than the other countries receiving similar compensations from Japan and their former colonizers. Kaso mo, the Moslems were not even treated well as Filipinos, kaya bakit sila magtitiyagang maging pilipino? O di gawa na lang sila ng bansang moro nila.
Simple logic lang naman.
The collapse was deliberate by the government to justify postponement of election and charter change. These are all for the Evil Bitch’s continuous stay in power beyond 2010. And whether you agree or not, Uncle Sam also benefits from the collapse to justify the US troops’ presence in the south.
Walang isang salita talaga iyan si Bobita. I doubt if she even thinks of what she says. Basta narinig niya sa iba, ginaya tapos bibigkasin niya na akala mo naman talagang maganda ang boses niya, tapos pag may nagsabi sa kaniya, “Ma’m, mali po yata, palitan natin,” pinapalita nga. In other words, estupida!
Hindi lang US ang nagnanasa sa Mindanao, BD. Pati UK at Australia sumisingit! May natural gas kasi doon!
b-evil,
My thoughts exactly. Its impossible to comprehend really, we’ve been at this (peace process)for years but still couldn’t get it right, unless we never wanted to get it right.
“… why this “impasse” with the MILF? – Jug
Because Gloria is a fake president and she does her job via transactions. She holds no leverage over anyone and anything and this “impasse” is her only survival at the moment.
Gloria is making yoyo of the peace process kuno to avoid explosions. Duwag e! Sinugod ni Erap ang mga iyan, and he took back the territories from them. Gloria is not elected kaya duwag, hanggang yoyo na lang!
Gising Pinoy bago tuluyang mawala ang kinabukasan ng mga susunod na henerasyon!
Yes, bitchevil, I agree. For whatever reasons Gloria has, the “collapse” of the peace talk is deliberate. Very obvious.
What I think of the “Ancestral Domain” claimed by the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), it’s a bad precedent to give in to MILF, I believe. Mindanao or any part thereof is Philippines, belong to all Pilipinos not only to chosen ethnic group, therefore MILF shouldn’t get a special preference. I could see now, millions of Pilipinos would be filing that their manga ninunos, great, great, great grandfather where in some island or in Manila at the beginning of time. Hence, they’ve the right for such piece of land, etc. etc.
I suggest we send in the courageous men to be led by Gery Barias, remember the “astig” police, etc. during the Manila Penn incident with Trillanes. Tutal, the MILF are clearly enemies of the state, with numerous kills (against the government) in their belt…and take the sharp shooter Martir with them…or is it a case of selective courage na naman? This time with all the photo ops they require, let them show us how “good” they really are and not just good at manhandling non-resisting “press conference” attendees, relaxing former detainees, and witless ASG characters “kuno” who get caught relatively easily using a motorcycle-with-deed-of-sale in a bombing, and of course cranky media personnel…I’d really like to see them bang around in the jungle with their APC this time.
Hey Mr. Barias, show us your stuff!!!
Sinabi mo pa, Tongue. The Dorobo has no right to make decision on lands belonging to the Philippines and to the Filipino people regardless of ethnic and religious affiliation and identification. Kaya nga malakas ang kutob kong gimmick lang ito for the massive landgrabbing they are planning with their cahoots in Mindanao, including the politicians who give her the palakpak the loudest during her lousy SONAs.
“Near total collapse of GMA’s credibility”
Peace talks collapse.
I’m excited about Gloria’s “collapse”!