While many heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing the news that peace talks between Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front collapsed Friday, there were also those who were disappointed.
Many of those who are disappointed do not necessarily believe that the memorandum of agreement that Arroyo’s representatives will sign with MILF leaders will lead to peace in Mindanao. In fact, like those who oppose the proposed agreement, they believe that it is just a vehicle for Arroyo to push for charter change so that she can stay in power beyond 2010.
In the MOA that was supposed to be signed August 5, the government commits the government to a change of “legal framework” because the creation of a Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity will required a federal state. That means the Constitution of the Philippines will have to be changed to make the form of government a federal system.
With a new form of government, Gloria Arroyo will then be eligible to remain in power.
The expected timetable for charter change is September next year.
Lito Banayo, former head of the Philippine Tourism Authority, former political adviser of former President Estrada and now columnist of Malaya, said in last Friday’s forum of former senior government officials , Arroyo’s sinister plan of hijacking the Mindanao peace process to push her own selfish agenda is not exactly bad for those who want to oust her.
He said, cha-cha at this time could be the tipping point that the growing anti-Arroyo forces are waiting for.
Banayo said those who have tolerated Arroyo these past years thinking that they have only two years left to suffer might now snuff out of their complacency and join those working for her ouster.
But it looks like those who are disappointed might be happy again because the latest news from Carol Arguillas of Mindanao News is that the GRP-MILF talks might resume today. She said Hermogenes Esperon, presidential adviser on peace process, texted her yesterday afternoon from Kuala Lumpur saying, “We’re hoping to restart.”
Arguillas said government negotiators are hoping to” break the impasse, presumably before President Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address (SONA)” today.
Yes, the concern is not really for lasting peace but to save Arroyo. Right now the immediate need is to save her SONA.
(Speaking of SONA, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza issued a press statement detailing what Arroyo will wear today at the SONA. He said, GMA’s gown will “capture the theme of self-reliance, protecting the environment,helping the poor, the vulnerable capacity of Filipino to excel fro stability of the nation beyond.” Jesus!)
But what really caused the breakdown of of the talks? Here’s from the MILF account:
“The second day (July 25) 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.”
In these critical times, I often reread the words of the poet Archibald Macleish: “How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms; by truth when it is attacked by lies; by democratic faith when it is attacked by authoritarian dogma. Always and in the final act, by determination and faith.”
Gloria Arroyo is desperate to salvage peace talks for her SONA. It’s all for show. She wants to boast in front of TV cameras that she’s a peace maker. Anyways, nobody believes her fantastic goals and achievements. Bulok ang style mo Gloria!
Philippines, rebels reach deal on Muslim homeland
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=126556
Mukhang napilitan lang makipag areglo ang gobyerno para lang may masabi yun tyanak sa SONA. Pagkatapos ng SONA, ano kaya? Hindi na natuto ang mga Moro. Nakalimutan na nila ang pangako ni Ramos na hanggang ngayon hindi pa natutupad. Ganun din ang mangyayari dito. Hindi ba nila alam na sinungaling ang kausap nila? Ano naman kaya ang pinangako ni Esperon?
Walang laman ang SONA ni Gloria kaya gown na lang ang gustong pag-usapan ni Duraza. Ayan minamabilis ang peace process at nang meron siyang maireport na panggulat kay Kelly, ang manager ng US embassy (kay Nelbar yan), na kay daling bolahin ni Gloria. At saka nakakahalata na yata na sumasakit na ang tiyan ng madlang pipol sa katatawa sa kanyang gown! Ha!ha!ha!
Tatawirin ni Ass ang ikapitong-bundok kahit punong-puno ng anaconda para maibigay sa kanyang eternal love na si Gloria ang ‘fixed process’ in time for her fake SONA.
Problem with Gloria Garutay is she assumes too much. She thinks that she alone knows everything and everybody around should not do anything but do as she says. She is actually not negotiating with the Moslems. She dictating on them. Fortunately, the group is not really made up of idiots who would meekly do her bid. Ano gago?
All the policemen and the whole AFP are going to guard the whore when she delivers the SONA. They warned the officers not to get sick so they can all be accounted for. What is wrong with this whore and what is she afraid of. Maybe she will declare WAR among the Filipino people. Those stupid soldiers will follow her orders? Remember, she is useless without her guard. To the officers, you will free from bundage the whole Philippines and you will be heroes to your country men if you do not obey her. For once be a patriot.
If the agreement will create an Islamic state via a referendum exclusively participated in by Moro villages, it will lead to nothing. It will only be declared unconstitutional for violating the terrritory clause of the Phil. Constitution. The resulting state will be non-contiguous resulting in the overlapping of territories. They can only limit their boundaries to that surrounding island provinces like Basilan and Sulu.
In other words, ginagago lang nila ang mga Muslim. Dinadamay pa ang mga Kristiyano sa buong bansa. Kaya pala gustong i-postpone ni Gloria ang ARMM elections, para pumayag ang mga kapwa niya “unelected warlords” na magbotohan sa MOA kahit di sila pabor dito kung ang kapalit naman ay mas mahabang pag-upo sa puwesto.
She knows that the terms she agreed to will not be approved in a plebiscite. You are right,Tongue, niloloko lang niya ang mga Muslim. That was what Adel Tamano said.
What is more important to her is she was able to insert the charter change. Once again, she has Hermogenes Esperon to operate for her.
If that’s the case, even ARMM will reject her charter change. Ayaw ng mga Muslim ng double-crosser, kahit kapatid pinapatay nila pag nagkaonsehan.
As for the plebiscite, she can’t railroad it. Or that will be her own death warrant.
On second thought, how I wish she would do it.
Go, go, go, Gloria! Time to push your chacha. You’ve enough money from VAT you can pay everybody: bishops, police, soldiers, politicians, it’s gonna be a walk in the park. Go for it, now!
Chacha na, dali!
Chi: Ayan minamabilis ang peace process at nang meron siyang maireport na panggulat kay Kelly,
*****
Pero mukhang buelta yata si Kenny-ng buri mo. Amenado na ngayong unpopular si Pandack Omama kapareho daw ni Bush. At least, sa America, paalis na si Bush, leaving nothing but shame and scandal that will be remembered for life and eternity. Biruin mong makilala ka and lined-up with Hitler for what he did in Iraq and Afghanistan that the next president now agonizes what and how to leave both countries in glory, not in shame as what happened in Vietnam.
Pero mukhang nature likewise is not cooperating. Mukhang out talaga ang Republican. Mukhang may sakit si McCain sick with melanoma.
Sana ganyan din sa Pilipinas. Kahit sampu lang ang magdasal in fact, puedeng pakinggan ng Panginoon for the sake of the majority. Pero mukha yatang malabo kasi pati iyong mga pari mukhang salapi na rin.
Adel Tamano is on Erap’s senatorial list. This guy is super good. The opposition, the Senate, the Muslims, most of all the country needs him.
Who said that Bush is in line with Hitler. That is according to your narrow mindedness. We are improving in Iraq. The surge is working, our plan is to fight the enemy in their territory instead of New York City. America will leave Iraq a democratic country. I don’t understand this mentality that they hate America yet everybody wants to sneak in. The American haters just want to work here and take advantage of the freebees but does not want to participate in the American process. The WAR in Iraq was approved the the U.S. Congress and by the United Nation. Why then are you blaming Bush? I guess you are incline to blame Bush because of your ignorance.
dandaw, your opinion is respected. Just one thing, though. Americans are nice and it’s not actually the Americans who are hated. It’s the US government that even Americans hate.
Bitchevil, You mean the Democrat lead Congress? I agree with you, their rating is 9%. Just today Pelosi – Speaker of the House, won’t agree to let drilling on the Continental Shelf and in Anwar, Alaska come to a vote. So Congress went on vacation. How bad is that? To drill and to exhaust all means to make us energy sufficient? The ugly Americans you are all talking about are the Democrats.