MILF holds peace advocacy on Framework Accord in Palawan

Palawan, South Philippines, 12 Shafar 1434/ 25 December 2012 (MINA) – The peace advocacy on the Government of the Philippines (GPH) – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Framework Accord on the Bangsamoro conducted by the Political Committee under the MILF First Vice Chairman in the municipality of Rizal, Palawan was successfully culminated yesterday of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Close to 2000 Bangsamoro people belonging to the Panimusan, Mapun, Tausug, Maranaw, Maguindanao tribes and the indigenous peoples from the municipalities of Bataraza,Quezon, Narra, Rizal and Puerto Princesa City were in attendance, according to reports published in Bangsamoro website www.luwaran.com monitored by Mi’raj NewsAgency (MINA).

Representatives from the local government units, civil society organizations, Philippine Marines and the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC) lauded the program, saying it gives strong indication of the strong support of all sectors to achieve enduring peace and prosperity in the country.

The GPH and MILF Peace Process mechanisms on the ground were mobilized to coordinate properly the conduct of the peace advocacy.

Since the signing of the GPH – MILF Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in Presidential Palace at Malacanang, Manila last October 15, 2012, both the government and MILF had been very active in conducting peace advocacy aimed at consolidating popular support necessary for the entire country will be ssary to ensure the success in the implementation of the Framework Agreement.

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“Our people and all sectors of the society must be made aware properly about the Framework to muster popular support and ownership of the Framework,” said Sabdani, MILF Political Chairman in Palawan.

Sabdani thanked the local government of Rizal for the strong support extended to the peace advocacy.

He also thanked the Prime Minister Najib of the Government of Malaysia and its people, President Noynoy Aquino III and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim for the strong commitment to peace leading to the signing of the Framework.

“We are convinced that the Framework Agreement when faithfully implemented the elusive peace and prosperity for all will be achieved soon,” he said.

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MILF is the largest and now most influential Islamic movement in the southern islands of Philippines. It has embarked on peace negotiation with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines with the facilitation of the Government of Malaysia since 2001.

MILF to name TC members soon

MILF in a plenary session yesterday, has started to select from the short list in made earlier its nominees to the 15-man Transition Commission (TC) which, among other functions, will write the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Government.

This was disclosed to Luwaran today by Muhammad Ameen, chairperson of the MILF Secretariat, who said that the process was so strict and meticulous that each nominee has to get 100 percent concurrence, or at least no dissenting view, from all the members present before he or she is selected. Any dissenting view means an automatic disqualification of the nominee.

He explained that each nominee has two prerequisite qualifications namely, loyalty and dedication to the Bangsamoro cause and capability to discharge the assigned task.

The MILF normally decides by selection and by concurrence of the leadership. Secret balloting or raising of hands or division of the house rule to elect someone into any office or to make decision is rarely followed, which is being viewed as divisive, confrontational, and adversarial.

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The MILF Central Committee has about 70 members but during regular meeting only regular members thereof are required to attend. However, when major issues like the vacancy in the office of the chairman or a major policy shift occurs all other members of the MILF central leadership, as well as sectoral leaders of Moro society, are invited to attend to participate in the formulation of decisions.

Ameen disclosed that most of the nominees to the TC by the MILF have been named already including one woman, one member of the indigenous people (IP), one aleem (learned in Islam), and one senior military leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

He said that one or two are yet to be named within three days from now. (T/R-022/R-006)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)