Philippine govt and MNLF sign peace agreement<\/p>\n
By Pandaya<\/p>\n
MANILA (JP): The Philippine government and the Moslem-
\nseparatist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) signed a peace
\nagreement yesterday, thereby ending 25 years of conflict which
\nclaimed more than 125,000 lives.<\/p>\n
In the historic event at the Malacanang presidential palace,
\nthe Philippine government was represented by Manuel T. Yan, who
\nrepresents its peace panel, and the MNLF by its chairman Nur
\nMisuari.<\/p>\n
Witnessing the signing of the agreement were Philippine
\nPresident Fidel V. Ramos, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs
\nAli Alatas and Secretary-General of the Organization of the
\nIslamic Conference (OIC) Hamid Algabid.<\/p>\n
The accord, which was finalized in Jakarta last week under
\nIndonesia's facilitation, sets up a three-year interim Southern
\nCouncil for Peace and Development to supervise the economic
\ndevelopment of 14 southern provinces.<\/p>\n
Misuari will head the council, the forerunner to the
\nadministration of the Moslem autonomous region to be installed in
\nthree years time.<\/p>\n
President Ramos and Misuari hugged each other amid thunderous
\napplaud from about 1,000 religious and community leaders in their
\ncolorful Mindanao traditional costumes, church leaders and
\npoliticians that packed into the palace's function room.<\/p>\n
"Today we are all victors once again. We stand triumphant over
\nwar and violence -- over fear and mistrust -- over disunity and
\ndespair," Ramos said.<\/p>\n
"Our people in the South and all over our republic can now
\nrejoice and embrace one another as brothers and sisters of one
\nfamily," he added.<\/p>\n
Ramos and Misuari praised President Soeharto and his
\nadministration for ensuring the peace talks concluded to the
\nsatisfaction of all parties.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which is an OIC member, hosted the MNLF-Philippine
\ngovernment peace talks since 1993.<\/p>\n
The peace accord allows the government to skirt constitutional
\nhurdles like elections and legislations, albeit only temporarily.
\nBut both sides will have to face the voters in 1999 when Manila
\nis required to hold a referendum to determine which areas will
\nfall under Moslem autonomy.<\/p>\n
The five million Moslems on Mindanao consider the island their
\nancestral homeland even though Christian migrants now outnumber
\nthem.<\/p>\n
Christian politicians have vowed to fight the peace deal
\nbecause they fear autonomy will eventually lead to domination by
\nMoslems.<\/p>\n
Filipino Moslems belonging to the Moro Islamic National
\nLiberation Front (MILF) and others led by Abu Sayyaf, who want to
\nmake Mindanao into an independent Islamic state, are also opposed
\nto it.<\/p>\n
Misuari said in a press conference that the first thing he
\nwould do is restore stability but not raise expectations. "We
\nwill tell our sisters and brothers not to expect too much too
\nsoon because we cannot provide everything overnight," he said.<\/p>\n
He reckoned that the major problem he is likely to face after
\nthe agreement takes effect is how to "establish peace" in the
\nsouthern provinces considering the lack of a budget to implement
\nit.<\/p>\n
Misuari dispelled doubts on the prospects of the accord once
\nRamos is no longer in power. "He (President Ramos) has ensured me
\nhe would see to it that his successor is someone sympathetic to
\nthe Moro cause," he said.<\/p>\n
He said security is his major concern because the MNLF does
\nnot have its own police force and has to rely on the government's
\narmed forces.<\/p>\n
An estimated 7,500 MNLF troops will join the Philippine Armed
\nForces and the police.<\/p>\n
The secessionist conflict in the southern provinces started
\nwhen MNLF militia seized the Mindanao state university in Marawi
\nin October 1972.<\/p>\n
Peace talks made progress only after political stability
\nreturned to the Philippines under the Ramos administration, which
\nrestarted the negotiations in 1993 under the facilitation of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Alatas -- Page 2<\/p>\n
Misuari -- Page 4<\/p>\n
Photo -- Page 11<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/philippine-govt-and-mnlf-sign-peace-agreement-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }