Malaysia hopes for final peace agreement on Mindanao while PGMA in Malacanang
December 9, 2009 10:27 am
By Gloria Jane Baylon
MANILA, Dec. 09 — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has expressed his government’s desire to have a final peace agreement on Mindanao “cemented within the remaining months of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term" which ends on June 30, 2010.
This was noted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as it reported the first-day results of the two-day Mindanao peace talks which have resumed in Kuala Lumpur. The talks were formally resumed on Tuesday, December 8, after a stalemate of close to 14 months due to legal wrangling on the issue of ancestral domain.
”My government looks forward that a final peace agreement could be wrapped or cemented even with five months left of President Arroyo’s term," the Prime Minister said in remarks read by Kuala Lumpur’s Chief Negotiator Datuk Othman Abdul Razak.
"Although time is not on your side, I am confident that all parties recognized that major concessions and consensus have been made by both sides over the many years of tough negotiations," the Malaysian leader continued.
Malaysia is the facilitator of the talks on the peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), chaired respectively by DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis and Mohagher Iqbal.
The talks will end on Wednesday, December 9, with diplomats involved in the negotiations and members of the international contact group (ICG) jubilant that the stalled talks are “back on track.”
Prime Minister Najib sent a message to the panels congratulating President Arroyo for “her fortitude and continued commitment to forge a just and enduring comprehensive peace accord with the MILF.”
”Despite the many challenges and set-backs, she has placed the issue of security and peace on top of her agenda," the Malaysian leader added.
Najib said when he took office last April, he introduced what he called the “Malaysia concept” on the peace process for Mindanao.
It involves, he explained, “a philosophy predicated on mutual trust and respect between all communities. It was not aimed at forging a new nation but as a source of national strength, rather than as a source of conflict. I believe this is the right formula for national peace.”
Seguis expressed optimism that "the fresh round of negotiations would lead to a just, lasting, and acceptable peace in Mindanao.”
DFA also quoted Iqbal as saying “there is no other way… except the path of peace.”
The newly-constituted ICG also came to the talks in full force, Seguis said.
The foreign missions were represented by their respective heads of missions based in Kuala Lumpur. They were Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Horie Masahiko, UK High Commissioner to Malaysia Boyd McCleary and Turkey’s Charge d‘ Affaires of the embassy in Kuala Lumpur Yasin Temizkan. The four non-governmental organizations were led by David Gorman of the Humanitarian Dialogue Center, Dr. Steven Rood and Herizal Hazri of the Asia Foundation, Kristian Herbolzheimer and Cyntia Petrigh of the Conciliation Resources and Drs. Din Syamsuddin and Sudibyo Markus of Muhammadiyah.
Seguis expressed gratitude for PM Najib Razak’s “support to and confidence in the peace negotiations”. He said he is “excited and brimming with optimism because we have, at last, reached this day when we formally resume the peace negotiations.”
With Seguis in the GRP panel are Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman, Atty. Tomas O. Cabili, and Dr. Ronald L. Adamat—all natives of Mindanao.
Quoting the ICG participants, DFA said Ambassador Masahiko welcomed the resumption of formal peace talks and remarked that “Mindanao peace is important for regional peace and prosperity."
UK Ambassador McCleary was also quoted as urging both sides to continue their peace-building efforts and added that as shown by the UK’s experience in the Northern Ireland peace process, “there is real benefit in peace.”
The Jogjakarta-based NGO Muhammadiyah extolled the parties to “use soft power rather than hard power."
The two panels have also discussed the renewal of the terms of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), which presently includes Japan, Libya and Brunei.
Malaysia was the leader of the IMT but did not renew its participation since December last year. (PNA)
LDV/GJB
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