From the MILF Website (Aug 23): MILF to bring three non-organic observers to KL meeting
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Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, told Luwaran that three non-MILF organic members are given the go-signal to attend the opening session of the 39th GPH-MILF Exploratory Talks at the Palace of the Golden Horses in Selangor, Malaysia tomorrow.
Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, told Luwaran that three non-MILF organic members are given the go-signal to attend the opening session of the 39th GPH-MILF Exploratory Talks at the Palace of the Golden Horses in Selangor, Malaysia tomorrow.
The meeting will end on August 25.
However, he did not identify the observers except by saying that two are women, high-profile civil society workers and one Moro male, who figured prominently in pro-peace activities in the Philippines.
“They are friends of the peace process,” Mantawil said.
The permission was granted first by the MILF central committee through its peace panel and then the Malaysian facilitator, when officially asked to comment, posed no objection provided the GPH side will concur. Through it secretariat, the GPH was not opposed to the idea.
In previous peace talks in Kuala Lumpur, the government had been used to bring high government and legislative officials to observe the talks, which the MILF willingly concurred with.
When asked to give his views, Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace panel, described the attendance of these high government officials as something good for the peace process.
During the last session of the parties in Kuala Lumpur last July 8-15, no less than Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles and Secretary Edwin Lacierda graced the occasion. Observers believed that their presence bolstered the chances for the signing of the Annex on Wealth-sharing, which so has been admitted as the most difficult most issue to resolve.
Procedurally, observers are granted attendance only during the opening session and closing ceremony. But there were instances that they were also invited even during the plenary session.
Secretary Deles was present during the dying minutes of the last meeting, which proved very helpful to the GPH side that led to the signing of the Annex on Wealth-sharing.
Meanwhile Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, a regular member of the MILF peace panel, and currently heads the team on power-sharing, will not join the MILF delegation. He is in the hospital for severe shoulder aches. Jun Mantawil was designated to head the team, which counts lawyers Cocoy Mastura and Roslayne Maniri as members.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/519-milf-to-bring-three-non-organic-observers-to-kl-meeting
However, he did not identify the observers except by saying that two are women, high-profile civil society workers and one Moro male, who figured prominently in pro-peace activities in the Philippines.
“They are friends of the peace process,” Mantawil said.
The permission was granted first by the MILF central committee through its peace panel and then the Malaysian facilitator, when officially asked to comment, posed no objection provided the GPH side will concur. Through it secretariat, the GPH was not opposed to the idea.
In previous peace talks in Kuala Lumpur, the government had been used to bring high government and legislative officials to observe the talks, which the MILF willingly concurred with.
When asked to give his views, Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace panel, described the attendance of these high government officials as something good for the peace process.
During the last session of the parties in Kuala Lumpur last July 8-15, no less than Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles and Secretary Edwin Lacierda graced the occasion. Observers believed that their presence bolstered the chances for the signing of the Annex on Wealth-sharing, which so has been admitted as the most difficult most issue to resolve.
Procedurally, observers are granted attendance only during the opening session and closing ceremony. But there were instances that they were also invited even during the plenary session.
Secretary Deles was present during the dying minutes of the last meeting, which proved very helpful to the GPH side that led to the signing of the Annex on Wealth-sharing.
Meanwhile Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, a regular member of the MILF peace panel, and currently heads the team on power-sharing, will not join the MILF delegation. He is in the hospital for severe shoulder aches. Jun Mantawil was designated to head the team, which counts lawyers Cocoy Mastura and Roslayne Maniri as members.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/519-milf-to-bring-three-non-organic-observers-to-kl-meeting