From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): GPH chair attributes lots of prayer for the success of 43rd exploratory talks with MILF
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=609610
For Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chair of the government peace panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said prayers did a lot for the success of the 43rd exploratory peace talks in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend that led to the historic signing of the Annex on Normalization and Addendum on the Bangsamoro Waters that will put an end to the long-drawn armed conflict in Mindanao.
“Many prayed for us,” Ferrer said in an overseas phone interview with the Philippines News Agency Sunday afternoon.She said there were crucial moments during the negotiations, especially in previous talks but they were resolved by the peace panels.
The Annex on Normalization is an integral part of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF as contained in the 10-page normalization document.
“Normalization during the transition stage shall be based on the principle of partnership between the GPH and the MILF working together to secure the peace on the ground,” the document stipulates.
The Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTs) to be created will be the operating units composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).
One of the most salient points in the normalization process is the decommissioning of weapons of the rebel forces.
On page four of the document it says that “the MILF shall undertake a graduated program for decommissioning of its forces so that they are put beyond use.” It further says:
- Decommissioning is a process that includes activities aimed at achieving a smooth transition for the BIAF members to productive civilian life.
- To achieve the above goal, a comprehensive needs assessment shall be undertaken for the members of the BIAF and their communities as a basis for a comprehensive socio-economic development program.
-There shall be an Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) that will oversee the process of decommissioning of the MILF forces and weapons.
-The IDB shall be composed of three foreign experts, including the chairperson, and four local experts jointly nominated by the parties.
Ferrer also said that the IDB is tasked to conduct inventory, verification and validation of BIAF members, arms and weapons, among others.
Asked how many weapons the MILF has in its arsenal, Ferrer begged off, saying the military has the record on this aspect.
The MILF has about 11,000 to 12,000 combatants.Any disputes arising from the implementation of the decommissioning shall be resolved at the level of the IDB before elevating them to the panels.
At the same time, under the signed Annex on Normalization, “the government shall redeploy AFP units and troops from or within the Bangsamoro, consistent with a normal and peace life and the progress in the other aspects of normalization.
The GPH and MILF panels also agreed that both parties are committed “to uphold the ‘Deed of commitment under Geneva Call for Adherence to the Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action” signed by the MILF on 7 April 2002.”
“As part of the normalization process, (the) parties also hereby commit to jointly undertaken mines/unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection and clearance (demining) as well as mine risk education with the assistance of concerned organizations (experts), including the project provided in the ‘Guidance for the Implementation of the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines – Fondation Suisse de Deminage Project’ of 5 May 2010.
Also part of the normalization is the disbanding of private armies in southern Philippines , socio-economic development program, resource mobilization, confidence-building measures, particularly six MILF major camps, including Camp Abubakar
With regard to the confidence-building measures, “the government shall undertake immediate steps through amnesty, pardon and other available processes towards the resolution of cases of persons charged with or convicted of crimes and offenses connected to the armed conflict in Mindanao ,” the document says.
On Transitional Justice and Reconciliation, it will work out a program to address the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people, correct historical injustices, and address human rights violations to be undertaken to be soon-to-created of a body called Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) that will undertake a study and recommend to the panels the appropriate mechanisms for transitional justice and reconciliation.
The document on the Annex on Normalization was signed by Prof. Ferrer on behalf of the GPH while Mohagher Iqbal, MILF panel chair, signed for the MILF.
Tengku Dato’ AB Ghafar Tengku Mohamed, the Malaysian facilitator, also signed the document as a witness. Ferrer said the GPH panel meet President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacanang on Monday before holding a press conference.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=609610