|
Delayed peace talks, war looms in Mindanao |
|
|
|
|
Written by Editor
|
|
Saturday, 20 December 2003 |
The resumption of peace talks have been much awaited by civil society members like the Consortium of the Bangsamoro Civil Society expecting to take part as observers in the peace negotiations to be held in Malaysia. On the early part of December, the prospect appears bright as the Office of the President on the Peace Process (OPPAP) gives a tentative schedule of first week of January as the the date of the GRP-MILF negotiations. However, things become blurry as there have been news of “unwillingness” on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Command as it pursues its military offensives in the MILF identified areas. Last Sunday, December 14, an armed confrontation broke out again between the MILF and the AFP in Maguindanao allegedly linking MILF commanders to the notorious Pentagon Gang in a kidnap-for-ransom case.
The Mindanao People’s Caucus, a group active in the ceasefire monitoring points out the absence of an international monitoring team that has been clamored and welcomed by both the government and the MILF. On the other hand, Malaysia’s Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak announced the sending of a Malaysian “reconnaisance” team in November which has yet to arrive in Mindanao.
In spite of a strong peace movement and persevering efforts among the civil society groups in Mindanao, the search for peace in Mindanao remains to be elusive and a circuitous phenomena. Especially, at a time when there are more reasons for the Philippine government to set Mindanao as a basket for military aid and overseas development funding.
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed