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Philippines, Muslim rebels close to deal
Source: Agencies |
September 23, 2012, Sunday
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THE Philippine government and Muslim rebels are closing in on a peace deal after nearly 15 years of violence-interrupted talks, a potential landmark success for President Benigno Aquino that could pave the way for more investment in the country's impoverished but resource-rich south.
Negotiators from both sides said that the major obstacles to a framework deal being signed this year appear to have been surmounted after a period of intense diplomacy.
The deal would formalize a cease-fire in Muslim-majority areas of Mindanao island and set in train a road-map to create a new autonomous region in the mainly Catholic country before the end of Aquino's term in 2016.
"What we are saying is that the whole thing will be completed this year," said Marvic Leonen, a law professor who is the government's chief negotiator, describing the deal as the "architecture" for the peace process.
The deal to end the 40-year-old conflict, which has killed more than 120,000 people, could be signed as soon as the next round of talks in Malaysia, likely to take place in early October.
Tough negotiations still lie ahead and, analysts say, other dangers lurk, such as the threat posed by powerful clans who may disrupt a deal, fearing a loss of political influence.
"We are close to it, but there are still big elephants in the room, such as territory, internal security and wealth-sharing arrangements," Mohagher Iqbal, the chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, said.
The framework deal would signal a major breakthrough in trust between the government and the MILF separatists, who have long viewed Manila's motives in the talks with suspicion.
In the latest sign of a policy shift toward Mindanao, the Aquino government has given the impoverished state the biggest regional share of government infrastructure funds.
For the MILF leadership, a deal could simply be a matter of pragmatism.
After four decades of conflict, they are aging and, analysts say, eager to see some fruit from the grinding years of peace negotiations. An outbreak of violence last month when a small rebel faction opposed to the deal attacked army camps underlined how the MILF is struggling to control a younger, more radical generation.
Negotiators from both sides said that the major obstacles to a framework deal being signed this year appear to have been surmounted after a period of intense diplomacy.
The deal would formalize a cease-fire in Muslim-majority areas of Mindanao island and set in train a road-map to create a new autonomous region in the mainly Catholic country before the end of Aquino's term in 2016.
"What we are saying is that the whole thing will be completed this year," said Marvic Leonen, a law professor who is the government's chief negotiator, describing the deal as the "architecture" for the peace process.
The deal to end the 40-year-old conflict, which has killed more than 120,000 people, could be signed as soon as the next round of talks in Malaysia, likely to take place in early October.
Tough negotiations still lie ahead and, analysts say, other dangers lurk, such as the threat posed by powerful clans who may disrupt a deal, fearing a loss of political influence.
"We are close to it, but there are still big elephants in the room, such as territory, internal security and wealth-sharing arrangements," Mohagher Iqbal, the chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, said.
The framework deal would signal a major breakthrough in trust between the government and the MILF separatists, who have long viewed Manila's motives in the talks with suspicion.
In the latest sign of a policy shift toward Mindanao, the Aquino government has given the impoverished state the biggest regional share of government infrastructure funds.
For the MILF leadership, a deal could simply be a matter of pragmatism.
After four decades of conflict, they are aging and, analysts say, eager to see some fruit from the grinding years of peace negotiations. An outbreak of violence last month when a small rebel faction opposed to the deal attacked army camps underlined how the MILF is struggling to control a younger, more radical generation.
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