Gov’t Panel Denies Disregarding Nur Misuari, MNLF

A representative of the government peace panel denied that it disregarded the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and its founder Nur Misuari, for a full recognition in the peace process.

Presidential adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said Nur Misuari is ‘just not satisfied in whatever they do’. “Hindi natin siya binalewala. I will deny that we have not given full recognition to Mr. Misuari and the MNLF,” Deles said during a press briefing on Wednesday. “[That is] a willful misunderstanding and misrepresentation of what is the reality,” Deles said.

Deles statement came as reaction to Misuari’s claim that the government had disregarded him and abrogated the peace agreement they had signed in 1996, which allegedly prompted them (MNLF) to declare independence.

On Wednesday, Deles has said they were not seeking to terminate the agreement with Misuari’s group, but just to conclude the review of the implementation of the agreement, Gma news online said.

“A six-year review process is certainly sufficient to have identified what was done, what was not done, and we have ways of moving forward that is both on the development track and the political track,” Deles said.

The secretary explained that the tripartite review began in 2007, even before the Aquino administration.

“A lot of work had been done by the time this administration came in and would continue with this process,” she said. Deles also added that they had held two meetings in 2011 and one in 2012, and a number of informal meetings which Misuari himself attended.

Deles said “but for three years, Misuari has turned down every proposal that had been approved by his representatives and the government’s technical working group.

“When we would find formula or language on which technical level there would be some understanding, Misuari would come in and say ‘no’,” she said.

“What will make Misuari happy? It appears that all our work with all the different factions and all our work with the MNLF communities does not seem to make Misuari happy. Therefore, what does he want?” she added.

The presidential adviser refused to speculate on what Misuari really wants. However, Secretary Deles has said the MNLF leader has always had “unresolved issues,” each of which is supposedly not covered by the review because it is not in the 1996 pact, Gma online news said. “It is not new negotiations. We are not looking at new terms,” Deles said.

Deles explained among these issues is an expansion of territory and a commitment from the government for the establishment of a provisional government for the MNLF. She likewise said that there is nothing in the 1996 peace agreement that talks about independence, only autonomy, Gma news online reported.

Last month, Misuari declared independence in his Sulu stronghold. His alleged followers attacked Zamboanga City last Monday. The said attack resulted in a standoff with the military troops that claimed at least 6 lives and held over 300 persons hostage.

Source: GMA News Online, GMA news tv