Just and lasting peace talks require laying down of weapons

"But before a just and lasting final peace agreement can be achieved, the MILF must lay down their weapons -- a 'condition sine qua non', surrender the murderers of the PNP-SAF44 and recognise and submit to the laws of the Republic. Without these actions in good faith by the MILF, all these talks about wanting peace are useless."



By Anne de Bretagne
for the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
and for the Defenders of the Philippine Sabah & Spratly Claims
12 February 2015


Mr Iqbal,

First of all, thank you for appearing before the nation.

You said before the Congress Mamamsapano hearing today Congress Mamamsapano hearing today that:  

"...the peace process is important to us – and to everybody. It has brought us the promise of a good life for our people – free from fear, want, and discrimination. It contains our hopes and our dreams – it is not for us, for our children. We have waited for this opportunity for 17 years. We promised our people that peace will be our legacy. We seek your help in making this promise possible. We cannot do it by ourselves. We ask you to help us live in peace."

If you are sincere -- which we'd like desperately to believe you are -- I can assure you that my friends and I, as well as thousands of members of the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum, want peace as much as the MILF wants and needs it. 

But we are not convinced today nor will we be convinced tomorrow that the MILF, a revolutionary organisation which you admitted it is and which, furthermore, is sufficiently armed to dismember the Republic, needs the Bangsamoro Basic Law to achieve it.

Your revolutionary organisation and all state actors involved in this peace process need to go back to the drawing table and re-start the drafting of a final peace agreement that will not violate the Constitution but draw one which will serve, what you say, the MILF's desire for just and lasting peace. 

But before a just and lasting final peace agreement can be achieved, the MILF must lay down their weapons, a 'condition sine qua non', surrender the murderers of the PNP-SAF44 and recognise and submit to the laws of the Republic. Without these actions in good faith by the MILF, all these talks about wanting peace are useless.

In fine, I would like you to answer one of the questions posed by a member of the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum:

"If Mr. Iqbal said that MILF and BIFF are 2 different organizations...so, they do not work together, meaning they are a separate group. So, what gives the MILF the right to talk with the Government in the name of all Bangsamoro if he already said that they are different groups.

"Why [does] the govt. allow MILF to represent the whole Bangsamoro? If our Govt. will ever talk about peace, let it be based on the equality of all and not only for the benefit of one side. Only one law and no special power to anyone, no exemption, no armed group except the AFP."

Thank you. Deus vult.

~~~~O~~~~




FULL TEXT OF MR IQBAL'S STATEMENT AT THE MAMASAPANO HEARING 
12 February 2015

Let me speak straight from the heart.

First, the encounter between the MILF and the SAF was an unfortunate encounter. It was something that nobody planned or wanted. We thought that we have effective protocols and mechanisms in place that would prevent things like these from happening. In the end, 44 SAF, 18 MILF, and many more died in that encounter. We must honor them by making sure that their sacrifice would not be in vain. While we cannot change the past, we can do something in the future. We can work together to make sure that something like this will not happen again. Thus, we are already investigating the conduct of our men during that encounter to see it anyone violated the rules of conduct.

Second, the MILF was not the only group that was present in the area. The SAF fought other armed individuals belonging to different networks and groups – BIFF, private armed groups, local militias, etc. The delicate task of finding out who did what, especially the reported atrocities, cannot immediately be blamed on the MILF. That would be unfair. We need to investigate. On the part of the MILF, aside from our own investigation, we push for a truly independent group that would conduct a fair and impartial investigation of the incident.

Third, the MILF was immediately working to effect the ceasefire as early as 6:30 in the morning. But because of the limitations in communications and because of the on-ground situation of battle, the ceasefire was obtained only in the afternoon. MILF members who were part of the joint ceasefire committee risked their lives to effect the ceasefire. We were trying to save those men.

Fourth, credit must be given where credit is due. Through the efforts of the MILF, 28 SAF were rescued from imminent death that day. The 28 SAF were part of the first team and holed up in an area one kilometer northeast of Tukanalipao. They were already being fired upon by unidentified armed groups. The 28 SAF are alive today because of the efforts of the MILF and finally, it is the will of God.

Fifth, the MILF is against all forms of terrorism. We have made a solemn vow to fight terrorism in our areas. Terrorism is consistent with Islam and has no place in the orientation and principles of the MILF. Our previous actions bear witness to our commitment against terrorism. To tag the MILF as a terrorist group is unfair.

Sixth, the MILF did not harbor Marwan or Usman. The MILF has no links with these terrorists and terrorist organizations. Marwan or Usman were in areas outside the MILF-controlled areas.

Seventh, the MILF and the BIFF are different organizations. We do not share the same goals and objectives. There is no truth to the allegation that we are conniving with each other.

Eighth, we are committed to peace. We have been in negotiations with the Philippine Government for 17 years. Our present partnership with President Aquino has been durable – there has been no recorded armed hostilities between the government and the MILF since 2011. We signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law. Each of these agreements is a testament to our commitment to pursue our objectives through peaceful means.

Ninth, the peace process is important to us – and to everybody. It has brought us the promise of a good life for our people – free from fear, want, and discrimination. It contains our hopes and our dreams – it is not for us, for our children. We have waited for this opportunity for 17 years. We promised our people that peace will be our legacy. We seek your help in making this promise possible. We cannot do it by ourselves. We ask you to help us live in peace.

Finally, justice is at the core of our struggle. We have been seeking justice for a long time. Thousands of our brothers and sisters have died pursuing this cause. We see an opportunity that peace can be established. Please do not let this unfortunate incident be used to derail 17 years of hard work and lessen our resolve for peace and justice. Let peace be our legacy. Let us me partners for peace.

~~~~O~~~~