The recent Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines   fifteen exploratory talks from December 15-17, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to finalize their peace settlement on ancestral domain of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) was aborted.

The MILF-GRP peace talks has been delayed and aborted many times because of the phrase “constitutional process” which is an accepted characteristics of Western democracy that the Philippine government cannot afford to discard.

MILF cancelled on Saturday its scheduled exploratory talks with government negotiators because the latter put into their proposed draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain the said phrase as the mode for implementation of the agreement,  Eid  Kabalo, MILF’s civil-military affairs chief, told  the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

"They wanted the same constitutional process with the Moro National Liberation Front as mode for the implementation. That's their position and we cannot accept it. We have yet to see the document," Kabalu said.

The concept of induced abortion is being used to describe the recent cancellation of the MILF-GRP talks.  It can be likened to the  expulsion of  fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. "Abortion" can refer to an induced procedure at any point during human pregnancy.

The MILF Peace Panel, after a deeper look at the government MOA proposal, which actually enshrines therein the said phrase  decided to forego with the talks even with the intervention of the Malaysian facilitator.

The main issue here, said Maulana Bobby Alonto, a member of the MILF negotiating team, during a long distance interview with Luwaran, is the reneging of the government of the consensus points on ancestral domain, aside from putting irrelevant elements in their draft. "We informed the Malaysian facilitator that the draft of the government is unacceptable and the resumption is not serving any purpose," Kabalu said.

Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, in a text message to the Philippine Inquirer, confirmed the meeting in Kuala Lumpur "did not push through." He said he was awaiting the full report of the Philippine delegation on what happened.

The GRP Panel is composed of Secretary Rodolfo Garcia, Prof. Rudy Rodil, Atty. Leah Armamento, Atty. Sedfrey Candelaria, Sylvia Paraguya, and Secretary Nasser Pangandaman. On the MILF side are Mohagher Iqbal, Atty. Lanang Ali, Atty. Michael Mastura, Atty. Musib Buat, Maulana Alonto, and Abdulla Camlian, head of the MILF Technical Committee. Also with the group are Mike Pasigan, Amor Pendaliday, and Mohajirin Ali.

 

	1. Written by Yellowbird on 21-12-2007 07:43 - Guest
	As we had been advocating, while it is true that some of the MILF Officials do not buy the idea for them to run the ARMM, this alternative can be explored while waiting for the final agreement. I doubt that this will be signed next year due to the bottlenecks in the implementation. It takes time & probably, only the agreement on the ancestral domain issue may be signed next year. As to the form of governance and the division of the natural wealth, the GRP will not allow them if it run counters to the constitution. Only Congress could do make it possible. With a hostile Senate, and suspecting that GMA might insert the extension of her term, a constitutional convention may be possible after GMA's term!

	2. Written by Almorshid on 22-12-2007 07:43 - Guest
	Reaction to the comments Sir Yellow bird, I agree to your comments to the MILF-GRP talks.     I like to quote and cite your comments but your personal data (first, family and middle names) is necessary. Pls. txt it to my celphone No. 09166199402

	3. Written by Yellowbird on 24-12-2007 05:06 - Guest
	Reaction to the comments Almorshid, I cannot reveal my name . Many of our friends in the net are tracking my identity because of my other commentaries especially at RChat and even at Aljazeera and BBC. Anyway, you are free to quote it. Salaam