Source: Luwaran Online

The calls for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to return to the negotiating table to resolve outstanding issues blocking the progress of the talks have continued to grow as Japan and the Business Council of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ARMM) joined the fray. On Wednesday, September 5, Yasunori Nakayama, political affairs minister of the Japanese Embassy in Manila, made the call after a meeting with MILF chief Murad Ebrahim in Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan.


Nakayama told Murad and other MILF leaders that, like Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is also very concerned about the progress of the peace process between the government and MILF.

“Japan will extend substantial help for the progress of the peace process,” Nakayama said.

In airing his appeal, Nakayama said the good teamwork and tremendous accomplishments brought about by the ceasefire accord were indications the process is leading to something good for the people of Mindanao.

On Tuesday, September 4, the ARMM Business Council has also asked the government and the MILF to resume the negotiations so that Mindanao could move forward.

Undersecretary Virgilio Lereytana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco), admitted that the lack of peace in some parts of the island have hindered business and development.

He said that a concerted effort is needed to achieve peace in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Jun Mantawil, chairperson of the MILF peace panel Secretariat, told Luwaran that the reason for the delay of the talks is the lack of political will on the part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to push through with a clear and consistent peace process policy.

He said that he received report from a very reliable source that every time the government peace panel especially during the time of Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr. briefed the cabinet about the progress of the peace talks many cabinet secretaries joined the discussion or argued as if he or she had heard the position carried by the their panel for the first time. This made their peace panel go over and over again from the beginning of their position especially on territory.

When the briefing becomes topsy-turvy, Arroyo merely watched at the sideline. The briefing usually ended up with frustration on the part of their peace panel.

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