MILF hopes to sign power-sharing annex after talks extension
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front hopes to reach an agreement with the Philippine government peace panel on at least one of the last two remaining annexes of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).
In an exclusive interview with GMA News, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said: “That is our hope. That is why we’re still talking with the other side because our hope is that, if possible, we would be able to bring home at least one of the annexes, but we are still struggling.”
The 41st round of talks for Mindanao peace was supposed to end on Friday, but was extended until Saturday in anticipation of the signing of at least the power-sharing annex of the FAB.
Iqbal added that the power-sharing annex, along with the annex on wealth sharing were the heart and soul of the peace agreement.
“When there is resources, there is power, and that government which is the Bangsamoro government will be strong enough to address the problem in Mindanao,” Iqbal said.
The power-sharing annex will identify powers that will remain with the national government, shared with the Bangsamoro government and those that will be exclusive to the new political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“[Talks] on power-sharing were difficult, but [the] normalization [annex] is so sensitive.... It’s an emotional issue, in that sense, it’s also difficult,” Iqbal said, adding the deal involves decommissioning of MILF forces.
Both parties have not yet reached an agreement on power-sharing and normalization annexes of the Framework Agreement that was signed on October 15 last year.
Once signed, the two annexes – along with the annexes on wealth-sharing and transitional arrangements, and modalities that have been earlier signed – will complete the comprehensive peace agreement with the MILF. —
In an exclusive interview with GMA News, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said: “That is our hope. That is why we’re still talking with the other side because our hope is that, if possible, we would be able to bring home at least one of the annexes, but we are still struggling.”
Iqbal added that the power-sharing annex, along with the annex on wealth sharing were the heart and soul of the peace agreement.
“When there is resources, there is power, and that government which is the Bangsamoro government will be strong enough to address the problem in Mindanao,” Iqbal said.
The power-sharing annex will identify powers that will remain with the national government, shared with the Bangsamoro government and those that will be exclusive to the new political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“[Talks] on power-sharing were difficult, but [the] normalization [annex] is so sensitive.... It’s an emotional issue, in that sense, it’s also difficult,” Iqbal said, adding the deal involves decommissioning of MILF forces.
Both parties have not yet reached an agreement on power-sharing and normalization annexes of the Framework Agreement that was signed on October 15 last year.
Once signed, the two annexes – along with the annexes on wealth-sharing and transitional arrangements, and modalities that have been earlier signed – will complete the comprehensive peace agreement with the MILF. —
Source http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/330616/news/nation/milf-hopes-to-sign-power-sharing-annex-after-talks-extension
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