“In a few minutes this will be publicly announced in a Malacanang press conference. I feel sad at this turn of events but I have this deep trust in universal wisdom that something good will come out of this. I also believe, more than ever, that Mindanawons, Lumad, Bangsamoro and settlers and their Mindanao born descendants, will have to define their own peace among themselves, with or without formal negotiations. Peace is our life.”

At the press conference in Malacanang, Eduardo Ermita of Batangas, Executive Secretary, read a three-page,  six-paragraph statement announcing President Arroyo’s “new paradigm on the peace process,” which President Arroyo actually already announced on August 21 at the 2^nd Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

The President said the government’s objective is to end all armed rebellion in the country, “thus any engagement with all armed groups from here on in will focus on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR).”

“DDR is about the people and government telling armed groups to give up armed struggle. Change shall be defined primarily by the people and the government,” she said.

 “Henceforth, peace negotiations shall be refocused from one that is centered on dialogue with rebels to one of authentic dialogues with the communities and stakeholders who will formulate and determine, together with government, the enhanced road map for the peace process,” Ermita told the press conference today.

But while Ermita was just repeating what the President had said nearly two weeks ago in a motor show, he also announced that the President has ordered the dissolution of the government peace panel negotiating with the MILF “to re-align all the peace initiatives in accordance with the new policy.”

Policy for all armed groups

The policy is not just in the negotiations with the MILF but with “all the other existing peace efforts with other armed groups,” Ermita said.

The President, he added, has ordered Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita “to carry out a thorough review of all peace initiatives” – referring to the “GRP-MILF peace talks, the stalled negotiations with CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army-National Democratic Front)  the implementation of the GRP-MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) peace agreement of 1996, the status of past GRP-MILF interim Agreements, the implementation of the GRP-RPM-ABB (Rebolusyonaryong Proletaryong Manggagawa-Alex Boncayao Brigade) Agreement and the GRP-CPLA (Cordillera Peoples’ Liberation Army) Agreement of 1986 and applicable provisions of RA 9054.”

RA 9054 amended the law creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, purportedly to incorporate provisions of the 1996 peace pact but which the MNLF said made the autonomous region less autonomous than it already was.

Results of the review, Ermita said, will be “the basis of an enhanced and new roadmap on the Peace Process” to be submitted to the President through the Executive Secretary, “for consideration and approval.”

In view of the ongoing military operations against “lawless MILF groups,” Ermita said the President directed “the highest respect for our Muslim brothers and sisters be afforded them during the month of Ramadhan and utmost consideration be given by our law enforcement agencies to the unhampered observance of the tradition by peace-loving Mindanaoans.”

“The President has also directed that massive relief and rehabilitation efforts be undertaken by the government agencies, with the assistance of private sector groups and the donor community, to address the needs of our Mindanao residents who are adversely affected by the ongoing law enforcement campaign to neutralize and bring to the folds of the law the MILF lawless groups who attacked the civilian communities. The President is confident that Mindanaoans will be one with government in addressing this and helping in putting to an end the vicious cycle of violence and poverty in some parts of Mindanao,” Ermita concluded.

Reactions

Guiamel Alim, executive director of the Consortium for Bangsamoro Civil Society, told MindaNews, “the era of peace talks is over.”

“Binunton sa panel ang kahinaan ng gobyerno at kanilang insincerity (They made the panel pay for government’s weaknesses and insincerity). It also means the government is ready to run after the MILF. It also means the International Monitoring Team (IMT) should go home. Mechanism on the ground is dead. Sayang na sayang. (What a loss).  I thought there was the glimpse of light at the end of the dark tunnel,” Alim said

Amina Rasul, executive director of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy said she is “not just disappointed but alarmed at the dissolution of the GRP peace panel.”

“It is a move that destabilizes an already unstable situation in Mindanao. I fear that the MILF will take this as the final evidence of the Arroyo administration’s insincerity in the peace process.  The hawks seem to have won and a military option will be this government’s strategic response. Peace is lost. I pray that I am wrong,” she said.  

Abhoud Syed Lingga, executive director of the Instute of Bangsamoro Studies said government is “undoing what has been achieved in the 11 years of peace negotiations.”

Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, secretary-general of the Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus, said “the issue here is not the composition of the peace panel.  Whoever sits there will surely fail if government itself has no clear position on how to resolve the armed conflict in Mindanao.  The situation clearly demands a political settlement and the question is how ready we are to give way to viable political options and formula. change is inevitable -- these politicians can only prolong the changes to protect their own interests -- but they could never stop it.”

Michael Mastura, MILF senior peace panel member, said, “the problem with no GRP panel is to whom will IMT report? Malaysia has just extended the tour of duty. How can (Defense Secretary Gilbert) Teodoro say the MILF is irrelevant when IMT reports to both government and MILF peace panels?”

Mastura asked: “How to respond rationally? Blunder after blunder. Who speaks real policy or change? Ermita? (Press Secretary Jesus) Dureza? Teodoro? (Ronaldo) Puno?”

On August 28, three days before the IMT’s tour of duty was to expire, Malaysia agreed to requests by both the Philippines government and the MILF  to extend the IMT’ stay in Mindanao but called on the parties involved to end their violence, begin a ceasefire and continue with the peace process.”

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had agreed to requests for Malaysia to continue to participate in IMT “for a short term of  ‘at least three months,’” The Star online reported on August 28. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

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