Just like a guide who, when asked by the group he was leading, “Malayo pa ba tayo?” (How far are we from our destination?), said, “Malapit na.” (It’s near already.) After ten minutes, the same question, the same answer. After an hour, still the same answer to the same question. Malapit na. That’s how far!

Malapit na mag-resume ang peace talk!

What GMA Says

Last June 13, MindaNews reported, datelined Koronadal City, June 12 [GMA says back-channel talks with MILF on]:

In her speech at the commemoration program of the 111^th Independence here, the President said government chief negotiator Ambassador Rafael Seguis has been talking with the MILF panel in a bid to finalize their agenda and talking points once peace negotiations resume.

“We hope to continue the peace process soon to achieve long-term stability and prosperity for the people of Mindanao,” she said.

Malacañang has expressed the same hope and assurance a number of times since the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain on August 5, 2008. There has been no report from the MILF about the back-channel talks. The June 13 report continues:

The President said she had spoken with new Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on two occasions within the last 30 days and that the latter reportedly assured his country’s support to the peace process.

“(Najib) stressed that they will persevere in ensuring that peace talks will resume between the Philippines and the MILF,” she said.

This is part of the hype – assuring the country that the government has international support for its peace negotiation with the Moro rebels. This support may be true but it appears to be more of desperation than inspiration. Since that unfortunate August 5, 2009 aborted signing of the MOA-AD, Manila has been casting its net for international support – an admission of diffidence and erratic way in solving an internal problem.

Besides imploring Malaysia not to abandon the peace talk, the Arroyo government has asked former Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain and former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan for help. Recently, President Arroyo asked the heads of state of Egypt and Syria to support the peace talks.

Last May 20, MindaNews reported, datelined General Santos City, May 19 [GMA  wants Syria, Egypt’s help in Mindanao peace process]:

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged Egypt and Syria to help bring about peace in Mindanao as well as put up investments not only in the island but also in other parts of the country.

“To bring about peace in Mindanao, (efforts) must not only come from within the country.  We need the help of others especially the Muslim nations,” she said.

The President said these two countries, as members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), can play important roles in bringing peace in the southern Philippines, and eventually in the reconstruction of communities or facilities affected by the war between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

This is like asking so many cooks to cook the same menu in the same kitchen. Malaysia is the principal cook. Why should the Philippines invite more cooks? What and how will they help? Why is “the help of others” necessary?

The President updated the hype last July 17 upon arriving from Cairo, Egypt where she attended the 15^th summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). MindaNews, July 17: GMA on GRP-MILF: “End of hostilities on the ground within reach”, datelined Davao City, reports:

“The end of hostilities on the ground is within reach,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said as she announced that she had just received a report from government peace panel chair Rafael Seguis that the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) panels are now preparing to resume the peace talks.

“Peace, she said, will really be a “blessing for all the people in Mindanao… Peace and harmony at last … a life of prosperity for generations to come,” she said.

She said it would be good for people to “realize the value of peace process to them because for peace to succeed, it should be owned by the people themselves.”

This philstar.com, July 20, 2009: Government, MILF set to resume talks, reiterated, adding that while in Cairo, the President said her talk with some members of the Organization of Islamic Conference has given her more optimism for peace:

“(My) cordial talks with some OIC members such as Lebanon, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Turkey, Sudan and Morrocco make us even more hopeful that with the help of our allies for peace, the road towards lasting peace in Mindanao will be cleared with the resumption of peace talks with the MILF,” she added.

This is good news. But no reports directly from Malaysia or the MILF have confirmed it. The MILF website luwaran.net should have – but has not -- reported its own version of the “imminent” resumption of the peace talks.

Determined

Seguis [MindaNews, June 24] said that the government is “determined to pursue the peace process with the MILF given the parameters for the negotiations.” What the given “parameters for the negotiations” are he failed to give. He continued:

“While formal talks have yet to (resume), informal efforts are continuously being exerted by both sides to explore less critical areas where discussions can move on.  The Philippine government is also appreciative of the continuous assistance given by other countries to support the peace process.

“Yes, there are challenges but there are still hopes that the 2001 vow (for an “all-out peace”) will be realized as the President is deeply committed and determined to achieving long-term peace and stability for the region of Mindanao and we are confident that talks with the MILF will resume soon.  Yes, we can because we will.”

Seguis’s statements are essentially a rehash of the President’s statements above and others.  They are bold and speculative, lacking in specifics.

Seguis repeated the same last July 3 [INQUIRER.net: “MILF talks to resume in July – Palace exec”]:

(1)  Peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front could resume anytime in July. [Note well the use of “could”, denoting “remote possibility” instead of “will” denoting “certainty”]

(2)  The government and the MILF are ready to return to the negotiating table.

(3)  The reconstitution of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), tasked to monitor the ceasefire between the military and MILF fighters, started recently. [How can this be? The GRP and MILF peace panels have not met to request the re-deployment of the IMT.]

(4)  Both panel also agreed on the need for “international guarantors”. [Note well again: While this is one of the five demands issued by the MILF chairman, the two panels could not have agreed on it since they have not yet met.]

(5)  When the talks would actually start: “We are just waiting for the go-signal of the Malaysian government.” [This is contrary to “anytime in July”. Has the government given its talk agenda to the Malaysian facilitator to be referred to the MILF? Apparently, not.  Malaysia cannot, on its own initiative, set the start of the talks.] 

(6)  The role of various stakeholders has been and would continue to be important in the efforts to build a much durable peace in Mindanao.

(7)  It is President Macapagal-Arroyo’s desire that a final peace accord could be inked by both panels before her tenure as head of state expires in 2010.

The Hype

What do the President and her peace advisers want the people to believe will happen?

Because the President so desires – is deeply determined and committed – the peace talks will resume soon and an agreement for lasting peace in Mindanao can be signed in the next ten months. The government is doing everything to achieve this according to its new peace plan.

While Malaysia and the MILF have not confirmed the reports from the President and her peace advisers, the GRP and MILF panels have been meeting in preparations for the resumption of the talks.

The President has obtained the commitment of some OIC countries to help in the peace process. As philstar.com reports, the President has considered this a “breakthrough … another fruit of her personal diplomacy abroad”.

We are for lasting peace in Mindanao. However, to avoid being lulled into false hope, we should weight against hard realities what we are made to believe will happen. (Next: Hard Realities) [“Comment" is Mr. Patricio P. Diaz' column for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews. Mr. Diaz is the recipient of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Titus Brandsma for his "commitment to education and public information to Mindanawons as Journalist, Educator and Peace Advocate." You may e-mail your comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ]

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