ICC Dispatch - Wednesday, January 14, 2009

PGMA keen on resumption of peace talks with MILF

ICC Cotabato City (14 January) – More attention should be given to the newly formed peace panel so that the resumption of peace talks can start.

This was underscored by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during an interview this morning by two reporters from two local radio stations here.

“Now that a new peace panel is formed with instructions to the facilitators of the government panel to invite leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to go back to the negotiating table, all peace-loving people in Mindanao should do their share in attaining peace, because lasting peace can only be achieved through negotiations and not through war,” the President added.

Substantive aspects of the peace talks, include other matters, like ceasefire- related issues, international monitoring team coupled with the fast tracking of projects for development in Mindanao, Arroyo said.

The President hopes that both members of the GRP and MILF peace panels should give their commitment in achieving peace so that the negotiation can start immediately.

Arroyo calls both panel facilitators to set aside politics and should be honest in brokering peace with the communities being given a vital role.

According to the President, disarrmament, demobilization and reintegration are some of the aspects that should be discussed by both panels. (MCD/PIA/RICC Cot)


PGMA orders new GRP peace panel to talk to MILF leaders

ICC COTABATO CITY (14 January) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered members of the new Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) Peace Panel to talk to leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to schedule the new peace talk.

In her visit this morning here, PGMA expressed her commitment to pursue peace talk with the MILF. PGMA said the government is optimistic to start the peace negotiation as soon as possible to fast track the development projects in Mindanao.

PGMA reiterated that the government is committed to the new peace talk with the MILF. The government formed the new members of GRP peace panel late last year in the quest of bringing peace in Mindanao.

She said the government should play as “honest broker” to include voices of all the stakeholders to peace talk, “this will strengthen the final outcome of the peace talk.” The government will conduct dialogue with the different stakeholders to hear their voices and include them in the peace talk.

According to PGMA, the dialogue with the people will help the government to form the road map to peace. The dialogue includes substantive discussion like disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, “this is to ensure that people will accept the result of the final outcome of the peace talk,” she said.

In Autonomous Region Muslim in Mindanao (ARMM), Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan stated in his 4th State of the Region Address that the regional government joins the call of the international organizations for the GRP and MILF to return to the negotiating table to end the suffering of thousand innocent civilians.

During the 1st regular Regional Economic Development Planning Board (REDPB) meeting on January 08, 2009 Governor Ampatuan thanked PGMA for considering the advocacy of the regional government that ARMM should be involved in the peace talks between the government and the MILF. (bpi-armm/PIA12)