Gov’t downgrades peace talks, MILF says

June 17, 2007

Manila-- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has described the replacement of Secretary Silvestre Afable as government chief negotiator with a non-cabinet member as a deliberate downgrading of the peace process by the government following Afable’s alleged resignation the other day. Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, told Luwaran that while the MILF leadership has the highest respect for Father Eliseo Mercado Jr. as “a person, friend and as a priest” but he does not possess the authority that a cabinet member possesses.

He described negotiation as a clear-cut state matter and a “highly partisan” activity that churchmen should not involve themselves in deference to the separation of Church and State in the Philippines.

He also said appointing a non-government high official would make it uncomfortable to the Malaysian facilitator who is of cabinet rank. Datuk Othman bin Abdu’ Razak, the chief facilitator of the GRP-MILF peace talks, is of cabinet rank being holding a special adviser to the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

“There is protocol in the negotiation that all the Parties especially the state actors must follow,” he stressed, even as he pointed out that choosing negotiator by either party, government or the MILF, is not an absolute prerogative.

Meanwhile, Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator, told media reporters that the replacement of Afable is a “setback to the peace process.”

“’Changing horse at the middle of the stream’ is an intriguing decision,” he quipped.

The peace talks between the government and MILF is in the final stretch but all the remaining issues are substantive that each is enough to stall the process.

However, he said the MILF is waiting for an official communication from the government through the Malaysian facilitator before it can issue an official position on the matter.

“We cannot act officially on matter that we only hear in television or read in newspapers, he said.

************