[In the news] Gov’t to submit draft Mindanao peace plan within 2 months – Interaksyon.com

Gov’t to submit draft Mindanao peace plan within 2 months – Interaksyon.com. Ria Rose Uro, special to InterAksyon.com TILIGAN CITY, Philippines – The government has agreed to submit a draft political settlement with Moro rebels within two months. In a joint statement issued from Kuala Lumpur, peace negotiators of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation…

Human Rights Online Philippines

April 29, 2011

2–3 minutes

Bangsamoro, Government, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mindanao, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Negotiation, Peace and Human Rights, Philippine

Gov’t to submit draft Mindanao peace plan within 2 months – Interaksyon.com.

Ria Rose Uro, special to InterAksyon.com

TILIGAN CITY, Philippines – The government has agreed to submit a draft political settlement with Moro rebels within two months.

In a joint statement issued from Kuala Lumpur, peace negotiators of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said the government’s counter-proposal will be submitted during their next meeting on June 27 to 28, 2011.

The 21st exploratory talks between the parties concluded Thursday “with the Parties tackling important issues paving the way for the discussions of the Comprehensive Compact.”

It was the second meeting of the panels under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

During the two-day talks facilitated by Malaysia, government negotiators quizzed the MILF panel about the substance of the rebel group’s proposed comprehensive compact.

The comprehensive compact is expected to embody measures that address the roots of the Bangsamoro problem in Mindanao.

The questioning by the government negotiators was aimed “to clarify concepts, meanings and intent on some of its provisions,” the joint statement said.

The MILF’s draft peace pact was submitted by the rebel negotiators for consideration by the government panel during their February meeting.

Protestant pastor Reu Montecillo, chair of the nongovernmental peace group Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), said government’s commitment to draft its counter-proposal will surely hasten the peace process.

Peace groups have been urging the panels to stick to a commonly acknowledged workable timeframe of 12 months to seal a peace pact.

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