PROSPERITY: Peace talks will ensure the pursuit of jobs, justice
and security for Mindanao folk will continue with vigour
AFTER a six-day marathon negotiating session of the
Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) from
July 8 to 13 in Kuala Lumpur, the two sides agreed to sign the annex on
wealth-sharing between the national and regional autonomous governments.
This breakthrough, which eluded the negotiators for months,
sets the stage for similar accords on the remaining two annexes to the
Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, after which the Mindanao peace talks can
come to a successful close, perhaps within a few months.
The basic peace architecture has been put in place, and
major changes and significant progress are already taking place as the talks
are ongoing.
For one, the peace process has thus far presented the region
in a new perspective, including as an investment haven. Following the signing
of the Framework Agreement, confidence-building mechanisms were put in place,
notably the Sajahatra Bangsamoro, a socio-economic initiative launched last
February in Cotabato by President Aquino and MILF Chair Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim to
accelerate the delivery of health, education and other basic services to the
Bangsamoro areas and to create jobs.
The area's largely untapped resources within the context of
a robust Philippine economy (7.8 per cent gross domestic product growth for the
first quarter of this year) have attracted investors.
The Philippine government's Mindanao Strategic Development
Framework envisions the region to be the country's main agri-industrial base
and tourism hub, through sustainable usage of its rich natural resources and an
educated, informed and participative populace, and bolstered by information and
communications technology.
Mindanao accounts for 88 per cent of the Philippines'
pineapple production, and 82 per cent of bananas. Agri-based products from the
island contributed 25 per cent to the country's total exports, with earnings
reaching US$3.6 billion (RM11 billion) in 2011.
It has great tourism potential, given its wide array of
attractions, from culture, land-based adventures to water sports. The potential
for mining are immense, given abundant mineral resources. Mindanao holds the
world's largest nickel reserves, and has gold, copper, chromite, coal, silver
and even oil deposits.
Of major interest is the Mindanao Development Authority's
initiative to transform the island into a major producer of palm oil in the
next two years through joint ventures with major oil palm industry players.
Under this programme, oil palm companies would increase the total area devoted
to oil palm cultivation to 177,000ha, from the current 54,448ha in Bangsamoro
and the Caraga regions, with more to follow in the immediate future.
Peace dividends were evident with the several economic
missions to Mindanao from other countries, including Malaysia. The first
foreign investor to set foot in Cotabato after the signing of the Framework
Agreement was a delegation of 19 Malaysian businessmen.
They saw for themselves not only the area's huge investment
potential but also its safety and security situation. Other Malaysian
delegations have since followed suit, notably from the Putrajaya Chamber of
Commerce to Manila and the Tan Chong Group to Davao both in January, and the
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers to Manila in May.
The new political atmosphere in Mindanao is also paving the
way for the final peace agreement. The senatorial and local government
elections last May 13 resulted in a stronger mandate for President Aquino and
his Liberal Party and allies. It also bolstered the new transformational
leadership in Muslim Mindanao. Voters there poured their support to Mujiv
Hataman who ran for Governor under the President's party, winning almost 60 per
cent of the 232,253 total votes. Nur Misuari, who contested the same position,
came in third and got only 13 per cent of the votes.
The momentum towards peace continues. A Transition
Commission is now crafting a Bangsamoro Basic Law bill, and this will pave the
way for a Transition Authority until the full implementation of the new Bangsamoro
political entity in 2016, all within President Benigno S. Aquino's term of
office. Development funds such as the Mindanao Trust Fund and a fund jointly
administered by the United Nations and the World Bank, are now operational.
If there is a subject which both sides can now give their
attention, it is on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. This would
also temper the gun culture among people in the region. Not enough emphasis was
given this crucial aspect in the earlier peace accords with the MNLF.
There will be challenges even after the peace process comes
to a successful conclusion, and the patience and commitment to peace of the
parties will be tested. It is thus high time for concerned parties to
"turn swords into ploughshares" and foreswear a recourse to arms.
This path is what will ensure that future contests will be
confined in the political arena and no longer in the fields of battle, and the
pursuit of jobs, justice and security for all Mindanaons will continue with
vigour. As a senior MILF official recently admitted, "We have had enough
of armed conflict in the past ... let us put an end to this."
Read more: Consolidating peace in Mindanao - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/consolidating-peace-in-mindanao-1.320653#ixzz2ZG6Eb0IB
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