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(UPDATED - 6:51 p.m.) CAMP DARAPANAN, Maguindanao - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday spelled out its "bottom line" in negotiations with the Philippine government, saying it would not compromise with the Philippine government on its desire for the creation of a Bangsamoro sub-state in Mindanao.
At a news conference in Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao, MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim that Bangsamoro leaders would push for a "state sub-state" relationship with the national government, similar to the set-up under a federal form of government.
"We seek genuine self-governance for our people in a state-substate asymmetrical arrangement where the powers of government are divided between the central and state or substate governments and each level of government has sovereignty in some areas and shares powers in other areas," Ebrahim said.
“The product end of the negotiations…what we are aiming for…is this sub-state. We have already reached our bottom line. We cannot compromise further. If this position of the MILF will still be watered down, then there is no actual autonomy,” he added.
He said the sub-state would be "constitutionally entrenched," which means that if the Philippine government agrees with it, its existence should be included in the Charter.
Ebrahim said the proposed autonomous sub-state, which will follow the framework of countries such as the United States, Malaysia, Germany, Australia and Canada, “will not be altered by a unilateral decision of the central government,”
Inclusive affair
He said that if the creation of a Bangsamoro sub-state pushes through,
there would be a three-year transition period and the MILF wants the transition period to be an “inclusive affair.”
“Meaning we are willing to let others participate in the transition mechanism but what we are demanding is that it will be led by MILF because the MILF is party to the negotiations and as party we are the ones very interested in implementing and in letter and speed whatever
agreement we can reach,” Embrahim said.
In an earlier interview, MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said the proposed autonomous state would consist of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, six towns in Lanao del Norte, four towns in North Cotabato and Cotabato City, among
others.
After the transition period, the MILF will turn over governance to whoever will be elected by the people, according to Ebrahim.
He assured that the proposed sub-state would be “inclusive” and would respect the rights of non-Bangsamoros such as Christians and indigenous groups.
“The Bangsamoro sub-state will…respect the democratic rights of the people. We will recognize minorities in the area and we are assuring the minorities that their rights will be respected and there will be inclusion,” he said.
In the next round of talks, the MILF is set to “flesh out details” of their proposal and will discuss the road map, power-sharing, wealth-sharing, scope of territory, normalization and basic laws under the proposed state.
If negotiations fail…
While stressing that they would no longer compromise on their demands, the MILF said they would continue engaging in negotiations with the government “as long as it’s necessary.”
“We do not set timelines but everything has an end and we hope that the patience of our people will not be subject to too much trial because we cannot also hold our people forever” Ebrahim said.
He warned that should negotiations fail, the MILF would continue with its struggle – both political and armed.
“If negotiation will fail, we will continue with the struggle and continuing with the struggle because struggle is both political and armed. You cannot completely rule out the possibility of changes, radical changes in the ground if there are no more peace talks,” Ebrahim said.
However, if the Bangsamoro sub-state is established, the MILF chairman hinted that their fighters would be willing to drop their arms.
“We arm ourselves not because we want to be soldiers…what they are only after is lasting peace and our people can disarm themselves voluntarily,” he said.
Constitutional amendments?
If the Philippine government agrees with the proposed sub-state, there could be a need to revise the present Constitution, according to Ebrahim. he said the Philippine Constitution should be ready to “accommodate” the proposed sub-state for it to be
implemented.
The MILF chairman stressed that their proposal for a federal form of government would be applicable to the Bangsamoros alone.
“We are just aspiring for a state and sub-state asymmetrical relation and if other regions in the Philippines will follow, then we cannot comment on that but we welcome that. But as far as today, we are concentrating on the issue of the Bangsamoro problem and are focused
on state sub-state relationship with the government in a federal form of government,” Ebrahim said.
Ebrahim also appealed to the Moro National Liberation Front to “form with us a united front” on the matter.
The MILF chairman also assured that some of its renegade commanders such as Commander Bravo would be able to “toe the line” once peace talks reach a breakthrough.
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