Dispute over mediator delays peace talks

Manila: The resumption of formal peace negotiations between the government and Moro rebels is being hamstrung by disagreements over the choice of third-party facilitator.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government of President Benigno Aquino III were poised to resume the peace negotiations this month, but restarting the parlays appears to be not that easy after all.

The dispute between the MILF and the government negotiating panel, revolves the choice of individual who will serve as the third party mediator, former Malaysian MP Datuk Othman Bin Abd' Razak.

Government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen expressed reservations on having Othman back playing a leading role in the peace negotiations.

Although Othman had been in the thick of the government-MILF peace negotiations during the last four years as third-party facilitator, Leonen believes that the parlays would be better off in the hands of a new facilitator.

"We are certain that there will be many individuals who can effectively serve as facilitator and who will be acceptable to both sides," Leonen added.

As part of the preparations for resumption of the government-MILF peace parlays, the MILF has formally requested the Malaysian government to retain Othman as the facilitator of the government-MILF peace talks.

The MILF reasoned that the retention of the current facilitator (Othman) would "ensure continuity and preservation of the gains of the peace process."

But Leonen, for his part, said that while the government negotiating panel "respect the right of the MILF to make public their support for the retention of Othman", Philippine government however, believes that it will have difficulties working with the official.

Failed negotiations

Leonen was apparently referring to Othman's role in the failed peace negotiations during the Arroyo administration.

Peace talks between the government and the MILF were stalled in 2008 after the Supreme Court barred the signing and ruled as unconstitutional the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) in August 2008.

The MOA-AD would have expanded the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), thereby giving the MILF larger area of control.

The failure over the MOA-AD prompted the Arroyo administration to shift to a new strategy in resolving the separatist conflict.