All is set for today's signing of the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Several high-profile personalities will witness the signing at Malacanang Palace past noon Monday, including the Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, and Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu of the Organization of Islamic Conference. Pres. Noynoy Aquino III will be present at the signing.
Dean Marvic Leonen, chief negotiator of the government panel, will sign the agreement on behalf of the GPH, and Mohaqer Iqbal will sign for the MILF. Hours ago, leaders and members of various Muslim organizations from Mindanao and other parts of the country started arriving in Manila to peacefully demonstrate their support for the agreement.
Meantime, former ARMM governor Nur Misuari, also chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), warned that the signing could derail whatever have been accomplished in the peace process which his group started during negotiations with the Cory Aquino administration, that led to the signing of a previous peace agreement under the Fidel Ramos administration. Misuari said the agreement will effectively dismantle the current autonomous government structure in Muslim Mindanao, and encourage disgruntled groups to take up arms against the government.
Police have laid out tight security arrangements for the MILF and diplomatic delegations coming to Malacanang. The signing will take place around 1:00 PM today. (Andy Vital)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Site visitors can use the comment form to send their email messages to anyone at DZRH. As your messages will go to a single secure email address, please INDICATE TO WHOM your message is for. Thank you.