CHR: Some MNLF men are negotiating with us

Amid conflict in Zamboanga that has disrupted the city’s economy and claimed the lives of at least four people, Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Etta Rosales revealed that some members of the Moro National Liberation Front have been negotiating with the CHR.

 

“We're helping with the negotiations. Kasi there are some MNLF people who would like to talk to the CHR pero ayaw makipag-usap sa gobyerno, so tumutulong kami,” Rosales told reporters at a chance interview at the House of Representatives Thursday.

 

The Nur Misuari-led MNLF group is believed responsible for the conflict in Mindanao. The conflict reached day four Thursday. 

 

Rosales confirmed that the MNLF men in talks with the CHR are also part of Misuari’s group.

She said Commissioner Jose Manuel Mamauag is in Zamboanga, and talking to the MNLF, while facilitating relief operations.

 

“Siyempre grupo ni Misuari, sila rin 'yun. 'Yung isang leader nila, ayaw makipag-usap sa gobyerno, sa CHR lang, kay Comm. Mamauag. Sabi ko nun, 'Sige let's push for this, at least for the moment,'” she said.

 

Rosales however said the negotiations were still confined to the local level.

 

“This is at the local level. They're doing it sa Zamboanga mismo, right there. So Comm. Mamauag, is talking to those who want to talk, para tulungan lang. What the CHR can do is to help facilitate the process, where they can talk to each other party to party,” she said, 

 

Why are they suddenly rebels?

 

Even as Rosales said she was negotiating with some MNLF members, the CHR chair condemned the attack on Zamboanga, calling on the MNLF to stop acting like rebels and to air their grievances properly.

 

“They have made an agreement with the government. Why are they behaving like rebels? If they have grievances with the government, or the way the peace agreement [was handled], then they should go to the government and negotiate within the system, because they're already part of the system. They've already integrated,” Rosales said, refering to the 1996 peace agreement forged between Misuari’s group and the government of then President Fidel V. Ramos.

 

“Ang labo naman nito. May peace agreement na silang matagal na matagal. If they think there should be reforms in the peace agreement, they should engage government for these kinds of reforms,” she added.

 

Rosales however said she was against the possibility of asking a foreign body to intervene with negotiations.

 

“I don't want to glorify the situation or glamorize it. 'Yun siguro 'yung gusto ni Misuari, to glamorize it. Kasi within our own system, kakayanin natin,” she said.

 

Instead, Rosales noted that the Aquino government should review the 1996 peace agreement to integrate it into the new bangsamoro framework.

 

“As a matter of fact, the government has a policy to review the 1996 peace agreement in order to update it and to integrate it into this Bangsamoro framework. So I think that that should be undertaken as soon as possible. But let's do it in our capabilities. Let's not ask foreigners [to intervene,]” she said.

 

“As best as possible let's solve our problems on our own,” she added.

 

The Aquino government on Wednesday said they were open to tapping former president Ramos to help in diffusing current tensions in Zamboanga.

 

Potential charges

 

Meanwhile, Rosales said while the CHR has no current plans of charging members of Misuari’s group, they are studying the possibility of filing human rights abuse cases.

 

“Right now we are there. Our first plan of action is to the victims of the conflict, 'yung pag-file ng kaso. Trabaho muna 'yan ng gobyerno. Tinutulungan namin ang mga victims,” she said.

 

However, Rosales said the group should still faces charges for the damages and abuses they have caused, and that the CHR is currently studying what cases to file.

 

“Pag-aaralan namin of course. Definitely kami we look at it from the point of view not on crimes, but of the human rights violations,” she said.

 

“Human rights violations have been committed. Ang daming evacuated. Paralyzed ang transportation. The right to food ay paralisado dahil sarado ang shops. Ang daming paralisado sa social welfare dahil sa kanila. Those are gross human rights violations. Dapat harapin nila,” she added. —KG, GMA News