MILF questions gov’t double standard on self-determination

MANILA, Philippines — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) scored government's double standard on the right to self-determination (RSD), rejecting it in peace talks but invoking it in an executive order. Lawyer Lanang Ali, a senior member of the MILF peace panel, described the inconsistent stance of the government on RSD as more emotional rather than principled. “They want to suppress our right and want to perpetuate their neo-colonial policies over our people in Mindanao," he said in an article on the MILF website (www.luwaran.net). He said that throughout negotiations with the MILF, the Philippine government consistently refused to accede to and use of the principle of RSD. The MILF wants the principle of RSD be part of the agreements and proposed it on various occasions. Such occasions include the final text of the General Framework of Agreement of Intent signed in August 1998; on the Tripoli Agreement on Peace of June 22, 2001; and on the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain as one of the guiding principles in determining the form of governance in Moro ancestral domain. "But consistently the government refused, in spite of the fact that RSD is one of guiding principles in the 1997 Constitution," the MILF said. Yet, it said a new Presidential Executive Order No. 777 creating a national preparatory committee for the amendment of Republic Act No. 9054, otherwise known as the Organic Act of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), RSD was used as one of the basic principles for the order. “WHEREAS, there is a need to amend RA 9054 to achieve full autonomy in cognizance of the Filipino Muslims’ aspirations for self-determination," it quoted the order as saying. The MILF noted the order created a National Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) that will work for the amendment of RA 9054 in order to draft a new organic act “that is reflective of Moro interests." It noted the commission was given six months to complete its task for submission to the President for approval so that necessary resolution is introduced in Congress for the enactment of a new law on the ARMM. Ali said RSD is a fundamental principle of human rights law and prominent feature of the United Nations Charter, appearing in both Preamble to the Charter and in Article 1. He said the Philippine government cannot deny this to the Bangsamoro people forever, saying our people would continue asserting until they succeed. The International Court of Justice refers to the right to self-determination as a right held by people rather than a right held by governments alone, he added. - GMANews.TV