MILF to include woman in peace panel

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is considering sending a woman with its peace delegation for its upcoming exploratory talks with the government in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, said the decision is “virtually sealed” after the group’s central committee had agreed with the plan.

Mantawil noted that some requirements under Muslim tradition for a woman to travel with men have to be fulfilled.

He said the woman “must have the closest of kin with her” to secure clearance to travel with the men.

“The MILF has considered seriously sending one woman with its peace delegation to the forthcoming 23rd GPH (government of the Philippines)-MILF Exploratory Talks in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur,” Mantawil said in a statement.

The MILF, in an emailed statement, said its central committee already issued an imprimatur for its chief negotiator, Muhaquer Iqbal, to involve one qualified Moro woman in their peace talks with the government.

Two women are being considered to join the MILF’s negotiating team – Tausog human rights lawyer, Raisa Jajurie and Cabaybay Abubakar, an ethnic Maguindanaon and president of the Shariff Kabunsuan College.

The MILF has yet to announce its choice on who would be enlisted to help in its dealings with the government.

Mantawil said such arrangement is done on a case-to-case basis since membership in the peace panel and its secretariat are already full.

He said no additional slot would be created unless the parties decide to expand.

Mantawil said the upcoming negotiations in Kuala Lumpur are “very crucial” in the wake of concerns that the government and the MILF might not forge a peace deal before 2013 ends. Mantawil though did not say when the exploratory talks would be held but he said they are looking forward to the resumption of the peace talks to enable their negotiators and their government counterparts to discuss the remaining topics of the negotiations and all security concerns besetting areas covered by the ceasefire.

Presidential adviser on the peace process Secretary Teresita Deles said the talks with the MILF were due to begin Monday in Kuala Lumpur.

“The talks mark the resumption of formal, full panel negotiations between the two parties,” Deles said, but declined to say how long they would last.

“While taking care to avoid preempting the talks by commenting on expectations, I cannot but take a positive view of the fact that formal exploratory talks are pushing ahead following very serious challenges to the peace process in recent months,” she said.– With Edith Regalado