MNLF wants review of 1996 truce

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) wants an extensive evaluation of the 42 consensus points reached in the tripartite review of the implementation of its 1996 truce with the government.

The 42 consensus points are products of three-way conferences conducted since 1997 among MNLF leaders, representatives from the national government and the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as part of efforts to iron out kinks in the peace accord.

Former Cotabato City mayor Muslimin Sema, chairman of the largest of three factions in the MNLF, said all three parties must evaluate the consensus points and determine if these can be implemented. 

Sema revealed their stance on the issue during the start of a technical meeting on the tripartite review process at the New World Hotel in Makati on Monday.

It involved the government, the MNLF and the OIC’s Southern Philippines peace committee.

It is in preparation for the proposed November formal government-MNLF-OIC tripartite meeting in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, according to presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Quintos-Deles.

Misunderstandings on the implementation of many sensitive provisions of the 1996 final peace agreement have sidelined the tripartite review. – John Unson, Perseus Echeminada