Autonomy formula? No, thanks, says MILF

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest remaining secessionist group, is ready for a negotiated political solution to the Mindanao problem.

Ghazali Jaafar, the movement’s vice chairman for political affairs, said this Thursday amid ongoing preparations for resuming the peace talks between the government and MILF.

He said that while the MILF is ready to sign a peace agreement any time as long as it is “just, lasting and comprehensive,” autonomy as a political option to the Mindanao problem is ruled out completely.

Asked to elaborate on what is “just, lasting and comprehensive,” he simply said: “Any political solution that really address all the valid issues and concerns of the Bangsamoro People.”

Jaafar, former head of the MILF peace panel, said autonomy has failed to address the Mindanao problem and on the contrary, has resulted in the complete disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the original rebel group, into the mainstream of Philippine society.

The problem has persisted even with the signing of the peace agreement with former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao [ARMM] governor Nur Misuari on September 2, 1996.

Misuari continued the armed struggle when he saw that the terms of the peace agreement were not fulfilled. He eventually landed in jail on rebellion charges.

Jaafar stressed that the MILF’s draft proposal on the political solution should be the basis of discussions because the Bangsamoro people are in a better position to determine their own future and political status.

Meanwhile, he said that the government has deliberately floated the idea, first, on so-called enhanced autonomy, and now, “federalism” as a solution to the Mindanao problem.