GPH-MILF Peace Process for the Second Quarter of 2011, Part 3

As I have noted since the Third Quarter of 2010, MILF/BIAF Chairman al Haj Murad Ebrahim's health has been at the forefront of any serious discussion about the MILF/BIAF or its peace negotiations with the Philippine Government. In the Summer of 2010 Murad suffered a serious heart attack while visiting Malaysia's Sabah State on Borneo. Hospitalised in Kota Kinabalu his condition rapidly deteriorated after he suffered a stroke and for four months the MILF/BIAF burned the midnight oil trying to prepare for yet another shift in the organisation. In the end though Murad recovered and on April 16th, 2011 he appeared at MILF Headquarters, Camp Darapanan in the municipality of Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao Province (not to be confused with Sultan Kudarat Province).

The appearance took place at a conclave of MILF and BIAF Information Officers as the groups' spokesmen slash propagandists are officialy known. The three hour gathers was the "19th General Meeting of the MILF Committee on Information," a five day event that lasted from April 15th to April 19th. 200-plus men attended and enjoyed such thought provoking topics as, "Internationalisation of the Moro Question" and "Moro Governance."

On April 22th, 2011 the MILF Central Committee empaneled a three man team to act as the interface between the MILF and the European Union representatives on IMT-6. IMT, or International Monitoring Team (the "6" merely signifies that the current IMT is the entity's sixth deployment since its inception), is the Malaysian-led entity that acts as a buffer force to mitigate ension between the Government and the MILF/BIAF. Headquartered in Cotabato City (though planning to move to Zamboanga City) the IMT has five sattelite offices to cover the entire MILF/BIAF AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in Area of Operation).:

On the European Union, or EU, it agreed to participate with the IMT via its "Humanitarian, Rehabilitation, and Development" facet. Britain and France sent one person each:

1) Cynthia Petrigh, Leader of the two person EU contingent as well as leader of the IMT's Humanitarian facet, spent her childhood in Lebanon before returning to France and getting a degree in International Law. Prior to her deployment Ms.Petrigh worked with the NGO "Conciliation Resources," an organisation primarily devoted towards sub-conflicts and those affected by sub-conflicts. Her official title within the IMT is "Humanitarian, Human Rights Law Specialist."

2) Susan Margaret Robertson, British, a Registered Nurse who has devoted herself towards working with NGOs geared towards Conflict Resolution. Her official title within the IMT is, "Humanitarian, Assistant Specialist.

The MILF's panel includes:

1) Nasrullah Mohammad, Chairman of the three man team

2) Abdullah B.Adam, an Islamic cleric

3) Zainal D.Kulidtod, a Lecturer ar Mindanao State University in Marawi City, in Lanao del Sur Province.

There are two other Europeans serving with IMT-6 but through a member state and not the EU itself. On Janurary 17th, 2011 the two man Norwegian contingent arrived and by the end of the month were acclimating themselves with IMT-5 whose deployment was extended at the request of the Philippine Government. The two men:

1) Oddvar Midtkandal

2) Tor Fredrik Moe

Both are senior officers in the Norwegian Military and have deployed with the Malaysian-led Cease Fire Security facet, usually referred to simply as "Security." Like their compatriots from the EU they will be attached to IMT Headquarters in Cotabato City.

Speaking of IMT-6...as if he doesn't already have enough on his mind the Commanding Officer of the IMT's Libyan contingent participated in a three day "Peace and Advocacy Consultation" with local Muslims in Munai, a municipality in Lanao del Norte Province. Colonel Giuma Ma'arash was feted for his country's dedication to the cause of Filipino Muslims and their struggle for self determination. After all, now deposed Libyan strongman, Moamar Khadaffi, is the man almost single handedly credited with bringing legitimacy to the MNLF, or Moro National Liberation Front, the organisation from which the MILF/BIAF developed.

Worth noting was that the forum, which took place on April 17th, 18th, and 19th took place in the BIAF 102 Base Command's main encampment. The 102 Base Command of course is under Kumander Abdulrahman Bravo Macapaar, one of three Base Command leaders who collectively took it to the mat after the failed signing of the GPH-MILF MoA-AD, or the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain. The result of course was the 2008 War and a schism within the BIAF, or Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the MILF's armed wing.

Indeed, just after that hoe down ended on April 19th Kumander Bravo deployed a four man team of his senior officers to try and cajole Kumander Ustadz Ameril Ombra Kato into mending his fences with the MILF Central Committee. Kato was another of those three aforementioned Base Command leaders in 2008. Unlike the other two Kato never willingly laid down his weapons in the Summer of 2009. Kato felt that he had been left out of the loop while the MILF Central Committee negotiated a Ceasefire and then, after it was implemented, felt that the Central Committee was cutting him out of the chain of command by transmitting orders directly to his subordinates. By the Spring of 2010 Kato had resigned from his position within the BIAF citing health concerns and his advanced age (he is 67) and was promptly replaced with a junior officer, sub-Kumander Zacarias Goma. The resignation had been a test of sorts with which Kato hoped to gauge the Central Committee's eagerness or reluctance to be rid of him. Obviously they were quite eager.

As the Central Committee assigned Kato as an Advisor in the MILF Shari'a Court (Islamic Court) Kato decided to go for broke and took nearly 300 of his most loyal guerillas and jumped into the unknown. Together they formed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, or BIFF. Not wishing to completely burn his bridges, but much more astutely knowing that once he severed all connection to the MILF/BIAF, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or AFP, would declare open season on him. The fact that he already carried a P10 Million ($220,000) bounty on his head and faced an astounding 86 criminal warrants only served to re-enforce his feelings of vulnerability.

So, Kato has been very careful to tightrope the razor's edge. Because Kumander Bravo had been closely allied to Kato during the 2008 War the Central Committee asked a reluctant Bravo to try and reign Kato in so to speak, bring him back within the fold. This was a crucial issue for the MILF primarily because the Government's Peace Panel was reluctant to continue negotiations as long as Kato remained an un-resolved issue. Why pour time and effort- and much more importantly- a tonne of money- into a GPH-MILF FPA, or Final Peace Agreement, if Kato will continue to sow terror throughout Central Mindanao?

Kumander Bravo's four man delegation, dubbed "BIUT," or "Bravo Initiative Team Unity" by the Central Committee (Filipino Muslims swear they aren't Filipinos and yet they have the same ridiculous obssession with acronyms, go figure) was led by sub-Kumander Mohammed Khalid al Haj, a sub-Kumander with whom Kato was friendly. Although Kato received the men warmly when they entered his main camp in the hills above the town of Datu Piang in Maguindanao Province on April 20th, he refused to budge and even turned the tables by inviting all four as well as Bravo to join the BIFF.

Returning to the Libyan contingent of the IMT for a moment, the MILF's Central Committee had released an official statement on Khadaffy near the end of the First Quarter (March 5th) in which it labeled everybody's favourite cross-dressing Arab Socialist as,"Power Hungry," and stated that he had broken his solemn word in that he had never empowered the common people. This came less than two weeks after the Central Committee had released its first statement on the Libyan Civil War in which it showered Khadaffy with praise. At least the MILF is good for a laugh.

With Norway and the EU joining the IMT in the First Quarter most people seem to have forgot that the pair are merely have of the invited nations. Indeed, a third, Indonesia transmitted its intentions to join IMT-6 via a Note Verbale to the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta on March 31st, 2011. The Note Verbale was following up a statement made by Indonesia's President Yudhoyono made in February during a State Visit to Indonesia by Philippine President Aquino. Obstensibly Indonesia committed itself in order to reciprocate Philippine participation in monitoring implementation of the MoU, or Memorandum of Understanding with the Free Aceh rebels in 2005. Though Indonesia is the world's most populous Islamic nation it too has had to deal with various Islamo-fascist insurgencies, in addition to ethno-nationalist struggles such as that of the "Free Papua" movement in Irin Jaya.

Finally, as IMT-5 departed and IMT-6 arrived Malaysia's Deputy Minster of Defence, Datuk Dr.Abdul Latif Ahmad made waves when pointedly declared that IMT-6 has to be the last Malaysian-led deployment. More to the point he threatened a doqngrading in the Malaysian-Philippine relationship if the GPH-MILF Peace Process fails to deliver an FPA, or Final Peace Agreement in 2011. He then continued running off at the mouth by inferring that both sides use the IMT as a crutch with which to avoid actual progress in the GPH-MILF Peace Process. In an interview on April 10th, 2011 Minister Datuk Dr.Ahmad said these things just after an official visit to IMT Headquarters in Cotabato City, accompanied by Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines, Datuk Seri Dr.Ibrahim Sa'ad. Both men spent two days on Mindanao (April 9th and April 10th), heading to the MILF/BIAF Headquarters at Camp Darapanan upon leaving Cotabato City. After meeting with Chairman al Haj Murad Ebrahim both Minister Datuk Dr.Ahmad and Ambassador Datuk Seri Dr.Sa'ad then hosted a dinner for roughly 150 Malaysian citizens who reside on Mindanao at the Malaysian Consulate in Davao City.

GPH-MILF Peace Process,First Quarter of 2011,Part II:21st Round of Exploratory Talks

The 21st Round of the Exploratory Talks were held in the Imperial Sheraton Hotel,Kuala Lampur,Malaysia on April 27 and April 28,2011.Having originally been schedualed for the 29th and 30th of March but delayed per MILF request.The talks opened at 930AM with a Closed Door Executive Session with only the Chairmen of both Panels and 1 Panel Member each.The MILF Chairman Mohagher Iqbal was accompanied by Datu Michael O.Mastura.GPH Chairman Mario Victor"Marvic"Leonen was with Panel Member Prof.Miriam Coronel Ferrer.Joining them in the hotel's Penang Room was embattled Facilitator Datuk Othman bin 'Abd Razak who was accompanied by his replacement (yep,they finally mamaged to get the spy out of the process),Tengku Dato' Abd' Ghafar bin Tengku Mohammad.Ghafar,as he is known in shorthand,actually predates Razak's own involvement in the Talks.Back in the Winter of 2001 as new President Gloria M.Arroyo was desperately seeking Malaysian intervention to re-ignite the failed GHP-MILF Peace Process Ghafar had been delegated by his government to liason with MILF founder Chairman Hashim Salamat.In fact,Ghafar made more than 1 trip to Buliok Complex,Salamat's new headquarters after the fall of Camp Abubakar in the 2000 War.

Razak informally introduced his replacement and after a few brief exchanges on the schedule of the two day long Talks they all left the room at 1109AM.At 1112AM the Full Panels convened along with the ICG (International Contact Group).ICG is composed of foreign governmental representatives and NGO delegates who participate in the Peace Process as Observers.In Closed Door Session (Session I) the Formal Introduction of Ghafar took place and the 1st Session adjourned for Lunch at 1159AM.Razak left the hotel at 1230PM and so ends his 9 years as Facilitator.

At 2PM Session II began with both Panels' Chairmen offering their Opening Remarks,no suprises there.Both read for 3 pages of notes though as always Iqbal took longer.

The 2nd Day's proceedings,Session III began at 930AM with an"Update"on the 25 MILF/BIAF members incarcerated by the Philippine Government.The list is considerably longer but the MILF has had to pick and choose after realising there was no way that all its members were going to be released for jail.The highest ranking member among the 25 is Central Committee member Eduard"Abraham Yap Alonto"Guerra.

At 10AM the AFP's (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Advisor to the GPH Peace Panel,Brigadier General Restituto Aguilar and his compatriot Major General Carlos Sol,GPH Chairperson of the CCCH (Committee on Cessation of Hostilities) Secretariat were ushered into the Session to offer their opinions on Kumander Kato.Ustadz Ameril Ombra Kato is the former Commanding Officer of the BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces,MILF's military arm) 105 Base Command.After single handedly igniting the 2008 War with his invasion of the Ilonggo Triangle in North Cotabato Province,Kato and the MILF Central Committee turned on each other.In early 2010 Kato was relieved of his Command and transferred to the MILF Shari'a Court (Islamic Court) as a Legal Aide.Naturally this angered Kato and so he threw down the gauntlet.In March of 2010 he founded an entirely new,much more radical insurgency group,"BIFF."BIFF,or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters,have remained low key thus far but are very well armed and are roughly 600 strong.600 is more than any single BIAF Base Command.

GPH Panel Chairman Marvic Leonen pushed aggressively for a quantification of the issue from his MILF counterpart but all Iqbal would do is offer that while they are doing their best to rein Kato in they still consider him part of the apparattus and therefore consider it an entirely internal matter.In the words of Iqbal;"Don't worry about Kato,leave him to us."Yes Iqbal,because until now you have done a great job at controlling Kato,or anyone in the BIAF really.Session III ended at 1039AM with a coffee break.Resuming at 1100AM the Talks focused on AHJAG,the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group.AHJAG was created very early on in the Peace Process,in May of 2002,though not implemented until December,2004.Its sole purpose is to provide a platform for interaction and co-operating on the criminality within the MILF/BIAF AOR (Area of Responsibility,i.e."Area in which the MILF has a determined presence").Specifically it aims to curtail the rampant KFR (Kidnap for Ransom) that innundates most any Base Command AOR.To realise the importance of this little discussed entity,consider that the 2003 Buliok Complex War took place because an AFP anti-KFR operation came a tad bit too close to a BIAF Base Command.Had the MILF/BIAF and AFP been interacting as they were supposed to have been doing (the AHJAG Agreement was already 14 months old at that point but had never been implemented) the conflict almost certainly would have never taken place.

AHJAG's re-activation had been settled during the previous Round,Round 20 which took place on the 9th and 10th of February,and which gave AHJAG a brand new 12 month mandate to have begun on March 1,2011.At the MILF's request this was delayed until April 1.On April 19,2011 the entity had its first conclave under this new mandate.Held at the Ritz Hotel's Garden Oases [sic] in Davao City.AHJAG's HQ element,or"Core,"has 8 members.4 from the Government and 4 from the MILF/BIAF with 1 from each side serving as Co-Chairman.

Next on the agenda of course was the infamous 2 hour lunch,from 12PM to 2PM.With only 48 precious hours to try and save the lives of many thousands of their terrorised countrymen and women the noble Panelists stuffed their faces on the Malaysian tab.Returning at 2PM for the 4th and final Session,Closed Door,the group got into an Update on the status of IMT-5.The IMT,or International Monitoring Team is composed of members from Malaysia,which leads it,along with Brunei,Libya,Japan,and this year the EU and Norway.The last 2 will be serving on their first IMT Mission.I will delve into all the ins and outs of both the IMT AND AHJAG in entries all their own.

The Panel then devoted the better part of 4 hours clarifying and re-iterating the text of the Revised Comprehensive Compact Draft.Even the spelling was dissected.Close to 4PM Datu Michael O.Mastura blew his cool,which he does nearly every Round.Screaming,he accused the GPH Peace Panel of"nitpicking."Surely an attorney would understand just how vulnerable documents are to misinterpretation.Surely an ex-Constitutional Delegate would acknowledge the gravity of such proceedings.Surely an ex-Congressman would know fully well that every"t"needs to be crossed and every"I"needs to have its dot.Talk about immaturity,petulance and just plain gauche,that my friends is Datu Mike.

The meeting took a"time out"to let Mastura's blood pressure drop and resumed proceedings after almost 15 minutes.From that point on it was relatively smooth sailing.Finishing the"nitpicking"everyone leaving the Penang Room at 645PM that evening was in a jubilant mood.The GPH Panel has agreed to relegate Kumander Kato and BIFF to an internal MILF matter.AHJAG and IMT went as expected and merely were Progress Reviews.The GPH has also agreed to turnover its own Revised Comprehensive Compact Draft having registered the MILF's current vision on the those vital issues.The 2 sides have tenatively scheduled the 22nd Round for April 28 and 29th,again in Kuala Lampur.