MILF Peace Panel Holds First Ever Dialogue with Manila Press

15 June 2012  |CCJD | by: Red Batario

Led by its chairman, Mohagher Iqbal, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel on June 15 held a dialogue with members of the Manila news media to discuss the GPH-MILF “decision points on principles” signed by the two panels in April 2012.

 

The wide-ranging exchange between the MILF panel and journalists representing print, broadcast and online new organizations based in the metropolis also covered issues like the creation of a sub-state, parameters and forms of governance, the emergence of another armed group should the MILF sign a final peace agreement.

 

Iqbal pointed out the importance of dialogues with the press inManilaso that the issues, challenges and gains of the peace negotiations could be better understood by the public.  He said that the MILF is merely a representative of the Bangsamoro people and that the proposed establishment of a Bangsamoro sub-state is a peace formula for a negotiated settlement of the armed conflict inMindanao.

 

Panel member Michael Mastura, on the other hand, reminded the media of their duty to studyMindanaoand the roots of conflict for more informed reporting especially on the peace process even as he explained how the proposed sub-state as a political subdivision will take shape.

 

Other panel members who joined the dialogue were Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga, Abdullah Camlian, Datu Antonio-Kinoc, Bobby Alonto, Raissa Jajurie, MILF peace panel consultant.

 

The Dialogue with the Media on the MILF-GPH Peace Process was organized by the Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC) and theBalayRehabilitationCenterin partnership with the Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD) as part of a series of media dialogues.