OIC chief voices concern over Southern Philippines peace process

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Sunday 13 Dec 2015 - 11:31 Makkah mean time-2-3-1437 OIC chief Iyad Madani Jeddah (IINA) – Secretary General of the organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Madani expressed grave concern over the latest developments in the peace process in the Southern Philippines and the difficulties facing the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the Philippines parliament, particularly the substantial amendments to the BBL which constitute drastic modification to the original agreement. These amendments restore the National Government control over many areas and they actually reduce the Bangsamoro Government to an entity similar to an ordinary local government unit, according to an OIC statement issued Saturday. The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that was signed on 27 March 2014 and which was described by President Aquino of the Philippines as a real genuine seal of lasting peace in Mindanao promised to usher in a new era of peace after decades of war, displacement, misery and destitution. This agreement is now being threatened, the statement said. The OIC strongly supports the President of the Philippines in his efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Mindanao including the passage of the agreed version of the BBL, and calls upon all concerned to support these efforts. The Organization urges the Philippines authorities, in particular the lawmakers, who share the common goal at working for peace and stability, not to let this historical moment becomes another lost opportunity. The OIC, which has been engaged with the peace process in Southern Philippines since its inception, calls upon all concerned to work hand in hand to ensure that the final BBL will ensure the “concept of exclusivity of the powers of the Bangsamoro political entity” as agreed upon in the CAB. We urge the government of Philippines and the lawmakers to ensure that the BBL, which is now pending before the parliament, will not come out different from the original BBL, the statement read. On the other hand, we urge the leaders of both the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to consolidate their coordination and cooperation through the Bangsamoro Coordination Forum (BCF) and to engage other stakeholders in order to close ranks and strengthen and consolidate their cooperation and unity and maintain their peaceful struggle for the common cause. The Secretary General also called upon the development agencies of the OIC and other International bodies to continue their rehabilitation and development programs in the region. The preparation for holding a meeting of the Tripartite Review Process on the implementation of the 1996 Peace Agreement and linking and converging of the two previous peace agreements with the Bangsamoro Basic Law is underway. The OIC will continue its efforts for peace in Mindanao and will continue monitoring the situation closely until our efforts lead us to the real dawn of peace and stability and a final end to the long struggle of the Bangsamoro people, the statement added. AB/IINA