Gov’t reps issued misleading statements—MNLF

Some statements issued by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita “Ging” Deles and government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen are misleading.

The provisions of the Tripoli Agreement were never completely implemented. The last negotiation in Bandung, Indonesia, where the Moro National Liberation Front walked out, was on the implementation of territorial agreement and sharing of resources, among other matters. Is the government deceiving the people?

In a vain attempt to muddle the issues, Leonen categorized the framework agreement not as a treaty. Even if it were a mere contract, the provisions therein would be the law among the parties. This is very basic.

Now, the new one. The government is falsely claiming that the MNLF agreement has been abrogated by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front agreement. How could it be superseded when the MNLF was never privy to the agreement of the MILF and the government? This is a fundamental question that the government is trying to muddle.

The truth is the government’s policy and approach to divide the Muslim brothers will never work. Ultimately, this will boomerang and will create more problems.

The exclusive definition of the government of the Bangsamoro people shows the desire of the government to divide the people of Mindanao. It should have included Christians who were born in Mindanao and have assimilated into the culture of Mindanao. Anyway, this is one of the objectives of the MNLF in demanding a more inclusive definition that will include the Christians of Mindanao.

Maybe the government has to review its action. The MNLF is very happy because the action of the government has opened the way for a genuine pursuit of self-determination.

—V. EMMANUEL C. FONTANILLA,

spokesman/legal counsel,

MNLF for Mindanao, [email protected]