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Ambassador Urabe, GPH – MILF Peace Panels and Malaysian Facilitator lead inauguration on BLMI Training Center
June 8, 2012 News: His Excellency Ambassador Toshinao Urabe of Japan
Embassy in Manila, Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of MILF Peace Negotiating
Panel, Dean Marvic Leonen, Chairman of GPH Peace Negotiating Panel, and
His Excellency Dato’ Tengku Abd’ Ghafar Tengku Bin Mohamed,
Malaysian Facilitator for the Peace talks between the GPH and MILF
led the inauguration of the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management
Institute (BLMI) Training Center for Human Resources Development in
Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao yesterday.
This historic event was likened to the current peace talks between
the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) with all the players in the GPH – MILF Peace Negotiations
present.
Chairman Iqbal was joined by panel members Atty. Datu Michael
Mastura, Prof Abhoud Syed Lingga, Datu Antonio Kinoc, Atty. Raissa
Jajurie, Jun Mantawil, Mike Pasigan and Mohajirin ali.
The Government Peace Panel headed by Dean Leonen also included Prof.
Miriam Ferrer Coronel, former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani,
Yasmine Busran-Lao, Johaira Wahab, BGen Gilbertor Jose Roa and Maj.
Carlos Sol of GPH Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities
(CCCH).
Saying as if the venue of the peace talks has been transferred from
Kuala Lumpur to an area just above the administrative base of MILF in
Camp Darapanan, Chairman Iqbal, however, was quick to clarify, saying
“we are not here for the peace talks but to celebrate one of the good
fruits of the negotiations.”
Dean Leonen, in response, said we can always agree to that purposeful change of venue of the talks when called for.
For his part, Dato’ Tengku, who is the Third Party Facilitator for
the GPH – MILF Peace Talks, said “we are ready for that for as long both
parties will sign the peace accord. Just sign the GPH – MILF Peace
Agreement.”
Ambassador Urabe then reiterated the full commitment of Japan to help the peace process between the government and the MILF.
Japan Embassy granted with 4.3 million Philippine Pesos or around
98,230 in US dollars for the BLMI Training Center through its Grant
assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme.
Japan has been robust in assisting the GPH – MILF Peace Process
through the Japan Embassy, Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA), and its participation with the International Contact Group for
the GPH – MILF Peace Negotiation and with the International Monitoring
Team (IMT).
BLMI envisions to train 500 Bangsamoro people per year in various
fields of leadership and management as well as good governance.
Iqbal conveyed the gratitude of the MILF and the Bangsamoro people to
the Government of Japan to the peace process and the realization of the
BLMI edifice in furtherance of knowledge, justice and peace.
“We are grateful to the government of the Philippines under President
Aquino for extending 5 million pesos for the intial operational and
administrative expenses of BLMI. We assure the government that this
money will be used wisely in furtherance of peace, understanding and
justice amongst people,” Iqbal said.
He also thanked The Asia Foundation (TAF), USAID, Asian Institute of
Management (AIM), Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the
Nonviolent Peaceforce for their technical and financial support for the
pilot training conducted by BLMI.
Also present during the inauguration were IMT Deputy Head Mission
BGen Dato’ Zulkaple, Mindanao People’s Caucus, Mindanao Human Rights and
Action Center (MinHRAV), and ICG members such the Center for
Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), Conciliation Resources, The Asia
Foundation, and international nongovernment organizations and United
Nations Agencies.
MILF Website
links:
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