By NNN-Xinhua,
Cotabato (Philippines) : Philippine government on Monday picked a former Muslim governor to head the state’s office engaged in negotiating with Moro and Communist rebels.
Nabil Tan, former vice governor of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, was appointed as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to replace Avelino Razon, who resigned from his post recently to run for office next year.
Tan vowed to intensify the government’s peace efforts by trying to put a closure to the ongoing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and New People’s Army in the remaining months of Arroyo administration.
“All these efforts, of course, should be done in the context of people-centered peace process work, of sharing responsibilities, of hard work, and of synergy of work among the various offices and units,” Tan said in a statement.
“If we can put a closure to it (peace process ) before the next administration commences, so much the better. We need to continue to improve the capacities of our peace works and colleagues and to respond appropriately the needs of the times and be proactive in sharing responsibilities of hard work and of synergy of work among the various offices and units,” he added.
Tan believed government could still attain substantial gains to move the peace process forward.
“We have to be ready with the transition report for the next President.. a document of the lessons learnt of the peace process under the present dispensation” by spelling out “the proposed directions of the peace process in the next six years,” he said.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu told Xinhua by phone that Tan deserved his new post and his appointment is government’s prerogative.
“He is a key factor in resolving the conflict in Mindanao but still the last decision will be from the Palace,” Kabalu said.
Peace talks between the government and the MILF collapsed in August 2008 after the two sides failed to sign an agreement on ancestral domain, prompting some rebel commanders to launch deadly attacks on Christian communities in Mindanao.
Ancestral domain refers to the MILF’s demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland.
It is the last remaining hurdle for a final political settlement that is expected to end the four decades of Muslim insurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives.
Once signed, both sides are expected to work towards a final peace deal that would include plans for the future of the MILF rebels.