Esperon underscores gov’t peace negotiating scheme

Esperon underscores gov’t peace negotiating scheme

ICC Iligan City — Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has emphasized to the people of the province of Lanao del Norte that the government’s decisions are not only aimed at achieving peace in Mindanao but also to provide security to the inhabitants as well.

Esperon made this announcement in front of a crowd numbering to a thousand during his “Mobile Peace TV” held at the Mindanao Civic Center, in Tubod town, this province.

The program, which showcased peace initiatives that lead to development, was sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and will be aired over NBN Channel 4 at 8 o’clock in the morning, every Saturday.

In his message, Esperon lauded Lanao del Norte Governor Khalid Dimaporo for holding activities such as tthe Department of Education’s (DepEd) Peace Village, Mindanao Week of Peace culminating activity, Bishops Ulama Conference, peace talks at the local level to pacify ‘rido’ (armed settlement of a family feud), and the creation of the Peace Initiative Council.

While there are factors attributed to resolve conflict, the solution is not at all military operations, because conflicts can be settled through dialogues or peace negotiations, which we are pushing now. The conflict must be resolved in the table, not in the battle field, Esperon expressed.

Esperon added that through dialogues with the local government units (LGU) affected, different ideas could be shared on how to attain peace and the necessary inputs will be gathered.

He said hopefully by the middle of December, they would be able to submit recommendations to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for her to decide before the year ends on whether to resume peace the talks or not.

Esperon emphasized President Arroyo’s three conditions to consider before the start of the peace negotiation: 1) all our communities must be safe from the degradations of armed groups, and that we must maintain our security forces-the government troops; 2) internally displaced persons must be brought back/or return to their own community; 3) responsible leadership of the MILF must regain control, which explains that lawless elements led by Bravo, Kato and Pangalian shall respect by controlling any attack they intend to commit while the peace negotiation is going on.

The Secretary reiterated that the renegade leaders mentioned still have to answer for the crimes they committed last August 18 atrocity if and then the peace negotiation pushes through. (lvg/PIA Iligan City)

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