Australian Embassy official visits MILF leadership at Camp Darapanan

• Aug 28, 2016
• Jad’da Deeyah, Luwaran
• HITS: 2055

First Secretary Timothy Smith of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines reiterated his country’s support to peace and stability in the Bangsamoro while on a courtesy call to MILF Chairman Alhaj Murad Ebrahim on August 27 at the latter’s office in Camp Darapanan.

Australia,  along with four other partners,  is a leading donor-country supporting peace programs in Muslim Mindanao.

Smith informed the MILF chair and other members of the Front’s Central Committee that  a strategic review of programs will be conducted beginning next month of September. The review will focus on what has already been done and to ensure if they are doing the right thing. Considering a new administration is in the helm of power, the Australian government is very positive for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Chairman Ebrahim expressed gladness and gratitude for the Australian government’s manifestation of strong commitment of support  in the peace process.  He said that although there maybe some changes in the road map of the peace process, they are optimistic that the peace process  will start where it had ended with the previous administration.

He further added that an enlarged composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission is at hand inorder to accommodate other players in the peace process,.

He also expressed hope that the convergence of stakeholders will lead the BTC  in coming up with an enabling law that is acceptable to all.

Other matters that were taken up in the meeting that lasted almost an hour are programs for the youth, the normalization process and support for education which shall also include how to correct misconceptions on the history of the Bangsamoro.

Smith was accompanied by Ms. Dwan Mei Dumas, Program Officer – Political at the Australian embassy.  ####

 

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