UN Secretary General lauds Bangsamoro government

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres congratulated the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Friday on establishing the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the interim government of the newly-formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

"This is a landmark achievement on the road to lasting peace in the Southern Philippines, as well as a historic occasion for all people from the Philippines," Guterres’ spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement.

MILF chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim was sworn in as chief minister of the interim government in Bangsamoro on Friday following a two-round referendum held on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6 in southern Mindanao to grant Moro Muslims autonomy.

The Philippines' landmark Bangsamoro Organic Law was officially ratified on Jan. 25, which granted comprehensive autonomy to Moro Muslims and ended decades of conflict between them and the government.

Dujarric said the UN will continue to support the Philippines in implementing the Bangsamoro Organic Law and to help build the capacity of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to "achieve peace, democratic governance, and respect for human rights".

Courts of Islamic law will be established in the newly formed region and the Philippine central government will transfer its administrative authority in Mindanao to the Bangsamoro government.

The waters in the Bangsamoro region will be simultaneously managed by the national government and Bangsamoro government.

The autonomous government will be responsible for the management of energy resources.

Muslims will be free in their internal affairs but bound to the Philippines in foreign policy, with some flexibility.

In addition, former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and MILF fighters will be eligible to join the official armed forces.