THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front yesterday belittled the government’s reconstitution of its peace panel and the appointment of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis as chairman, saying these were not enough for a return to the negotiating table.

"It’s not a very big happening as far as the GRP-MILF peace process is concerned. It was just a sort of making up for the lost opportunities," said MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

Iqbal said he has no information about Seguis, who was described by Malacañang as having a deep understanding of the problems in the South.

Seguis, former ambassador to Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, was also involved in the negotiations with the Moro National Liberation Front, which signed a peace accord with the Ramos administration in 1996. The MILF was formed by former MNLF leaders, led by the late Hashim Salamat, who opposed the agreement for not providing genuine autonomy for Muslims.

"It’s a small concession," Iqbal said, adding it cannot correct the mistakes the government committed, including its abandonment of the proposed memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD).

The MOA-AD was supposed to be signed by the MILF and the government last August 5 in Kuala Lumpur but the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on the eve of the signing.

The government later said that it was not going to sign the MOA-AD in its current form or in any other form. In October, the Supreme Court ruled the agreement was unconstitutional.

"They abandoned the MOA-AD and then disbanded their panel. They also changed their peace policy from talking to armed groups to talking to communities. They are continuing with their attacks here in Mindanao," said Iqbal.

Iqbal was referring to the continuing offensive against MILF rebels who attacked communities days after the SC issued its restraining order. Since the start of the offensive on August 18, the military said at least 40 soldiers have been killed and hundreds wounded against a "significant" number of rebels killed.

Iqbal said the issue on the ancestral domain should be hurdled first before negotiations could be reopened.

"We have nothing to talk about. We have to finish first the ancestral domain before we talk about political settlement," he said.

Hermogenes Esperon Jr., presidential adviser on the peace process, said negotiations could resume before Christmas.

The entire panel is expected to be reconstituted after a week.

Esperon said Seguis’ appointment is a strong signal from the government that it is "more than willing to restart the peace talks with the MILF as soon as possible."

"As I have said all along, we cannot afford to abandon peace because war is not the solution to the long-drawn Mindanao conflict. There is no alternative to peace. We cannot give up on peace. We will continue our efforts to find a genuine and lasting solution to our security problem in Southern Philippines," he said.

President Arroyo dissolved the five-member peace panel, led by retired general Rodolfo Garcia, in September after announcing a shift in policy in dealing with armed rebel groups — from holding peace talks to consultations with stakeholders in the context of DDR (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration).

Sen. Francis Pangilinan urged Seguis to declare a cease-fire in Mindanao.

Pangilinan expressed hopes that with the appointment of Seguis, the government will take a different route in addressing the Mindanao problem.

"We have seen how secrecy and legally questionable acts can add to the tension, as with what happened to the ill-fated GRP-MILF peace pact. The challenge is to engage the MILF in firm and accountable terms," he said.

Pangilinan said the resumption of peace talks should also be matched by a Mindanao economic stimulus package that would turn the cities of Zamboanga, Marawi, Iligan, Digos and Marbel into progressive urban centers.