UN Secretary General lauds Bangsamoro government

By Umar Farooq</p> <p>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.</p> <p>&quot;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,&quot; Guterres’ spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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 &quot;achieve peace, democratic governance, and respect for human rights&quot;.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The waters in the Bangsamoro region will be simultaneously managed by the national government and Bangsamoro government.</p> <p>The autonomous government will be responsible for the management of energy resources.</p> <p>Muslims will be free in their internal affairs but bound to the Philippines in foreign policy, with some flexibility.</p> <p>In addition, former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and MILF fighters will be eligible to join the official armed forces.</p> <p>