KORONADAL CITY -- The country's ulama or Islamic scholars have appealed to US President Barack H. Obama to help bring back on track the stalled peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The National Ulama Conference of the Philippines (NUCP) wrote Obama over the weekend to ask his help in resuming the amity talks between the two parties, noting the widespread displacement of civilians in parts of Mindanao since last year.

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Obama must vigorously support the peace process in Mindanao to end the 40-year armed conflict that has resulted in 600,000 displaced and hundreds killed since August 2008, and work to bring the government and the MILF back to the negotiating table as soon as possible, the group said.

He should support the legitimate and inherent right of the Bangsamoro people to self-determination, they added.

The group also urged the United States to extend massive relief and rehabilitation assistance to internally displaced persons in Mindanao, particularly in conflict-affected areas, through socio-economic development programs that will "bring prosperity and dignity to our people."

Dr. Aboulkhair Tarason, NUCP chairperson, signed the letter with at least eight other Islamic scholars.

Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, in her previous visits to Mindanao, gave assurances that the Obama administration would continue pouring development assistance to conflict-torn areas in southern Philippines.

The Growth with Equity in Mindanao, a program funded by the United States Agency for International Development, has been extending livelihood assistance and infrastructure initiatives to conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

The NUCP's plea for Obama to help in the Mindanao peace process comes fresh on the heels of renewed displacement particularly in the town Datu Piang, Maguindanao as a result of heightened hostilities between the military and "rogue" MILF fighters.

Nearly 30,000 individuals have sought refuge in Datu Piang alone following weeks of military offensive against the 105th MILF base command headed by Ameril Umbra Kato.

Kato, who carries a P10 million reward, allegedly spearheaded the attacks on civilian communities in North Cotabato last year in frustration to the botched signing of the controversial memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain.

Rafael E. Seguis, chief government negotiator in talks with the MILF, visited Datu Piang last week and found the evacuation sites deplorable.

Their sufferings have to end, and one way to achieve this is by resuming the stalled peace negotiations, the official said.

But Seguis did not disclose when both sides would return to the negotiating table. (BSS)