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Sunday, June 19, 2005
Moro rebels keeps peace on scandals vs Arroyo
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
* However Kabalu says groups courting their support
* MILF leader says whoever's in Palace would respect peace agreements
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) announced Saturday that they are taking a "hands-off policy" with regards to destabilization moves against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The declaration was made amid reports that some groups have asked for the separatist's help in bringing down the Arroyo's administration.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the jueteng and gloriagate tape scandals that are prompting calls for Arroyo to step down are "internal matters to be resolved by the government."
"Hands-off kami. We are not interfering on the issues that are besieging the Arroyo Administration...hindi kami makibahagi dyan (we will not take part on it)," he said.
Kabalu nevertheless did not reject the possibility that there are now groups that have approached their field troopers asking for secretly help topple down Arroyo's administration.
"But there is no official request (to help in destabilization moves against Arroyo) individual lang siguro," he said.
Kabalu said they are not concern on whether or not Arroyo's Administration would continue as the gains acquired over the recent resumption of the peace talks with government would not be lost.
He said the MILF is talking to the government and that the president is "only incidental" in their peace negotiations.
"Whoever sits down in Malacañang we believe that they will continue to honor and respect the agreements already made as these are official acts of the government," he said. "Particularly that there is a third party that is involve in the talks that include Malaysia, Brunei and other member-countries of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Countries)."
The moro leader said their group would rather keep mum on the contents of the gloriagate tapes.
This even particularly on the portion where Arroyo and Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano allegedly plan to rig the 2004 Election by getting more votes from Sulu island and Lanao province, areas where MILF presence is extensive.
"No comment on the rigging and probe as it would mean interfering (in the internal affairs of the government)," he said.
But a Lanao Norte political lieutenant who requested anonymity said the MILF only know too well the conduct of elections in the autonomous region of Mindanao.
"We also knew too well the leader-centered mechanisms of how the clansmen vote in Muslim Mindanao. Truth to tell, FPJ won in many towns and the results are so lopsided one cannot dismiss the doubt that the figures were conjured," he said.
"The same is true with GMA's. The problem starts when the loser complains that he or she is cheated. And there's no end to the carping," he added.
This source said the MILF is presently firming up a stable and meaningful peace pact with the Arroyo government.
He said the group only knows too well that change in leadership will only wind back to where it started.
He said the stakeholders in Mindanao too knows as much in that any attempt to destabilize the government will setback all the gains that the peace negotiations have so far achieved.
For him, Mindanawons are weary of conflicts some of which are borne by the fact that the region had been isolated by the centrist government.
"Mindanawons are presently looking at two prospects that could accelerate the development and economic uplift of the region," he said.
This GMA loyalist said the prospect includes a truce between the separatist MILF which can be permanent and stable with the Federal system which the Arroyo administration wants to pursue next year.
"These are what matters best to the Mindanawons and not jueteng and the fabled tape conversation of Arroyo. Whatever happens in the street of Manila is the least of the concern of Mindanao," he said.
"If the political opposition and the leftists in Luzon are in a frenzy to have President Arroyo step down, Mindanawons are in a flash point to cut ties with imperial Manila. One more divisive political act will only drive a deep wedge between Mindanao on one hand and Luzon and Visayas on the other," he added.
(June 19, 2005 issue)
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