Friday, November 10, 2006
Muslim leaders laud dropping of raps v. MILF exec
By Danilo V. Adorador III
LOCAL officials Thursday hailed the dropping of charges against the leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as a positive step towards the full resumption of the stalled peace talks.
Mandangan Darimbang, an acknowledged Muslim community leader in Northern Mindanao, described the move as a "very constructive" development to the "normalization of the peace process."
Prosecutor Al Calica said Wednesday he found no solid evidence that MILF chairman Al Haj Murad was directly involved in the October 10 bombings, including one that killed six people and wounded 29 others in southern North Cotabato province.
"If this would re-invigorate the suspended talks, then this is a positive step, and this brings a message to the MILF that the government is sincere in the peace negotiations," said Darimbang.
Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Michelle Tagarda-Spiers underscored the importance of the two negotiating parties "having no hostile feelings with each other, which of course, would be a major stumbling block to the talks."
The Cagayan de Oro City Council has recently passed a resolution urging Malacañang to consider the appointment of local government officials from Mindanao to the peace panel.
Tagarda believes that the involvement of Mindanao local government units to the peace negotiations will bring "new insights and fresh perspectives to the peace process because Mindanao leaders are aware of the roots of the conflict."
With one of the roadblocks to the talks removed, Darimbang urged the two sides to seize the opportunity "to go back to the table, agree and compromise."
Talks hit a snag in early September over the size of a southern area that would fall under Muslim control as part of a peace deal, and the government was expected to present fresh proposals soon.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has recently asked Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to continue mediating. Her government has expressed confidence that a three-year-old cease-fire will hold despite the impasse.
Police have accused Murad of ordering the bombings, citing an MILF guerrilla who has allegedly surrendered and confessed that he overheard his commander discussing the bomb plot with Murad in a cell phone conversation.
The MILF denied the allegations, blaming the charges to what the group said are entities who would like to see the peace negotiations fail. (With reports from Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (November 10, 2006 issue)
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