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Sunday, March 23, 2003
Peace talks may resume between GRP, MILF: Rody
DESPITE his earlier open resistance to continuation of peace negotiation between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after the March 4 bombing of the Davao International Airport (DIA), Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte admitted the possibility of the peace talks resuming anytime soon.
In a press conference Friday, Duterte said President Gloria Arroyo as a statesman "cannot close the doors for peace".
Duterte, however, said that the standing warrant of arrest against MILF chair Hashim Salamat and three other top MILF leaders along with a hundred more MILF commanders and John Does poses a big problem if peace talks will indeed resume.
He said he will see to it that the warrants of arrest will be served. Duterte earlier said that he will not support any resumption of peace talks unless justice has been served to the more than 20 innocent civilians who were killed and more than 100 others injured in the airport bombing.
Duterte said he was personally hurt by the incident since he had the greatest respect for Salamat and all the other revolutionary leaders fighting for a cause. The mayor said that respect for Salamat was not lost adding that he is still willing to have a personal talk with the Muslim leader to thresh out their differences.
Last week, Salamat sent Duterte a letter stating that the MILF leadership forgives Duterte for the harsh statements and for his "false" accusations against the secessionist group. The mayor however found it funny to be forgiven when he had not done anything wrong against the MILF. BOT
(March 23, 2003 issue)
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