Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Malaysia not withdrawing as talks facilitator: MILF
THE Malaysian government is not withdrawing as facilitator of the stalled peace negotiations between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government.
The rebel group made the clarification after reports came out quoting one of its officials as saying otherwise.
In a report posted in www.luwaran.com, MILF deputy chair for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar denied ever making a statement to the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) on its May 5 and 6 issues that Malaysia "will totally abandon its role as the main facilitator in the peace talks if nothing more happens after (the) pullout."
"This is a gross misrepresentation of facts and I called on PDI reporters Christine Avendano and Jeoffrey Maitum to correct their news article immediately for the sake of fair play and truth," Jaafar was quoted as explaining.
Jaafar said he was not with the group that met with the visiting Malaysian military and government officials on May 3, and thus he has no reason to say such.
The MILF official suspects a plot to discredit the MILF in the eyes of the Malaysian government.
"Why does the same news item has to appear in the same publication for two successive days. This is totally absurd," Jaafar said.
It was learned that Mohagher Iqbal, MILF information officer and chief of its peace panel, was the one who led other MILF officials including Sammy Al-Mansoor, BIAF chief of staff, in meeting the Malaysian visitors.
The meeting took place at Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan, where the MILF peace panel office is located. (BOT)
