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Wednesday, June 25, 2003
MILF, gov't back in peace talks mode
By Lizanilla Amarga
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- A top officer of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is not ruling out the possibility of chairman Hashim Salamat sitting on the negotiating table to talk peace with the government.
The government and the MILF said Tuesday they were close to resuming peace negotiations, with only a few matters needing to be settled such as President Arroyo's request for Salamat to lead the negotiations.
But Al Hadj Murad Ebrahim, MILF peace panel head and vice chairman for military affairs, said Salamat would only come into the talks when there is already a need for him to do so.
"Hindi namin ini-rule out eto it is possible na uupo siya...depends on the necessity," he said in an interview with radio station dzRH Tuesday morning. (We are not ruling out the possibility of Chairman Salamat being on the MILF peace panel.)
"The government and the MILF peace panels are now reentering the peace talks mode," Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a written statement following informal talks between the two sides in Malaysia this week.
Salamat would lead his group in negotiations, Bunye added.
"We have agreed that Chairman Salamat will lead the MILF in the negotiations, be present in key stages of the negotiations including the opening and closing ceremonies; be fully responsible for all the actions and decisions of the MILF panel; and sign the final peace agreement," Bunye said.
So far, Murad said they have not seen the necessity of including Salamat in the rebel group's peace panel.
Nevertheless, he said Salamat would definitely be sitting in on the negotiations when these shall have reached the final stages.
"Kung final agreement na talaga na siya na ang uupo," he said. (If it comes to the final agreement, then Salamat will definitely be a part of the peace panel.)
Murad said it is "possible" the central committee might rule on letting Salamat become chief negotiator, adding that the other peace negotiators, usually chosen from the ranks of the vice chairmen, are now gone.
Murad said the MILF's chief peace negotiator was Atty. Ghadzali Jaafar, vice chairman for political affairs, followed by Abdulaziz Mimbantas, vice chairman for internal affairs and then him.
"Wala na ang tatlong (All three) vice chairmen (are gone) so it is possible depende lang (it depends) on the progress of the talks," he said.
But even if Salamat will sit as chief negotiator, he will have to consult the MILF central committee before saying yes to commitments with the government panel, added Murad.
"(This is because) the MILF is operating as an organization not run by one person...all decisions are done collectively not done by one person," he explained.
On the progress of the talks, Murad said there are back-channeling efforts going on in Kuala Lumpur.
On government's side, Bunye said the two sides would work on a "timeline that will begin with the approval of parameters for the formal talks, the start of the talks, and the conclusion of the talks."
Bunye said the Malaysian government, which has previously hosted formal peace talks between the two sides, has been invited to serve as a "third party observer" to the proposed new round of negotiations.
He added that a cabinet oversight committee on security concluded at a meeting Tuesday that based on communications from Salamat, the MILF appeared ready to "move forward to a negotiated political settlement beginning with a ceasefire."
"The MILF is in a permanent ceasefire attitude," Bunye said, quoting the committee.
However, the committee stressed that contacts with the MILF were still limited to "exploratory back channel talks."
Murad expressed hopes that all their efforts will yield good developments, leading to the resumption of the formal negotiations.
A warrant of arrest has been issued for Murad in relation to multiple murder and frustrated murder charges filed against him for the Davao bombings.
Murad said they have tasked their lawyers to look into the situation because they are not discounting the possibility of being arrested at the negotiating table.
Government has also put up a P5-million bounty for his capture, along with Salamat and other top MILF leaders.
Arroyo had previously refused to reopen peace talks with the MILF unless the group publicly disavowed terrorism and links to foreign terrorist groups. She had also demanded that the MILF surrender the ringleaders of the bombings of civilians.
She said the government would not lift arrest orders for MILF leaders, including Hashim.
Arroyo also refused to reciprocate a unilateral ceasefire called by the MILF on June 2.
Bunye said stressed the government has not dropped would these previous conditions.
Salamat's public announcement last weekend denouncing terrorism "is a positive development," Bunye said.
Earlier Tuesday, Arroyo said "the government is preparing a blueprint for stabilizing the situation on the ground, effecting the speedy return of evacuees to their homes and (jumpstarting) the peace negotiations."
The 12,500-member MILF has been waging a 25-year armed campaign to set up an Islamic state in Mindanao. With AFP
(June 25, 2003 issue)
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