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Thursday, June 26, 2003
MILF, gov't sign pact to resume peace talks
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Moro separatists and government representatives signed an agreement setting the stage for the resumption of peace negotiations after a week of informal talks in Malaysia, a spokesman for the rebels said Wednesday.
Among the pertinent provisions in the document are the withdrawal of government troops from areas controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), quashing of arrest warrants for top rebel leaders and the entry of ceasefire monitoring teams from Indonesia, Libya and Malaysia.
Eid Kabalu of the MILF said Wednesday the two sides ratified on Monday the March 2003 joint statement, just recently released after talks in March.
But Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process, accused Kabalu Wednesday of muddling the matter by issuing statements that run counter to the stand of other top MILF leaders, including chairman Hashim Salamat.
Ermita, however, said in Manila that Kabalu's conflicting announcements might just be the result of a communication gap among some MILF leaders.
He said this is one of the reasons why government prefers to negotiate directly with Salamat.
According to Ermita, Kabalu rejected as incorrect government's declaration that Salamat has agreed to take firsthand role in the negotiations by heading the MILF panel.
But the Philippine government received the information directly from Malaysian authorities, the official third-party facilitator, and it is supported by data from government's direct contacts with the MILF, claimed Ermita.
Successful meeting
Asked about the significance of the meeting in Malaysia, Kabalu said: "It sets the stage for the resumption of peace talks with Manila.
"It was a successful meeting. Our hope now is that the agreement can be translated into action. Our people have suffered enough. We want peace and prosperity," he said.
Kabalu said Malaysia had pressed the MILF to be patient and refrain from offensive activities.
"We will abide by the request. We will ensure our fighters are disciplined. We will not strike unless to defend ourselves," he said.
Among other items provided in the agreement are the declaration of a ceasefire by both parties and the reconvening of the Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).
"We just hope that the government will honor their word...to indeed declare a ceasefire anytime now," Kabalu stressed.
The two panels worked out in Kuala Lumpur the past days an "affirmation" of the joint communiqué signed by the MILF and government on March 28.
This time, he claimed, the "incorrect and not agreed upon annotations" placed by former government chief negotiator Jesus Dureza were corrected. He did not elaborate.
Monitor atrocities
In the talks in Malaysia, the group also discussed Arroyo's condition that Salamat categorically denounce in writing links to terrorist groups before the government declares a "permanent ceasefire."
"But this was already settled as we have already sent them Chairman Hashim's policy statement on this matter," he pointed out.
On the CCCH, Kabalu said the group is created to monitor atrocities committed against the initial ceasefire agreement inked by both parties.
The group, which has representatives from both parties and even from local non-government organizations, was deactivated after the Pikit, Cotabato assault on the Buliok Complex last Feb. 14.
Tops Julhani, head of MILF's representatives in CCCH, and his counterpart in government Col. Romeo Calizo are reportedly scheduled to meet soon to map out details for the ceasefire.
According to Kabalu, the CCCH will also discuss the matter of Arroyo's "punitive attacks" against MILF rebels accused of being behind the Davao, Siocon, Koronadal and Maigo attacks.
Kabalu said as part of the agreement, Manila had agreed to channel money to MILF agencies to fund development activities in Mindanao.
Manila said Tuesday it was close to resuming negotiations to end the 12,500-strong MILF's 25-year rebellion for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao, after Salamat categorically renounced terrorism, fulfilling one of several conditions set by President Arroyo. Lizanilla J. Amarga/With She Caguimbal-Torres/AFP
(June 26, 2003 issue)
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