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Monday, September 15, 2003
Bush to push for US role in Mindanao dev't: Bunye
MANILA -- US President George W. Bush is expected to push for a "post-conflict" role for the United States once the Philippine government signs a peace deal with Muslim separatists, President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman said Sunday.
Bush's eight-hour visit to Manila on October 18 signifies "the strong relationship between the two countries," presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said, adding that the US leader would likely press for a strong role in the development of Mindanao, the country's southern third.
"The commitments of the US...and one of the things that America or President Bush wants is to join in the post-conflict scenario in Mindanao, that after we sign a peace agreement they will participate in the development," of the region, Bunye said.
He said the Bush would likely propose a "mini-Marshall plan" for Mindanao. He did not elaborate.
Manila is preparing to resume peace negotiations with the 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has been waging a Muslim separatist rebellion in the south since 1978.
Malaysia has been hosting preparatory talks between both sides, and Filipino officials have said that at least one US relief agency has committed to pour significant financial aid into the troubled region once a peace deal is sealed.
A small number of US troops are still in Mindanao mainly helping local military in humanitarian work. Two years ago, some 1,000 US troops were deployed to help fight the smaller Abu Sayyaf group, tagged a terrorist group by both countries and blamed for the deaths of two kidnapped Americans.
Plans to hold a second round of joint large-scale military exercises in the southern island of Jolo, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf later this year have yet to be finalized. AFP |
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