Monday, August 16, 2004 Government to sign deal with MILF 'soon'
MANILA -- The Arroyo government is confident that a final peace agreement would be signed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) either at the end of the year or by early 2005.
Silvestre Afable Jr., chairman of the government panel negotiating with the MILF, said Sunday the participation of the secessionist group in the administration's campaign against terrorism and criminal elements like the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Pentagon Group is a big boost to the peace negotiations.
"Definitely, it's a big confidence measure and we have very close arrangements with the MILF and cooperation in flushing out the terrorists and lawless elements," Afable said.
The MILF last week reported that they drove away 15 to 20 suspected JI operatives from a mountain in Lanao del Norte. Their contributions were also recognized in the government's air strike over the weekend that reportedly killed 15 members of the Pentagon Gang, including its leader Tahir Alonto, in Maguindanao.
Afable said they are still waiting for formal communication from Malaysia on the resumption of formal talks in Kuala Lumpur. The MILF has said formal talks would resume this week in Kuala Lumpur but Afable said he has not received any notice on the resumption of either formal or exploratory talks.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said they would discuss the drafting of a term of reference on the deployment of an international ceasefire observer team in Mindanao.
"We look forward (to) a cordial meeting," Kabalu said.
"We hope to sign new agreements to further hasten the peace process and end the hostilities in Mindanao."
Kabalu said the MILF would also raise the issue of the withdrawal of criminal charges against some of their leaders who were linked to several bombing cases in Davao in 2002.
Afable said the government remains committed to its promise to drop the criminal charges, which are now lodged with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
"It's already in the process. Sandali na lang siguro ang hihintayin (We will just wait for a short while for it to happen)," he said.
On the proposal of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon to hold negotiations with the MILF in the Philippines instead of Malaysia, Afable said they are open to holding talks on a shifting venue.
He said, however, that both panels have agreed that the talks be held in Malaysia.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert, meanwhile, said the government would push for its bid for observer status in the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) during the 14th ministerial conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on August 19 in South Africa.
Albert said in a statement released by Malacaņang that she would also raise several bilateral issues affecting the NAM-member countries.
"This meeting comes at a time when the world must assess and address growing tendencies by some states to address issues independently of other states who are or could be affected by those issues. (There is an) increasing impression that the relations between states are being defined in terms of unilateralism," she said.
This year's theme for the NAM ministerial meeting is "Challenge for Multilateralism in the 21st Century." The meeting would be held in Durban in South Africa. (Sunnex/With AFP)
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