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Wednesday, August 22, 2007
MILF rues cancellation of talks in Malaysia
DAVAO CITY -- Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials said they were caught by surprise when government cancelled peace talks scheduled for August 22 in Malaysia.
"It was so sudden...we already left Mindanao and (we were) on our way to Kuala Lumpur. This is the second time the government postponed at the last hour, after Malacañang unilaterally announced the resumption on August 22," MILF peace panel secretariat Jun Mantawil said in a report posted Tuesday on MILF's official website, www.luwaran.com.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
The peace talks, stalled in September 2006 due to misgivings over territory, were scheduled for resumption from August 22 to 24 in Kuala Lumpur. This would have marked the 14th exploratory talks between the Philippines government and the MILF.
Government and MILF peace negotiators were supposed to meet for talks earlier this year, on May 1 to 2, but Malacañang asked for postponement at the last hour, citing the forthcoming May 14 polls as reason.
Mohagher Iqbal, MILF information head, said that according to a well-placed source, the talks scheduled for Wednesday were postponed due to the lack of "clear guidelines" from the Arroyo administration to its peace panel.
"Ang ibig sabihin nito dahil walang (This means that because there is no) clear guidelines from the government kung pupunta yong (if the government) panel (goes to) sa Kuala Lumpur, magkakaroon din ng (there is going to be an) impasse," Iqbal said over the radio Tuesday.
Government chief peace negotiator Rodolfo Garcia reportedly said he received no clear instruction from the government on the peace talks after the special meting of Cabinet officials last Saturday.
"He was quoted to have remarked that he does not want to taint his first stint with the government peace panel as chairman with impasse or failure," the report said.
Despite the last minute cancellation, Iqbal assured the public that MILF troops would not make any move that could cause conflict to erupt but would defend themselves should the need arise.
"The MILF up to this time still believes that the best way to resolve the conflict in Mindanao is through a negotiated political settlement of this problem," he said.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced Tuesday that the peace talks with the MILF will resume next month in Malaysia.
The President gave no reason why the August 22 to 24 talks were postponed.
Other government officials denied that the reason was the ongoing military action in Basilan and Sulu. (Ben O. Tesiorna/Bong Garcia/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (August 22, 2007 issue)
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