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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
EU urges Philippine gov't, rebels to resume talks (3:30 p.m.)
MANILA -- The European Union urged the Philippine government and Muslim separatist rebels Tuesday to resume peace talks amid an escalation of fighting in the country's southern Mindanao region.
In a statement in Manila, the EU said it was deeply concerned by the growing number of civilian casualties and displaced people and "condemns the indiscriminate killing of civilians."
"The European Union believes strongly that the conflict in Mindanao can only be resolved through dialogue and calls upon all parties to show restraint and genuine respect for the rule of law," the statement said.
It urged the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, "who both have invested heavily in the peace process, to agree to an early return to the negotiating table in order to seek a lasting solution to the conflict."
Violence erupted early last month when three guerrilla commanders raided villages, shooting or hacking to death 37 civilians after a preliminary peace accord was aborted.
More than half a million people have been displaced or have lost their homes and livelihoods, and the civilian death toll has risen to 68 in the wake of a military offensive to arrest the three commanders, the government's disaster agency said Tuesday.
Among the civilian casualties were six members of a family who were killed in a military air strike against fleeing rebels in Datu Piang township last week. The military, police and the Commission on Human Rights are investigating the incident.
The EU also expressed concern that government-armed civilian militias "may become embroiled in the violence" and heighten the danger of an outbreak of an armed conflict among Muslims and Christians.
It reiterated its willingness to continue to assist communities in Mindanao, but said the "successful delivery of its development programs could be jeopardized if the violence continues."
The government and the rebels were close to signing a key accord on a future Muslim homeland, but Christian officials in areas to be affected questioned the deal, prompting the Supreme Court to order government negotiators not to sign it.
Following the attacks by the three rebel commanders, the government disbanded its negotiating panel and indefinitely suspended Malaysia-brokered talks.
In a letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last week, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said her government would not resume the talks "with a gun pointed at our head," and would press for the surrender of the rebel leaders accused of triggering the deadly rampage, said Arroyo's peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon. He personally delivered her letter to Abdullah. (AP) |
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