COTABATO/DAVAO, 4 May 2003 — The government will pursue “discreet” exploratory peace talks with separatist rebels, despite a fresh spate of rebel attacks in recent weeks, a peace negotiator said yesterday.
“The incidents on the ground are giving us problems in the negotiation to be candid about it,” said Jesus Dureza, a special adviser of President Gloria Arroyo.
Dureza was referring to a recent upsurge in attacks by the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerillas against soldiers and civilians. “But the president is still committed to pursue the peace process as an avenue of settlement,” he said.
Dureza would not say when or where the new round of talks would be held.
“It’s going to be discreet and the media will be able to know it after the exploratory talks are through,” he remarked.
Norberto Gonzales, President Arroyo’s adviser on special concerns, said Kuala Lumpur has agreed to host the second round of exploratory talks from May 9 to 11.
He said there is a need for them to discuss again “grey areas” over some provisions in the March 29 minutes of their first meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
He added the second meeting will clear the air of doubts on the agreement and will bring about progress. “The longer the delay, the bigger number of clashes on the ground that will hurt our people.”
But Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, quickly denied Gonzales statement, saying the leadership has yet to receive information from the Malaysian government regarding Manila’s proposal.
“The MILF had earlier cut off its direct linkages with the GRP (government of the Republic of the Philippines) in all levels except the Malaysian channel,”Kabalu pointed out.
He disagreed with the reason Gonzales said was the cause of the failure of the first round of talks.
The reason for the failure, he said, was because of Dureza’s attempt to alter the meaning and substance of the minutes of their Kuala Lumpur meeting last month.
The MILf had earlier demanded Dureza’s expulsion from the government’s peace panel after he reportedly made his personal annotation on a document signed by both parties, without the approval of the MILF and the Malaysian secretariat.
Also yesterday, the MILF disowned a group of 12 men led by Commander Mauna Torayas who surrendered to the government.
Kabalu said the armed men claiming to have been affiliated with the MILF’s 303rd Brigade were connected with the armed followers of former Mayor Macod Santikan of Malabang, Lanao del Sur.Santikan was reportedly a former separatist fighter of the Moro National Liberation Front.
