ZAMBOANGA CITY, 27 February 2004 — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday accused the United States of meddling as Washington pressed for a conclusion of the peace talks between the separatist group and the Philippine government.

“The Americans are directly interfering with the peace talks and luring us with the aid offer, but the freedom of the Bangsamoro people cannot be bought,” MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said.

He added: “While we need the aid money for the development of Mindanao, we cannot sacrifice the cause of the Bangasamoro people to regain their freedom and independence in exchange of American dollars.”

Kabalu reacted to a statement by US charge d’affaires Joseph Mussomeli, who said the separatists must start peace talks with the Philippine government soon, and win millions of dollars of development aid, or risk being declared an enemy of the United States.

US authorities are reviewing the actions of the MILF with a view to its possible inclusion in the State Department’s “foreign terrorist organization” blacklist, Mussomeli said.

“It is an ongoing assessment process. It is an issue that may in the next year or two really reach a conclusion,” he told a Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines press forum.

“Right now we remain hopeful — because of ongoing negotiations, because of their public announcement renouncing terrorism — that they will avoid being placed on the list.”

Mussomeli urged the rebels, who have been waging a 25-year armed secessionist campaign in the southern third of this former US colony, to make good on their pledge to resume peace talks with President Gloria Arroyo in Malaysia in April.

During a visit to Manila last year, US President George W. Bush offered $30 million in aid to the Mindanao region once the MILF signed a peace treaty with the Philippine government.

Mussomeli said the money would be used “to help the MILF combatants get back to the mainstream of society.”

However, he said the offer had a limited shelf life in view of the other foreign commitments of the United States, which is rebuilding war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan.

“That money is not going to be there forever. It goes away in the next several months,” he said.

Manila has accused certain units of the 11,900-member MILF of providing training camps and sanctuaries for foreign Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militants on Mindanao.

The MILF leadership later publicly distanced itself from terrorism last year as a precondition for peace talks.

JI has been blamed for terrorist attacks across Southeast Asia including the bombing of the Bali resort that killed more than 200 people in 2002.

Mussomeli said “if a genuine peace accord is reached ... then that would suggest strongly that there is very little reason to put them (MILF) on” the blacklist.

Washington has also placed communist guerrillas on the list and has deflected calls to have them delisted following the resumption of peace talks with Manila two weeks ago.

Mussomeli said the JI threat “has quietened down but that does not mean anything” because there was “still a lot more to be done.”

“There are portions of Mindanao where there are terrorists including JI. In my view more needs to be done. This is not a criticism, I know the Philippine government is working very hard.”

Not Terrorists

Kabalu said they are not worried because the MILF is not a terrorist organization.

“If the United States classify the MILF as a terrorist organization, then so be it. It is their own lookout not ours. We have not killed any Americans nor attacked any US interests in the Philippines,” he told Arab News.

“We are a legitimate organization with a legitimate cause. The MILF and the Bangsamoro people can live without the Americans,” he said.

Kabalu also questioned the timing of Mussomeli’s pronouncement that coincided with the MILF’s rejection of the proposed government peace deal. Manila proposed a peace deal with the MILF ahead of the presidential elections in May.

“There is no way the MILF can sign a peace agreement with the Arroyo government because there are still a lot of issues to be discussed. Signing a peace deal with the government is next to impossible now, but the peace talks will still continue until a just and lasting solution to the Moro problems is achieved. The road to peace is long and winding,” Kabalu said.

The MILF on Wednesday also slammed Malaysia for meddling in the MILF’s affairs. Malaysia last week said the MILF should abandon its struggle for independence because it is futile.

“Malaysia cannot tell the MILF what to do or what not to do. They cannot impose on the MILF and the Bangsamoro people who are fighting for self-determination. If Malaysia or the Philippine government imposes on us, then it is the end of the peace talks,” Kabalu said. (Additional input from agencies)