ZAMBOANGA CITY, 28 July 2005 — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) disputed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s claims that the peace talks with the Philippines’ largest Muslim separatist rebel group is almost complete.

“We have worked with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to forge peace with our Muslim brothers. Eighty percent of our peace talks with them have been completed. Permanent peace in Mindanao is within reach,” Arroyo said in her State of the Nation Address, called SONA, on Monday.

But MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said both sides have still to resolve fundamental issues that would lead into the signing of an accord.

“This overestimation will create a false impression that all the fundamental issues are resolved. We still have to resolve on the negotiating table fundamental issues like (Muslim) governance and finding a just and lasting solution to the Mindanao problem. There is no shortcut method to resolve these issues except by facing them squarely on the table in an atmosphere of sincerity, understanding, and creativeness.” he said.

Iqbal said although the peace process is surging ahead with tremendous gain, there are still many difficult issues that need to be resolved. “These issues are the most tricky and difficult and could still derail the peace talks,” Iqbal said.

MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim had earlier expressed optimism that the MILF could forge a political deal with the Arroyo government to put an end to the more than three decades of hostilities in the southern Philippines.

“Peace is almost at hand. After decades of unrelenting struggle, our flickering hope for a just and comprehensive political solution to the Bangsamoro problem is rekindled. Our legitimate aspiration for a rightful place in our society has once again assumed its proper shape.”

“Our life-long dream to establish and develop our homeland as a permanent legacy to the next generation of Bangsamoro people, and the generation after that, which they can call their own, will soon — insha’ Allah (God willing) — become a reality,” Ebrahim had said.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said government and rebel peace negotiators have already agreed on several important issues centered on the ancestral domain — its concept, territories and resources, and now we will negotiate about how we will govern these places. Kabalu said the ancestral domain is the single most important issue in the peace negotiations before the MILF can reach a political settlement. Ancestral domain refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland.

He said both sides have already agreed on several crucial issues, including the coverage of a proposed ancestral domain in the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, and other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes.

Kabalu said the MILF is willing to compromise if only to arrive at an acceptable, reasonable and comprehensive agreement that would include all ethnic groups in Mindanao. At least 18 non-Muslim tribal groups live in the southern Philippines — the T’boli, B’laan, Ata, Bagobo, Banwaon, Bukidnon, Dibabawon, Higaunon, Kalagan, Mamanwa, Mandaya, Mangguwangan, Manobo, Mansaka, Subanen, Tagakaolo, Teduray and the Ubo.

Once an agreement is reached on how the MILF would govern these areas, Kabalu said government and rebel peace negotiators would finally discuss the political settlement of the country’s longest-running Muslim insurgency problem.

The MILF has been fighting for independence since it split with the MNLF in 1978, but Manila said it would not allow the country to be dismembered.

Malaysia, an influential member of the OIC, is mediating the peace talks and has sent a team of observers to the southern Philippines to monitor the three-year old truce between the military and the rebels.

Manila signed a truce with the MILF in 2002, however, sporadic skirmishes between security and rebel forces continue in the south with both sides accusing each other of violating the fragile truce.