ZAMBOANGA CITY, 1 November 2005 — Malaysia expressed optimism that the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would be able to strike a peace deal next year.

Kuala Lumpur is brokering the peace talks between the Philippines and the MILF, the country’s largest Muslim separatist rebel group, in an effort to end more than three decades of fighting in Mindanao.

It also sent a team of observers, composed of Malaysian and Brunei soldiers and policemen last year to monitor the truce in the troubled region.

“We hope that in 2006, the peace process in Mindanao island can be realized,” said Admiral Tan Sri Mohamed Anwar Nor, Malaysia’s Defense Forces chief.

Mohamed Anwar visited a monitoring base in Cotabato City in Maguindanao on Saturday and met with government and rebel peace negotiators.

He said the cease-fire accord, signed in 2001, between government and rebel leaders were holding and proceeding smoothly.

“The Malaysian and Brunei armed forces can do a good job in monitoring the cease-fire which has been a long-standing problem in Mindanao,” said Mohamed Anwar.

Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu said the MILF is sincere in the peace talks and is abiding by cease-fire. He commended the Malaysian-led truce observers for their support to the peace process.

“The foundation of the peace talks is strong and the MILF is hoping that peace will soon reign Mindanao,” Kabalu said on Sunday.

The Malaysian delegation also visited Zamboanga City last week and spoke with Mayor Celso Lobregat about Manila’s proposal of establishing another monitoring base there.

Lobregat rejected the proposal saying, Zamboanga has nothing to do with the MILF and is not part of the Muslim ancestral domain. It was the second time that Lobregat rejected the offer.

Lobregat earlier denounced a reported agreement signed by the government and rebel peace negotiators that would give a separate homeland to the MILF.

He said Manila signed a secret deal with the rebels that would allow them to establish an Islamic state across Mindanao under the guise of the so-called Muslim ancestral domain.

“This is a complete sellout and we will not allow Mindanao to be dismembered, and we must act swiftly before it is too late,” Lobregat, an opposition leader, said.

Many Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Libya, and the Organization of Islamic Conference, and the United States are supporting the peace talks.

Aleem Aziz Mimbantas, the MILF’s vice chairman for military affairs, expressed optimism about the peace talks and lauded President Arroyo for her support in resolving the MILF problems in Mindanao.

“The peace talks between the government and the MILF have been yielding positive breakthroughs, which indicate the high prospect of peacefully solving the centuries-old conflict in Mindanao,” he said.

The president said that 80% of the peace talks have been been completed and that permanent peace in Mindanao is within reach.

The MILF earlier said a peace agreement with Manila would further strengthen the government’s anti-terrorism campaign in Mindanao, where security forces and rebels have joined to hunt down Jemaah Islamiya and Abu Sayyaf militants tied to Usama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network.

Muhammad Ameen, of the MILF’s central committee, said: The peace deal would make the MILF a strong partner, such as, in combating syndicated crimes and other forms of evil activities, like terrorism.”

Peace talks are expected to resume after the Ramadan to finalize an agreement on the proposed homeland for twelve million Muslims in Mindanao.