ZAMBOANGA CITY, 26 February 2004 — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has rejected a proposed government peace deal ahead of the Philippine presidential elections in May, the separatist group’s spokesman said yesterday.
Eid Kabalu said the government panel has offered autonomy for Muslims in the southern Philippines to the MILF, which is fighting for independence.
“It was unacceptable to the MILF. The peace deal must be acceptable to both sides. The Philippine government cannot just impose on the MILF and the Bangasamoro people,” Kabalu told Arab News.
He said the MILF would not be able to sign a peace agreement with the Arroyo government because of the slow pace of the talks and the forthcoming national elections.
Kabalu expressed apprehension the government may use the proposed peace deal to bolster President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s election bid.
“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.
He also criticized Malaysia for meddling in the MILF affairs. Malaysia, a member of the influential Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), is currently brokering the peace talks between Manila and the MILF.
Last week, Malaysia urged the MILF to 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 warned.
Government and rebel peace negotiators last week ended fresh round of talks in Malaysia and agreed to meet again in April in Kuala Lumpur. Manila has agreed to pull out troops on a former rebel stronghold in Buliok, a mountain complex in southern Philippines, to allow MILF forces to return there after its fall in 2003.
It also dropped criminal charges against key MILF leaders implicated in the series of bombings in the strife-torn region that left scores of people dead and wounded as part of an earlier agreement with the rebels.
Philippine Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita has linked the MILF to the Jemaah Islamiyah or JI, the Southeast Asian chapter of the Al-Qaeda international terror network of Osama Bin Laden. JI leaders are reportedly plotting to put up an Islamist caliphate covering the southern part of Thailand, the southern Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia through violent means.
Ermita said the military has monitored as many as 31 Indonesian terrorists training Filipino militants in central Mindanao, where the MILF is known to operate.
“We are closely monitoring these reports because the JI has not ceased training terrorists,” Ermita said.
The MILF has denied any links with JI or Al-Qaeda network and said it was not providing training or safe refuge to terrorists.
Kabalu said strongly denied the allegations and accused Ermita of trying to derail the peace talks.
The MILF is supporting the international campaign against terrorism and vowed to help fight the JI, he said.
He said the MILF also reiterated its earlier pronouncements not to provide sanctuary to JI militants.
