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Philippines And MILF In Joint Development Efforts
by Kazi Mahmood for IslamOnline
KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday revealed the details of the initial agreement signed by the government with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which she said was signed in the presence of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
"The Republic of the Philippines and the MILF are committed to joint development efforts," Arroyo announced in a press briefing.
"I approved the agreement in the highest national interest," the President said, adding that both sides agreed to conduct formal peace talks in three months time.
The two parties, however, have as yet, not agreed on the venue for the peace talks to be hosted, with the government saying it will be at a mutually agreed upon location.
Earlier reports said that a probable location for the talks would be Malaysia, where exploratory talks led by presidential adviser for the peace process Eduardo Ermita were held.
Arroyo said the emphasis of the agreement with the MILF was on joint development efforts in Mindanao. She added that those MILF strongholds such as Camp Abubakar would no longer be considered military camps, but as Muslim communities.
The MILF has insisted that its captured camps be returned unconditionally for peace talks to resume. Arroyo's announcement, through the eyes of the MILF, seems to indicate that the Philippines' government has accepted the idea that the camps be turned into community areas where displaced Mindanao Muslims may reside.
These camps would most likely be placed under the control of both the MILF and government troops, sources said.
Arroyo also said that the MILF should suspend all military offensives against the government, reciprocating the government's suspension of military operations.
"The MILF shall organize its own peace panel forthwith. This will be announced to the public soon," she said, adding that this was part of the agreement signed in Kuala Lumpur.
Arroyo added that the new accord would recognize standing agreements between the Philippine government and the MILF, also one of the conditions imposed by the MILF.
Arroyo thanked Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for facilitating the peace efforts.
She noted that she has been working towards this accord for a long time, even while she was vice president. The President congratulated former Defense Secretary Ermita and his team for their efforts that led to this initial agreement.
"Never again must our Muslim brethren find reason to rebel or seek secession," the President stressed. "Peace cannot wait. The people cannot wait."
Sources say that the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) was behind the fresh agreement signed by the warring factions in Malaysia. The OIC, itself, might have proposed that Malaysia be the host for the imminent peace talks.
The choices for the venue were limited to Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, Indonesia.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu, who also heads the MILF's committee on cessation of hostilities, said the talks would probably resume this month.
Kabalu explained Malaysia loomed as the venue of the formal talks considering it has been tapped to act as mediator.
"Probably it will be held in Malaysia. Malaysia will act as the mediator, this [mediation] was actually proposed by the government," Kabalu said.
"There are no more obstacles. The major concerns have been addressed," the MILF spokesman said, adding the agreement signed last Saturday addressed conditions set by the MILF for renewed peace talks.
"Definitely, there is already an agreement addressing the major concerns or preconditions presented by the MILF for the holding of the talks," Kabalu said, adding that "This will now go on. We're happy about this. Who doesn't want peace?"
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