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Arroyo Praised For Peace Efforts
by Kazi Mahmood
KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (IslamOnline) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines was praised for her sincerity in trying to bring peace to Mindanao by the Saudi Arabian envoy to Manila on Wednesday. The ambassador, Saleh Mohammad
al-Ghamdi, said he believed the president was sincere.
Several observers agreed with him, but some warned that Arroyo does not have much
time to ensure that a peace deal is signed with the Muslims of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was involved in the Philippines' peace process from 1972 until the signing of the peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in September 1996.
Since then, an autonomous region has been created in Mindanao, headed by Nur Misuari of the MNLF, but that agreement has not prevented the situation from deteriorating between the Bangsamoro people and Philippines authorities.
Failure to implement the peace, and development process, forced the creation of the MILF.
Al-Ghamdi said at present his country is still very much a part of the peace process and that there was hope that peace could at last be achieved.
The ambassador added that he was with Arroyo last March and that he believed in her sincerity to pursue peace in the war torn region.
The Saudi envoy made these remarks Wednesday after being conferred a doctorate in humanities (honoris causa) by the Mindanao State University (MSU) system during the state university's 36th commencement exercises where he was the guest speaker.
Earlier, al-Ghamdi said relations between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines are gaining strength day by day.
Al Ghamdi, himself, has been very instrumental in Mindanao's peace process and is considered a "voice of moderation" and has acted as a peace advocate since the start of his tour of duty in the Philippines in 1998.
The envoy has initiated relief assistance for victims of natural and man-made calamities in the country, not only for Muslims, but also for the Philippines' Christians as well.
Meanwhile, the MILF has denied reports that chairman Salamat Hashim is scheduled to return to Camp Abubakar along with a battalion of heavily armed escorts.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu expressed surprise on why the issue of Camp Abubakar became so prominent despite the fact that it was never a part of the Kuala Lumpur agreement on the General Framework for the Resumption of the Peace Talks.
Opposition politicians had slammed the Kuala Lumpur agreement, but were warned by the MILF that more than a year of deposed president Joseph Estrada's "all-out war" had not brought peace to the war-torn island.
Peace advocates, activist organizations and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in Mindanao hailed the signing of the Kuala Lumpur agreement, as has the rightwing group, the Young Officers' Union (YOU), which had earlier threatened to stage a coup over peace efforts. YOU presently says it will abide with the government's decision.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Chief of Staff, BIAF-MILF, through Toks Ebrahim confirmed Thursday morning the successful dissemination and implementation of the MILF suspension of military operations (SOMO), which took effect 1:00 a.m. Tuesday.
All MILF commanders throughout Mindanao are expected to observe religiously the declaration in order to give peace a chance, Ebrahim said.
Under the SOMO, MILF forces are directed to suspend all offensive military actions and concentrate only in strengthening defense positions, the memorandum declared.
"This is a manifestation that MILF forces are matured enough. Their obedience to lawful order from the leadership is beyond doubt," Kabalu declared upon receiving feedback of the successful implementation of the MILF SOMO.
MILF fighters are advised to stay afoot and concentrate only on the strengthening of their defensive position, while continuing to hold their guns and hit back only if fired upon.
But even in Camp Abubakar, where firefighting is almost order of the day, hostilities were reported to have ceased since the MILF's SOMO become effective.
The MILF claims it is maintaining six division fighters, or a fatal strength of 120,000 men scattered throughout Mindanao. Of this number, only about 2/3 are fully armed.
Aside from its regular forces, the MILF is also maintaining several Brigades Internal Security Forces (ISF) whose major concern is the maintenance of law and order in the local community.
The ISF is directly under the Office of the Vice Chairman for Internal Affairs, currently headed by Aleem Abdulazis Mimbantas.
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