|
Islamic Separatists Urge Manila to Respect Agreements, Peace in Sight
PORT DICKSON, Malaysia, July 24 (News Agencies) - Philippine government negotiators and separatist Islamic combatants began a new round of talks in Malaysia on Tuesday, which left Manila upbeat about peace prospects.
"I don't only smell peace but I see peace already. There is a lot of optimism," chief government negotiator Jesus Dureza told the Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Indonesia, Malaysia and Libya have agreed to send in observers to monitor the ceasefire agreed upon in Tripoli four weeks ago, he said.
Negotiators from the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF), which has waged a 23-year uprising for an independent state in the southern island of Mindanao, warned the government of the predominantly Christian country to honor previous pacts.
But, Dureza said the two sides had agreed to shelve discussions on the MILF's demand for an Islamic state. Instead they would talk about ways to shore up the ceasefire and develop the impoverished south.
"We are not talking about an independent Islamic state because if we put it immediately on the agenda we cannot move forward," Dureza said.
The MILF might eventually drop its independence demand if peace and development can be achieved, one negotiator told AFP.
The two teams are due to meet until August 3 at a beachfront hotel in Port Dickson, south of Kuala Lumpur. Dureza said talks would be adjourned on Wednesday so he could return to Manila to brief President Gloria Arroyo.
In his opening remarks Dureza said Manila would pursue peace "within the context of Philippine national sovereignty and territorial integrity, mindful of the rich cultural and religious heritage of our Muslim brothers in the country."
He added, "There can be no obstacle that cannot be hurdled, no differences that cannot be reconciled, no divergent aspirations that cannot be unified, if it is all in the name of peace."
He later told the AFP that the two sides would discuss ways to ensure the ceasefire and to boost development in the region.
"We can sign a thousand peace agreements but if people are still miserable it is of no use," he said.
Dureza said a "mini-Marshall Plan" was being readied for Mindanao with the help of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and other countries.
Later on Tuesday the two sides would discuss setting up a joint secretariat between the government, the 12,500-member MILF, and non-governmental organizations.
This secretariat would be jointly chaired by Manila and the MILF, and would monitor the truce and development projects, he said.
The ceasefire was broken last Friday in a clash that left two soldiers injured.
"Of course there are many incidents on the ground... There's a lot of work ahead to keep the peace and sustain the truce," Dureza said.
MILF chief negotiator Murad Ebrahim told the meeting that many past agreements had not been honored.
"Let me state that if these agreements are not observed, then to proceed further with the talks will be an exercise in futility," Ebrahim said.
He urged Manila to review its policies, saying that resorting "to more repressive measures" would "exacerbate the situation and widen the scope of the conflict."
Senior negotiator Lanang Ali, when asked about the independence goal, told AFP, "The first thing we want is a ceasefire, followed by development.
"Then the MILF will go to the Bangsa Moro (Muslim people) and ask if they want independence. If they say no need for independence, we have no reason to ask for independence.
"Our ultimate aim is a peaceful negotiated political settlement. We don't know how long it will take," Ali said.
Malaysian officials and Libya's ambassador, Salem Adem, also attended the first day of talks.
According to Dureza, Adem emphasized that there should be no separatism in the southern Philippines.
|
