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Two Largest Philippine Muslim Activist Groups Unite
CYBERJAYA, Malaysia, Aug 3 (News Agencies) - The Philippines' two largest Muslim separatist factions agreed Friday to unite to forge a lasting peace in the impoverished southern Philippines after decades of rift.
The deal between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was reached after two days of intensive talks in Cyberjaya, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Kuala Lumpur.
The MNLF struck a peace deal with the Philippine government in 1995, while the MILF had been holding talks with Manila in Malaysia for a separate peace agreement.
Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Razak witnessed the "initializing" of the agreement - marking an intent to unite - with the actual signing to take place when Philippine President Gloria Arroyo makes a two-day visit here Tuesday.
Najib said the breakup of the MNLF, which led to the formation of the MILF in 1978, had been a setback to the Muslim struggle in the largely Roman Catholic Philippines.
"The consequences of this breakup had far-reaching effects on the leadership of the Moro [Philippine Muslim] people and fragmented the directions of your struggle," he said at the ceremony.
"The agreement will provide [a] new platform for a more lasting solution to resolve the Moro people's problem."
Najib described the accord as the "beginning of a new era for the Moro people" and said the two groups would observe a ceasefire and not wage war against the Philippines armed forces.
They would consolidate under the banner "Moro People Solidarity Conference" at international forums and in cooperating with Manila. A consultative council would be formed to coordinate all activities.
"The new Philippine leadership under President Arroyo has offered you not only peace but development and this opportunity should not be lost because of pride or principles," Najib added.
MNLF vice president Hatimil Hassan said the group would not push for an Islamic state, but for greater autonomy.
"There are Muslims and Christians there. We respect all religions. We will not push for an Islamic state, but we will leave that to the people," he told AFP.
MILF's vice chairman for military affairs Murad Ebrahim said the unity agreement would end the Moro people's political subjugation and economic backwardness after three decades of insurgency.
"We should leave behind the differences that set us apart, and together as one, let us move forward and secure for ourselves the bounties of freedom which have been denied to the Moro people for so long," he said.
"It is a restatement of the goals which all of us have vowed to fulfill even at the expense of our lives when we began our struggle for liberation."
MILF officials said they were likely to resume talks with Manila negotiators on Sunday. Talks started at a southern Malaysia state on July 24th but were adjourned as negotiators returned to Manila to seek consent.
Arroyo's spokesman, Rigoberto Tiglao, on Thursday welcomed news of the MILF-MNLF pact.
"It would help the peace process with the MNLF. Secondly, there would be only one representative of the Bangsamoro [Moro] people," he said. "It would be easier to coordinate with them regarding plans to develop Mindanao and to deal with their demands for autonomy."
The southern Philippine region of Mindanao is due to hold a plebiscite on August 14th when residents of other provinces will be asked if they wish to join the autonomous region, which now comprises four Muslim-majority southern provinces.
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