Wahid would meet MILF chief Hashim Selamat to broker a deal supported by Malaysia and the U.S.

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (IslamOnline.net) – Diplomatic offensives in Manila were given a push by the local authorities with Malaysia, Indonesia and the U.S. pressing for a peace deal before a wide scale war breaks out in Mindanao, reports from the Philippines made available to IslamOnline.net said on Wednesday, June 11.

Indonesia, though in a squabble over its difficult war in Aceh, is also lending a hand in attempting to bring the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Filipino regime to the negotiation table before the unilateral 10-day truce ordered by the MILF expires on Thursday, June 12.

In close contact with the separatists, the Indonesian foreign Affairs department had secret talks with Manila offering assistance in urging the MILF to abandon some of their hard line positions and to negotiate a durable peace deal, a source close to the department told IslamOnline.net.

“It is possible that Indonesia delegate Abdurrahman Wahid, former president deposed by President Megawati Sukarnoputri in the year 2000, (will) meet the rebel chief Hashim Selamat and broker a deal supported by Malaysia and the U.S.,” the source said Wednesday.

Malaysia and Indonesia joined hands in the pursuit of a peace formula that would end the years of conflict in Mindanao and help settle the Muslims down in a bid to bring economic and social progress to them.

Indonesia was the broker of a first peace deal between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Manila in the late 1980’s which ended years of unrest and fighting in the southern Philippines.

The deal helped create an autonomous region for the Muslims but the whole issue turned ugly for the Muslims with Manila refusing to abide to the ‘economic’ terms of the deal.

The Muslims were left abandoned in a terrible economic turmoil that forced thousands to seek jobs outside the Philippines and lead to the creation of MILF and other groups fighting for a better life in the Muslim dominated areas.

Manila is said to be in a tussle with the U.S. and Malaysia over the handling of the MILF, with both countries seeking a peace treaty to be signed immediately.

On Wednesday the MILF vowed to resume its attacks on Independence Day, observed Thursday, to signify its continuing quest to set up an independent Islamic state in Mindanao, said the Manila Times.

June 12 also marks the end of the unilateral MILF ceasefire.

Both the Armed Forces and the MILF said the cease-fire failed to muster even a temporary peace in the troubled region.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the MILF would mount renewed offensives against government troops stationed near their camps.

“We will resume attacks on June 12, because there is war here in Mindanao, and that war started in February, when the military launched a massive offensive in the Buliok Complex in Pikit, North Cotabato,” Kabalu said in a phone interview to Manila Times.

Observers in Jakarta were quick to blame Manila for the current situation, casting doubts on its sincerity to end the conflict and to be under pressure by petroleum lobby from the U.S. in particular.

Malaysia is increasingly upset that its good relationship with Manila is not being useful enough to press the regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to end the conflict.

Malaysia supports the MILF in its for drive a larger autonomy believing that the Muslims in Mindanao are unfairly treated.

However, Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad’s close relationship with Arroyo was suppose to have helped settle the matter earlier than this June.

Kuala Lumpur made it clear to Manila, according to informed sources in Malaysia, that the southern Philippines conflict should not become a regional one.

The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed to Jakarta that it did not want to see the Aceh conflict collide with the Mindanao conflict and turn South East Asia into a “war zone” that could spill in the region.

In a related development President Arroyo on Tuesday, June 10, ordered the Department of  Foreign Affairs to submit to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) evidence allegedly linking MILF to the Rizal Day bombing in the year 2000.

“I direct the authorities to transmit forthwith the dossier of evidence on this case to the secretary-general of the OIC so that the truth will be brought before the eyes of the Islamic world,” she said.

She said Saifullah Yunos or Moclis’ admission that he was a member of the MILF’s Special Operations Group “made it clearer” that the MILF has direct ties with terrorist groups.

Moclis claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in Manila on December 30, 2000, which killed 22 people.