ILOILO CITY, Philippines, Aug 5 (IslamOnline.net) - Few hours after confirming the demise of its founder and chairman Salamat Hashim, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) reaffirmed Tuesday, August 5, commitment to pursue peace negotiation with the Philippine government.

In a phone interview with IslamOnline.net, Eid Kabalu, MILF official spokesperson, confirmed the passing away of Hashim, 61, on July 13th due to heart failure.

He said the announcement was made only Tuesday in order to respect the procedures that are in place within the MILF.

MILF had to confirm the death of its leader through its central committee, which then elected Al-Haj Murad Ibrahim as a new chairman, Kabalu added.

The MILF spokesman said there was nothing unusual with the demise of Hashim, who was seen as a heroic Islamic leader by the Muslim masses in Mindanao.

MILF vice chairperson for political affairs, Gadzali Jaafar, told a church-run radio station, dxMS, in Cotabato City, that Hashim died in Butig town in the southern province of Lanao Del Sur.

Hashim’s oratory performances during the Friday prayers and rallies in Mindanao will be remembered and his work as the chieftain of the MILF will be remembered, several Bangsamoro Muslims said.

In an interview to IOL in 2002, Hashim said he was hopeful there will be peace in Mindanao and that the rights of his people would be respected at last.

He also said his greatest wish was to forge unity among all Muslims in South East Asia in order for the Muslims to gain strength.

The separatist leader also said he wanted to see a free and developed Muslim Mindanao, where Muslims would enjoy progress and peace.

MILF sources told IOL on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 that it was to be their command to see that the wishes of Hashim come true.

Ignacio Bunye, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s spokesperson, regretted Hashim’s death as "unfortunate" but said it would not affect the government’s position to achieve peace reign in Mindanao.

"It is unfortunate for the peace process since Salamat is supposed to lead the MILF panel in…peace negotiations," he said.

"Nevertheless, this does not affect the basic policy of the (Philippine) government to pursue a just, comprehensive and durable solution to the conflict in Mindanao.

"We are prepared for the opening of the talks as scheduled," added the spokesman.

The same position was echoed by Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process and the government's chief negotiator with the MILF.

He condoled with the Muslim separatist group, and expressed confidence that peace talks would continue.

Hashim's death would be a "big loss" to the MILF, he said, doubting it would mean changes in the MILF position on the peace process.

Ermita said the MILF had reasons for keeping it secret, citing the criteria of choosing a successor as a point in mind.

He said the government panel to peace negotiations had information about Hashim's demise but had kept the information secret while waiting for official word from the MILF.

Ermita welcomed, meanwhile, the appointment of Murad to replace Hashim as "a good sign."

Malaysia was expected to host Hashim in Kuala Lumpur where peace talks between the separatist movement and the Philippine government are due to start soon.

Kabalu told IOL that the MILF was still prepared for the talks and that it was not confirmed who will lead their team during the negotiations.

He reaffirmed MILF determination to continue talking peace with the Philippine government for the sake of the Bangsamoro people of Mindanao.

The "successful" 10th Joint Meeting of the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) in Cotabato City is "viewed as a breakthrough in the resumption of the stalled formal peace talks between the MILF and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)," said the MILF on its website.

Both parties regard the meeting as the start of the series of peace negotiations, facilitated by the Malaysian government, which would bring about a lasting peace in Mindanao.

Benjie Midtimbang, new head of the MILF Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) that met with the government panel, told IslamOnline.net they agreed to "strengthen" the ceasefire accord with the Philippine government.

He said both parties saw eye to eye "that there is a need to strengthen ceasefire in the interest of peace."

Midtimbang added they also reached an agreement that the MILF-GRP peace panel would ask foreign countries to "immediately" send their monitoring teams into the country to supervise the truce.

He told IOL in a telephone interview Tuesday that they would welcome any country that is interested to send a monitoring team.

The United States, which is expected to take an active role in the negotiations along with Malaysia, was not present on Monday, asserted Midtimbang.

He welcomed the "statement of support" to the meeting issued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, General Narciso Abaya, which expressed its support by directing all its ground commanders to extend assistance to both parties.

Midtimbang said it is a clear manifestation that the government is serious in its effort to talk peace with them.

In their joint communiqué issued on March this year after their exploratory talks in Malaysia, the government and the MILF reiterated their commitment to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting political settlement of the conflict in Mindanao and resolve to undertake appropriate steps to pave the way for the resumption of the formal GRP-MILF peace negotiations.

The MILF has been fighting for an independent Islamic state in the southern island of Mindanao for over two decades.