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Interview With Eid Kabalu of the MILF
By Kazi Mahmood
03/03/2001
The Muslims in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, are fighting the longest and most enduring war in the history of the world. This war, for the independence of the Bangsamoro land considered to be under the occupation of Philippine forces since the end of World War II, is currently at a crucial point.
The main antagonists in this centuries-old conflict are the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), headed by Ustaz Hashim Salamat, a Muslim scholar who studied at Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.
The MILF is the larger of two Muslim groups pushing for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao. It has 12,500 armed and well-trained members, making it one of the world's most advanced Mujahideen groups.
Amidst claims by the Philippines that the MILF is a rebel, terrorist organization disturbing the peace process implemented in 1996 under a truce signed between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), IslamOnline interviewed Eid Kabalu, the MILF's official Public Relations officer.
This exclusive phone interview with Eid Kabalu clarified the position of the MILF on the peace process engaged this month after the call for cessation of military activities by the new Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Kabalu dealt a blow to the credibility of the Arroyo regime, stating that the civilian government's survival in Manila depends on a reluctant military that is resisting peace efforts in the region.
Sounding patient, peaceful and very confident of the "Jihad" being led by the MILF forces against the military occupation of the Bangsamoro land in Mindanao, Kabalu expressed the hope that there will eventually be an independent Mindanao.
The interview follows:
IslamOnline: Mr. Eid Kabalu, can you confirm that there are negotiations going on for a resumption of peace talks in Mindanao?
Eid Kabalu: It is true that we have received an offer from the Arroyo government in Manila to resume peace talks in Mindanao. The MILF is ready to sit at the negotiating table and this has been made known to the Arroyo government.
IOL: Do you believe in the sincerity of the Philippine government - considering that, in the past, the MILF was played out by the Joseph Estrada regime?
EK: The regime in Manila, I would say, cannot be trusted fully. As you say, it is correct that, in the past, peace talks failed due to a lack of confidence in the Estrada administration. They violated their own rules and, this time around, we fear the same thing might happen.
IOL: What makes you believe this same situation might prevail under the Arroyo government?
EK: We are showing our appreciation and recognition of the cease-fire ordered by the Arroyo government by withholding our attacks against the military in the region.
However, there are clear signs that the military was not necessarily in favor of a cease-fire.
Not a single day passes by, since the implementation of the stop of military operations (SOMO) order, that the military troops are tracking and chasing our fighters and shooting at them. The army seems more than ready to engage us in many counties and that leaves little hope for concrete peace in the region.
If the Arroyo regime is ready for peace, they should show the signs and it should be more than a declaration of ceasefire.
While Arroyo was making appeals and speeches that tend to show there is a political will to achieve peace in Mindanao, the military seems having the upper hand on the ground.
The MILF stands firmly behind all initiatives for peace in Mindanao. We sat at the same table before; we are ready to do it now.
IOL: Some reports say there is dissension between the Arroyo regime in Manila and the military ground command in Mindanao. What do you think of that?
EK: The world should know that the government in Manila is the product of strong military support. Arroyo is president today thanks to the help and support she garnered from the military commanders. It is a pro-military government, which is controlled by military factions.
Arroyo's government would collapse without the support of the military; thus, I believe it will be restrained in its will to bring peace in this region. This situation puts us in a difficult position, as we will be dealing with some of the ghosts from the Estrada administration.
I repeat, however, that the MILF would sit at the negotiating table with the peace panel of the government.
This should indicate that we welcome the resumption of peace talks with [an] open mind, and we are ready to put our proposal through to Arroyo. However, I must [say] that we have not yet made any proposals to them on how we want the peace process to begin.
This will be done in the course of the negotiations.
The MILF reserves all its rights to put forward its offer to resolve the conflict in Mindanao by peaceful means.
IOL: What would you settle for, Brother Kabalu? Is it full autonomy? Or the independence of Mindanao?
EK: The MILF want independence. That is the only real solution that this region should have in order to end this long conflict. I think there should be nothing less than independence, and this is what we are going to ask for in the upcoming negotiations.
In the past, under the three successive presidents of the Philippines - namely, Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada - the Bangsamoro people had experienced what autonomy means.
Our people suffered tremendously under the formula that did not work. It tested the autonomy, and the autonomy formula has failed. This is not a solution to the problems in Mindanao.
The Bangsamoro people are showing increased signs of mistrust and showing reserves about autonomy.
IOL: Do you have a majority of the Bangsamoro people supporting your views?
EK: There are no solutions to this conflict but independence, and the majority of the Bangsamoro people supports our initiatives.
IOL: Does Chairman Hashim Salamat, your leader, support the demand for independence only?
EK: Of course, Hashim Salamat, our leader, demands independence for the Moroland. This was without doubt, and the MILF is firmly behind the decision of its leader.
Our stance on the final solutions to the conflict should not affect the peace process. We look forward to hear from the Arroyo negotiators soon.
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