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Philippines: MILF Denies Receiving Letter From Arroyo
by Kazi Mahmood
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (IslamOnline Exclusive) - In a late communication to IslamOnline via email, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) strongly denied receiving a letter from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo discussing the issue of peace and negotiations.
The separatist group's legal counsel, Lanang Ali, on Thursday morning issued a statement denying earlier press reports that his office indeed received such official written communications from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).
Ali is the only person authorized by the Front to receive communications from the GRP. He said maybe the letter has not yet reached his office but he promised to immediately forward it to the MILF Central Committee as soon as it reaches his hand.
He said that the much-publicized proposed continuance of the peace process in Mindanao was however not in jeopardy though the MILF greeted this initiative with extreme caution.
The MILF also said that there are too many unconfirmed press reports being circulated about the movement's position on the proposal for peace by the new regime in place in Manila.
In short, the MILF says the new government's offer is vital, as this will determine the future of the peace talks. As it had been clearly stated time and again, the MILF maintained its adherence with respect to the issue of peace talks, on its original position embodied under MILF Resolution dated November 27, 2000.
A previous GRP Peace Panel employed evasive attitudes when it refused to deal squarely with the issues presented therein, Eid Kabalu reportedly said concerning the issue.
The new administration by all indications seems to have inherited same dilatory tactics, Kabalu observed, criticizing the delays in the delivery of the letter.
Kabalu asked what made the GRP Peace Panel delay its submission of her offer for peace, despite an open pronouncement by Arroyo to start the peace talks immediately, they asked.
GRP Peace Panel Chairman Jesus Dureza last weekend was quoted to have said in an interview on Radio DXND that he had already sent through an MILF contact person official communication inviting the MILF leadership to discuss matters necessary for the formal start of the GRP and MILF Peace Talks.
Commenting on further reports that MILF chairman Hashim Salamat was ready to sit down as head of the Peace Panel that would negotiate with the government, Eid Kabalu, the official spokesperson for the Muslim separatist group, lambasted that was next to impossible.
But the MILF states that Salamat's presence is not necessary in any peace negotiations because the organization is not short of people who have the background, skills and capability to handle negotiations.
Previously, the MILF negotiating peace panel was headed by the vice chairman for internal affairs until he was recalled sometime in August 2000 as part of an MILF protest over inconsistencies in policies adopted by the government of ousted President Joseph Estrada towards the peace talks.
The MILF is still awaiting an official communication from the GRP, which would be the basis of MILF actions depending upon the government's peace offer.
Meanwhile, the MILF Friday morning criticized the delay in the implementation of the Suspension of Military Offensive (SOMO) saying it was not yet in place, stating that the SOMO is one of the principal elements allowing for the resumption of peace talks.
Arroyo's SOMO was basically anchored on three points: a favorable environment, to allow the return of displaced families and to hasten the socio-economic development programs in the area affected by the Mindanao armed conflict and the resumption of the talks.
However, many of the displaced refused to go back to their respective places of origin because of the continuing presence of military troops in and around their respective townships and villages.
The MILF insists that the best way to convince the displaced to return to their homes is to pull the Philippine military out of occupied areas, Kabalu observed. There are, however, no indications yet that Arroyo's administration would follow suit on the demand.
Arroyo clearly stated two days ago that the government would never pull out its forces from the southern Philippines, since that would be equivalent to surrendering the territory to the separatist group.
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