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Malaysia To Host Philippines-MILF Talks
by Kazi Mahmood
KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (IslamOnline) - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) spokesman Eid Kabalu on Tuesday disclosed that Malaysia will likely host the resumption of peace talks between the Philippines' government and the Moro separatist group.
Kabalu said Malaysia will most likely host the resumption of talks between the government and MILF and said that having Malaysia as a venue was actually proposed by a Philippine government panel during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
"Probably it will be held in Malaysia," he said. "Malaysia will act as the mediator and this mediation was actually proposed by the government of the Philippines."
Kabalu added that Malaysia's role in the forthcoming talks was among the agreements reached in Kuala Lumpur.
"But all of these, including the formal resumption of talks, are up for further discussion," the MILF spokesman said.
IslamOnline reported Tuesday that there indeed was a meeting held in the Malaysian capital between the warring factions.
At the meeting, both parties signed an agreement paving the way for the holding of continuous peace talks.
They also agreed on major points of contention between the two, particularly on four points put forward by the MILF for the resumption of talks: the return of captured MILF camps, that peace talks be held abroad, that all criminal charges against MILF leaders and members be dropped, and the suspension of the all-out-war campaign against the Bangsamoro people.
These agreements had been forged during the Ramos administration.
The secret deal was confirmed by the MILF, while the regime in the Philippines, through President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, revealed that her peace process adviser, Eduardo Ermita, and MILF vice chairman for internal affairs, Aleem Aziz Mimbantas, did meet in Kuala Lumpur.
"An accord has been signed in Kuala Lumpur," Arroyo told reporters during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Malacañang, Manila.
She said the MILF has agreed to immediately form their own negotiating panel and suspend all offensive operations against government security forces and installations.
Arroyo, however, declined to discuss the specific details of the agreement "until Secretary Ermita arrives from Kuala Lumpur."
She added: "But we will explain everything."
It is also confirmed that Jesus Dureza, the Presidential Assistant for Southern Mindanao and also member of the government's peace panel, did not participate in the signing of the deal.
Dureza told the press in Manila that there were secret negotiations being carried without his knowledge.
"Now I can say that there are efforts, on another level outside the panel, that is now advancing the peace process between the MILF and the government," he said.
He maintained that he did not participate in the process. "It is not true that I was in Kuala Lumpur.
During the Ramos administration, discussions between the Moro National Liberation Front and the government were held in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the Organization of Islamic Conference acting as mediator.
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