MILF rebels inspect vehicles at a check point near their base in Maguindanao.(Zamboanga Journal) ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 05 Jan) -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday expressed optimism that it would be able to sign fresh agreements with the Filipino government when peace talks resume in Malaysia this month.
Manila opened peace negotiations with the MILF, the country's largest separatist Muslim rebel group, in 2001 in an effort to end more than three decades of bloody fighting in the main island of Mindanao, where troops are also battling Abu Sayyaf militants tied with the al-Qaeda terror network.
Manila opened peace negotiations with the MILF, the country's largest separatist Muslim rebel group, in 2001 in an effort to end more than three decades of bloody fighting in the main island of Mindanao, where troops are also battling Abu Sayyaf militants tied with the al-Qaeda terror network.
"We always hope for the best every time peace negotiators meet and resume talks. Now, we pray that both groups would be able to sign new agreements that would hasten the negotiations and bring just and lasting peace in our land," said Eid Kabalu, a spokesman for the MILF.
Malaysia, which is brokering the talks, and Libya, Brunei and Saudi Arabia are also backing the peace process. The United States offered as mush as $30 million in financial assistance to help develop Mindanao should the MILF sign a peace deal with the Arroyo government. The money would be used to help the rebels get back to the mainstream of society.
Malaysia, which is brokering the talks, and Libya, Brunei and Saudi Arabia are also backing the peace process. The United States offered as mush as $30 million in financial assistance to help develop Mindanao should the MILF sign a peace deal with the Arroyo government. The money would be used to help the rebels get back to the mainstream of society.
Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator, said his group is hoping to sign a comprehensive agreement with the government this year to finally put an end to the hostilities in Mindanao and help develop the strife-torn, but mineral-rich region.
Iqbal cancelled his pilgrimage to Mecca during Dhu’l Hijja -- made as an objective of the religious life of a Muslim -- to attend the peace talks.
Iqbal cancelled his pilgrimage to Mecca during Dhu’l Hijja -- made as an objective of the religious life of a Muslim -- to attend the peace talks.
"The prospect of peace has become more realistic this year as the two parties, despite some controversies, are zeroing in on a negotiated political settlement as the only civilized and practical solution to end this conflict," Iqbal said by phone from his headquarters in Mindanao.
He said MILF hopes to finalize an agreement on the proposed homeland for more than 3 million Muslims on Mindanao. Manila is similarly optimistic in ending one of the world's longest-running Muslim insurgency problem.
He said MILF hopes to finalize an agreement on the proposed homeland for more than 3 million Muslims on Mindanao. Manila is similarly optimistic in ending one of the world's longest-running Muslim insurgency problem.
Iqbal said the issue of the Muslim ancestral domain will top the agenda when the peace talks resume this month. "Basically, this issue has been agreed upon in previous negotiations, but we will have to review everything and weave it all into formal agreement and sign it, and then we will discuss the final settlement of the conflict and that is to find just and lasting peace in Mindanao," he said.
In September, government and rebel peace negotiators have signed several agreements centered on the ancestral domain -- its concept, territories and resources, and how the MILF shall govern these places.
Ancestral domain refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland. It is the single most important issue in the peace negotiations before the rebel group can reach a political settlement.
Both sides agreed on several crucial issues, including the coverage of a proposed ancestral domain in the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, and other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces, where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes.
Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat has denounced the agreement signed by the government and rebel peace negotiators that would give a homeland to the MILF.
He said the government signed a secret deal with the rebels that would allow them to establish an Islamic state across Mindanao under the guise of the so-called Muslim ancestral domain.
He said the government signed a secret deal with the rebels that would allow them to establish an Islamic state across Mindanao under the guise of the so-called Muslim ancestral domain.
"This is a complete sellout and we will not allow Mindanao to be dismembered, and we must act swiftly before it is too late," Lobregat, an opposition leader, had said in Zamboanga.
The MILF said the Muslims have the right to determine their own political future. However, the military has accused the MILF of breaking the truce by secretly recruiting and training rebels in at least 8 towns and provinces and security officials urged the government to investigate charges.
The military said the MILF is using the peace talks to expand its forces in Mindanao and threatened to strike on the group to stop rebels from further recruiting and training new members in preparation for war just in case the negotiations fail.
Iqbal dismissed the allegations and said his group is sincere in the peace talks. "That military allegations will not affect the peace process and we are sincere in ending the hostilities in Mindanao and bring peace in the land," he said.
The MILF earlier said that a peace agreement with Manila would further strengthen the government's anti-terrorism campaign in Mindanao, where security forces and rebels have joined to hunt down Jemaah Islamiya and Abu Sayyaf militants.
The MILF earlier said that a peace agreement with Manila would further strengthen the government's anti-terrorism campaign in Mindanao, where security forces and rebels have joined to hunt down Jemaah Islamiya and Abu Sayyaf militants.
Malaysian Admiral Muhammad Som, a spokesman for the 64-man international truce monitoring team, said his group will investigate the accusations. Som's group, composed of police and military representatives from Libya, Brunei and Malaysia, arrived in 2004 in Mindanao to monitor the five-year old truce.
"Since these allegation covers a large area in Mindanao, the investigation will take a little more time, but we will address the issue systematically and professionally and bear in mind the importance of peace that we have achieved so far."
"The peace talks are going very well, although, of course there is conflict going on, but what is important here is to keep the momentum of peace alive and we must not miss this opportunity in Mindanao. So far, the cease-fire agreement between the government and rebels is holding very well," he said.
President Gloria Arroyo said that 80% of the peace talks have been completed and that permanent peace in Mindanao is within reach.
The MILF, which split with the larger Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1978, is fighting for a separate Muslim state in the south. The MNLF signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, but many of its members were disgruntled with the accord and had joined the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf.
The MILF, which split with the larger Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1978, is fighting for a separate Muslim state in the south. The MNLF signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, but many of its members were disgruntled with the accord and had joined the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf.
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