MILF rejects RP demand to replace Malaysian peace facilitator

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 16, 2010) – Muslim rebels negotiating peace with Manila have rejected Tuesday demands by the Philippines to replace a key Malaysian facilitator ahead of peace talks aimed at ending decades of bloody fighting in the restive region of Mindanao.

Philippines chief peace negotiator Marvic Leonen has asked Malaysia to replace Datuk Othman Bin Abd’ Razak. But the Filipino official did not say the reason why Manila wanted Othman out of the peace talks, although other sources claimed that Othman was reportedly siding with the MILF.

The MILF’s central body has passed a resolution urging Kuala Lumpur to retain Othman as facilitator for the peace talks. A copy of the resolution signed by rebel chieftain Murad Ibrahim was sent to Malaysia.

“Datuk Othman (as Malaysia’s facilitator) has shown his impartiality, competence, creativity, and commitment to push the peace process into success,” said a senior member of the MILF, Jun Mantawil.

He said any move to replace Othman will not be good to the peace process. “New facilitator, no matter how competent, will first grope in the dark before he can steer the talks into the right direction,” he said.

Mantawil also challenged Othman’s detractors to present evidence that the Malaysian facilitator was on the side of the MILF.

“All the agreements signed (by the MILF and Philippine peace negotiators) were discussed and deliberated squarely across the negotiating table and were mutually agreed by (both) parties,” he said.

New Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said he would resume peace talks with the MILF and has formed a new team of negotiators headed by Leonen.

The MILF, a breakaway faction of the larger Moro National Liberation Front which signed a peace accord in 1996, is fighting for self-determination. (Mindanao Examiner)