COTABATO CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 02 Mar) Malaysia has postponed this month’s scheduled peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) owing to the political turmoil besetting the country.
“Malaysia postponed our talks because of the current situation in Manila. We received the formal communication from them on February 28,” said Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator.
Peace negotiators were supposed to finalize the implementing guidelines for the ancestral domain issue when Malaysia announced it was postponing the talks, Iqbal said.
He said Kuala Lumpur, which is brokering the talks, was concerned about President Gloria Arroyo’s recent declaration of a state of national emergency.
“The MILF is neutral on the issue of emergency rule. We appeal to both sides of the political divide, especially the government, for restraint and sobriety and for them to use the power of reason and persuasion to resolve differences,” Iqbal said.
“Our position inclines to the government. The problem is internal to the Filipino people. We do not know who is involved and who is right and wrong. The important thing is that our rights are not violated,” he said.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secy. Jesus Dureza said he has yet to receive the advisory from Malaysia. “I have no information yet. I cannot comment on that matter,” he said.
The MILF is the country's largest Muslim separatist group fighting for the establishment of a strict Islamic state in Mindanao.
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