A cease-fire took effect Saturday between government forces and Muslim guerrillas in the southern Philippines, facilitating the resumption of talks to settle one of Southeast Asia's most enduring separatist conflicts. The cease-fire agreement was reached Friday with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has been fighting for an independent Muslim territory in Mindanao and other islands of the southern Philippines for about three decades and has been blamed for deadly bombings and other terrorist activities. On Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered her military to halt assaults and called for the immediate resumption of Malaysian-brokered talks to achieve a final peace accord. "Peace is at hand," Arroyo said in a radio address.
Arroyo announced a package of concessions to the rebels, including the suspension of arrest warrants and corresponding cash rewards for rebel leaders accused of terrorism — a key rebel demand — and granted safety passes to allow rebel negotiators to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the talks. Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu said his group was observing the truce.
| On the other hand, Eid makes Comical Ali look like a paragon of truthful integrity... |
Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said earlier that negotiations with the rebels could start as early as next week. "I ask our people to give peace a chance," Arroyo said. "I am confident that we shall also effectively isolate and marginalize the dwindling terrorist cells in Mindanao and across our seas in the region." |