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| Southeast Asia |
| Peace talks between Manila and Muslim fighters postponed next month |
| 2003-01-28 |
| BINA The already stalled peace talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government has been reset to February this year, a high-ranking official of the MILF told the Bangsamoro Islamic News Agency (BINA) today. Al Haj Murad Ibrahim, chief MILF negotiator, told BINA that the main reason for the delay is the inability of both parties to wind up their preparation for the talks. MILF needs to be on top militarily to talk. The Philippine government needs to be on top militarily to talk. So no talks... The talks are also marred by accusations from both the MILF and government of violations of the ceasefire agreement signed in 2001. Recently, however, Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), an international non-government organization, has conducted a fact-finding mission regarding the ceasefire between the government and MILF. Its initial findings showed that both parties were guilty of violating the truce, but the greater blame has been put on the former. Oh, dear, yes. Damn them, for acting like a government... Murad is also the current MILF chair for military affairs and chief of staff of the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). He told BINA that the MILF negotiating panel has in its position the comprehensive peace package proposal that will be presented to the government and in likewise manner receive the latter's proposal when the two parties would meet in Kuala Lumpur next month. Assuming they can cause the gummint enough casualties to want to try and avoid more... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |