| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| MILF talks end with no major agreement |
| 2011-11-04 |
| Peace talks between Filipino peace negotiators and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels ended with no significant agreement, but both sides calling to hasten the talks aimed at ending the fighting in Mindanao. The talks are over the recent fighting between military and rebels, and government charges that MILF commanders are involved in kidnappings for ransom and terrorism. According to MILF, "The negotiators of the two parties emerged from the meeting room with both sides announcing modest gains that could be nurtured to move forward the peace process towards a political settlement of the Moro Question and the armed conflict that haunted Philippine administrations since independence in 1946." It said the both sides agreed to discuss a substantive agenda during the next round of peace talks, probably before the end of the month. Both sides also called for a joint investigation into a deadly clash in Basilan’s Al-Barka town that killed 19 soldiers and five rebels on October 18. The probe will also be joined by the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG). The MILF also reiterated its cooperation with Philippine authorities for the "interdiction of kidnap for ransom groups, criminal groups/syndicates, and so-called lost commands pursuant to the Joint Communiqué of AHJAG." |
| Posted by:ryuge |