Govt seeks help from Sweden, UK in peace talks with MILF

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Philippines – The government has sought the help of Sweden and United Kingdom in handling the volatile peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). President Arroyo disclosed this Tuesday during an informal media interaction at the Well Being Spa here, saying there is a need to fast track and eventually move the negotiations with the secessionist group forward. "Actually (former British Prime Minister Tony) Blair is willing to come to help us because he (played) a very strong part in the negotiations of Northern Ireland,” she said. She added that Sweden will help the Philippines on the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) part of the negotiation. Sweden in 2005 came up with the Stockholm Initiative on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) which aims to "contribute to a secure and stable environment in which an overall peace process and transition can be sustained". President Arroyo said an invitation to Blair, whom he personally met during her visit to London in December 2007, still has to be extended to enable him to come to the country. Aside from Sweden and UK, Brunei also offered help by giving scholarship to MILF members and their families to enable them to “learn to moderate Islam.” There had been a lull in the talks between the Philippine government and the MILF since the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Aug. 4 halting the planned signing of memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain. Since the TRO, members of the MILF had launched attacks on civilian communities in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Sarangani. The military has launched an offensive against the MILF factions that led the attacks. - GMANews.TV